Peanut butter is a condiment that is loved by most people. It is a part of the daily diet of people and relished by all age groups. One of the most commonly found ingredients on our kitchen shelf, peanut butter, has really made its way onto our everyday menu. But usually, we have a very limited imagination when it comes to peanut butter, and we do not look beyond the classic peanut butter sandwich. And that is doing a great disservice to the versatile condiment that peanut butter is. So, let us see how you can add peanut butter to your meals in different ways.
Before we look at the ways we can actually eat peanut butter without it becoming boring, let us look at the health benefits of consuming it.
- It suppresses hunger and you feel full for a longer time, which makes it a good food item for when you are trying to lose weight.
- It is full of healthy fat and hence, great for healthy body weight and muscle gain.
- It is a great source of potassium.
- It improves energy as well as sharpens memory.
Now that we have information about how healthy eating peanut butter is, let us look at ways to incorporate it in our meals.
In noodles
If you want to give a nutty taste to your noodles, almost like the one you get in high-end Korean restaurants serving deliciously over-priced ramen, then trust us, a dallop of peanut butter, combines with sesame seeds, chilli oil and garlic will do the trick. Try this combination and have amazing café like noodles/ramen at home, without much fuss.
In smoothies
Since peanut butter is a great source of energy, it is a very viable option to be used as an ingredient in your pre-workout and post-workout smoothies. All you have to do is add a tablespoon of peanut butter to your protein smoothie, along with any plant-based milk, some bananas and a handful of nuts. The peanut butter smoothie is a meal in itself.
Peanut butter smoothie | Unsplash
A spoonful of peanut butter can elevate your regular smoothie bowl into a rich, creamy delight. The best breakfast bowls are the ones that have the perfect blend of fresh fruits, oats, chia seeds, nuts and goes without saying, a fair share of creamy peanut butter.
As a dip
Yes! It is indeed a surprise that people still do not use peanut butter as a dip, despite it fitting perfectly as a savoury and sweet dip. Be it with freshly sliced fruits or spicy, crispy spring rolls, peanut butter can be a great dip with your snacks and finger foods. Just add some chilli oil and have it with savoury snacks or drizzle a little honey and have it with fruits, waffles or pancakes.
So, try to move beyond the simple peanut butter sandwiches and discover the huge array of dishes that you can make with this magic ingredient. Your noodles, smoothies and oats bowls will get a much-needed facelift with the simple addition of peanut butter.
