RECIPE
GO NUTS FOR NUT BUTTER! By Emma Walton-Moore
We’ve all grown up eating peanut butter and Nutella, but there is a nut butter revolution taking place. In supermarkets where you once found a jar or two of peanut butter you will see a wide range of different nut and seed butters in varying shapes and sizes. You can even buy 1kg tubs! Their popularity knows no bounds. But what are they and why are they so popular? A nut butter is essentially a spread made by grinding a nut (or a combination of nuts) until a paste forms, which can easily be spread just like butter (hence the name). The reason we love them so much is that they are so very tasty, but they also carry huge health benefits thanks to their high levels of protein and essential fats. They are delicious, but also good for you! Depending on how they have been made, nut butters can be crunchy or smooth and mixed with sweeteners or spices for a more complex flavour. Almost 26
all of them go well with a fruity, sweet topping though they can also be used in savoury dishes to create a rich, nutty flavour. They are an incredibly versatile ingredient to have in your cupboard. If you want to make your own nut butter, it’s really simple. All you need is a highpowered blender and a whole lot of your favourite nuts! Toast the nuts first to release their oils and really bring out their flavour. Pop them in the blender and blitz on high until you have the desired texture. You shouldn’t need to add any extra oil, the nuts contain enough just as they are. Homemade Nut Butter Recipe Equipment: High-speed blender Ingredients: 450 grams of nuts (yes that’s it...) Method: 1. Pre-heat your oven to 180°C and add the nuts to a lined baking tray in a Cibare Magazine
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