Peanut Flavour: How to Add It to Your Recipes and Enjoy Its Benefits
2023/5/8
Peanut flavour is a distinctive and delicious taste that can enhance many dishes, desserts, and snacks. It is derived from peanuts, which are legumes that grow underground and have edible seeds enclosed in pods. Peanuts are also known as groundnuts, goobers, or monkey nuts.
Peanut flavour can be added to your recipes in various forms, such as:
Peanut butter: Peanut butter is a paste made of roasted and ground peanuts, usually with added salt, sugar, oil, or other ingredients. It can be smooth or crunchy, depending on the texture of the peanuts. Peanut butter can be used as a spread for bread, crackers, or fruits, as a dip for vegetables or pretzels, as a filling for sandwiches or cookies, or as an ingredient for sauces, dressings, or marinades.
Peanut oil: Peanut oil is a vegetable oil extracted from peanuts. It has a mild peanut flavour and a high smoke point, which makes it suitable for frying, baking, or roasting. Peanut oil can be used to cook meats, vegetables, or eggs, to make popcorn or chips, or to drizzle over salads or soups.
Peanut flour: Peanut flour is a powder made of defatted and ground peanuts. It has a strong peanut flavour and a high protein content, which makes it ideal for baking, cooking, or adding to smoothies or shakes. Peanut flour can be used to make breads, muffins, cakes, pancakes, waffles, or cookies, to thicken soups or stews, or to boost the protein and flavour of your drinks.
Benefits of Peanut Flavour
Peanut flavour is not only tasty but also beneficial for your health. Some of the benefits of peanut flavour are:
Protein: Peanut flavour is a good source of plant-based protein, which is essential for building and repairing muscles, tissues, and organs. Protein also helps regulate appetite, metabolism, and blood sugar levels. One tablespoon of peanut butter provides about 4 grams of protein, while one ounce of peanuts provides about 7 grams of protein.
Healthy fats: Peanut flavour is rich in healthy fats, especially monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which can lower cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, and prevent cardiovascular disease. Healthy fats also help absorb fat-soluble vitamins and provide energy and satiety. One tablespoon of peanut butter provides about 8 grams of fat, while one ounce of peanuts provides about 14 grams of fat.
Fiber: Peanut flavour is a good source of dietary fiber, which can improve digestion, prevent constipation, and lower the risk of colon cancer. Fiber also helps control blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol levels, and maintain a healthy weight. One tablespoon of peanut butter provides about 1 gram of fiber, while one ounce of peanuts provides about 2 grams of fiber.
Vitamins and minerals: Peanut flavour is a good source of various vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin E, niacin, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, copper, and zinc. These nutrients can support the immune system, the nervous system, the skin health, the bone health, and the antioxidant defense. One tablespoon of peanut butter provides about 10% of the daily value of vitamin E and niacin, while one ounce of peanuts provides about 20% of the daily value of manganese and copper.
Risks of Peanut Flavour
Peanut flavour is generally safe and beneficial for most people, but it may also pose some risks for some people. Some of the risks of peanut flavour are:
Allergy: Peanut flavour can cause allergic reactions in some people who are sensitive to peanuts or other legumes. Peanut allergy is one of the most common and severe food allergies that can cause symptoms such as itching, swelling, hives, wheezing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or anaphylaxis. Therefore, people with peanut allergy should avoid peanut flavour and any products that may contain it.
Aflatoxin: Peanut flavour can be contaminated with aflatoxin, which is a toxin produced by a fungus that grows on peanuts and other crops. Aflatoxin can cause liver damage, cancer, or death in high doses or chronic exposure. Therefore, peanut flavour should be stored in a cool and dry place and checked for signs of mold or spoilage before consumption.