Everyone love nut butters. Aside from the classic natural peanut butters, now we have natural almond butter and cashew nut butter are competing for your attention—and that’s good news. Whatever variety you choose, nut butter is a healthy (and vegan-friendly if that’s your thing) addition to your diet.
Before purchasing the nut butter, read and understand the ingredient list. Because all-natural nut butters can settle once opened, store jars upside down so the spread’s easier to scoop (That’s a tip for you) You can also microwave a jar of nut butter for about 10 seconds to make it easier to work with.
Okay, enough of all the introduction. Her are the five simple ways to enjoy the spread beside having it with the all good loaf of bread.
1. Smoothie it!
Whether you’re blending one for breakfast or a post-workout snack, natural nut butter is the perfect ingredient for making smoothies thicker and creamier. We recommends mixing it with low-fat almond milk together one tablespoon of nut butter and one banana for a drink that’s full of filling protein and healthy fat. Yum!
2. Use It As a Nutty, Creamy Sauce
Choose a snack with extra protein to power up your day and kick off the sugar and caffeine cravings that you have. Fresh fruit or vegetables such as Japanese cucumber or celery and combo it with a side of nut butter. While apple slices is recommended, try something new, like strawberries, carrots or pears to go with the natural nut butters.
3. Protein up Your Pancakes
Boost up your breakfast when you throw in natural nut butter into the mix. Here’s how:
1) Heat a pan over medium heat and add a small amount of butter so pancake batter doesn’t stick.
2) Add 1 cup of flour, 1/4 cup of nut butter, 3 eggs, 1 tablespoon of honey, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon in a bowl and stir until combined.
3) Pour batter into pan and cook until the bottom starts to brown, about 3 minutes.
4) Flip and cook on the other side until lightly browned, about 3 minutes.
5) Top with fresh fruit and a drizzle of maple syrup.
4. Blend it into Your Oatmeal
Blend in a spoonful of your favorite nut butter to add flavor and spice up the amount of protein in a boring bowl of oats! The same trick works for flavoring plain, non-fat Greek yogurt or frozen yogurt.
5. Try this Thai-Style Dinner
We love the nutty flavors in the dishes at Thai restaurant. Here is a simple recipe for you to do some experiment at home. If this sounds exciting to you, try this easy peasy, sweet and savory recipe.
1) In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of water, 1 tablespoon of natural peanut butter, and 1 teaspoon of chili paste until smooth and set aside.
2) Heat a wok over medium-high heat and add 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil. When the oil is hot, add 1 teaspoon of minced garlic and 1 teaspoon of minced ginger, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3) Add 4 cups of chopped vegetables (try broccoli, carrots, onions, and snap peas) and 8 ounces of boneless, skinless chicken breast, and stir-fry until the chicken is cooked through and browned, about 2 minutes.
4) Add 2 cups of cooked soba noodles and toss to coat.
5) Add peanut/chili paste mix, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, and toss.
6) Cook until heated, about 2 minutes, and serve.