All natural peanut butter

Peanut butter is a staple in most pantry’s, the delicious spread contains protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Peanut butter has previously got a bit of a bad wrap because it contains saturated fats, however the presence of these types of fats doesn’t necessarily make it unhealthy. Even foods that are seen as healthy such as tofu and olive oil contain some saturated fats. The ratio to saturated fats and unsaturated fats within peanut butter is actually significantly skewed to unsaturated fats anyway and it has been found that people who consume nuts or peanut butter may be less likely to develop type 2 diabetes or heart disease than those who do not include nuts in their diets.

Peanut butter in its natural form can actually be quite good for you in moderation, especially without the addition of salt, however commercial brands of peanut butter often contain additives such as salt, sweeteners and emulsifiers. The upside of natural peanut butter is that it is incredibly easy to make and can be created in no time! Follow our easy recipe and you may not ever purchase store-bought peanut butter again! What you will need:

• 250 grams of raw unsalted peanuts
• Additional 3 tablespoons of crushed peanuts (for crunchy peanut butter)
• Himalayan Rock salt (optional)

Process:

• Pour the peanuts onto a baking tray
• Bake for 10 – 15 minutes. This helps to release the nuts natural oils.

You will only need to bake the nuts for this short amount of time so they begin to dry out. Be careful not to roast them for too long, you don’t want to let them brown – otherwise you will end up with a very dark peanut butter and it may have a bitter burnt taste.

• Place the roasted nuts into a food processor
• Blend on high until the peanuts form a thick paste. This will take a while depending on the power of your food processor. The mixture will at first begin to resemble crushed nuts – Keep going until you get a paste!

• Once your mixture resembles peanut butter, taste it and decide if you need to add salt. If you do, start adding the ground salt slowly and taste along the way.
• If you like your peanut butter to be crunchy, add the crushed peanuts and stir through the mixture.

That’s it – you’re done. Super quick and simple natural peanut butter, made at home! Not only will you have a delicious peanut butter that you know has no added nasties, but you will also be able to avoid plastic packaging that usually comes with commercial spreads. Especially if you buy your nuts from a bulk food store eliminating plastic all together! Your fresh peanut butter will be great on bread, apple slices, celery or just straight out of the jar! Enjoy! Caution – Some people have severe allergic reactions to peanuts and you should consider if this recipe is appropriate for you or your family’s dietary requirements. If in doubt, consult your medical professional.