Peanut BUTTER!

[SmilingRawDancer]

OMG.
I just made raw peanut butter (from the vitamix book recipe)
and I used coconut oil for the added oil I needed.
If I would have added a smidgen of sea salt, it would be HEAVEN on earth, but it's very good as is!

Anyways, I was wondering:
Could I do the same with almonds? I thought that people made almond flour, so if that's the case...would it grind into a butter if I added oil? AND should I soak them first? Or then would the water content screw it up?

thanks! <3

[Queen Shelley]

Peanuts = Aflatoxins, search google. :( Almond butter, sure. Champion is easier, but if you scrape enough you can get most of it out. Then make a smoothie with extra fruits and voila, clean Vita-Mix too! :rolleyes:

[SmilingRawDancer]

I looked up aflatoxins....it seems to me pretty shifty :-\ They can exist in various vegetables as well.
I suppose I'll just be careful. I bought the peanuts pretty fresh, and kept them in the freezer....hm. Well.

I'll try the almonds soon! :)

[juliebove]

You shouldn't have to add oil to a nut butter. If anything, the end result will be too oily and you'll have to drain some off. At least that has been the case with me. Just keep processesing beyond the "flour" stage and you'll have butter.

[SmilingRawDancer]

Hmmm well the coconut oil becomes very hard when cold anyways, so it works well in this situation:) I have it in the fridge, and it's actually become pretty hard!

My brother (who is still SAD and thinks I'm insane, but is more and more interested in my lifestyle each day) tasted it warm and fresh out of the vitamix, and I swear, we stood by the sink for about 10 minutes eating the stuff! He said it's addictive :)
It's a weird concoction (peanuts and coconut..) but it tastes fantastic! Next time, I'm going to add some agave or stevia, as he pointed out that it would taste even better if it was a tad sweeter :)

<3

So almonds...tomorrow :)
Unsoaked?

[RawFoodieMom]

Yes, unsoaked.

Please update how the almond butter turns out, as it's very expensive here (and really hard to find raw) so I've been wanting to try making it on my own in the vitamix...

Thanks! :)

[SmilingRawDancer]

Well, I tried it today in the vitamix:)
I added 2 1/2 cups raw almonds, aprox. 2 tbsp. Coconut oil, and a little bit of vanilla (because of mom:)).
It was pretty thick, and didn't grind to a butter consistancy like the peanuts did, so I added water. THEN it started circulating in the vitamix, and I processed it for about 30 seconds or so.
I got marzipan. I think if I would add some honey/agave and a tad more water, and process some more, it would be more buttery, but I'll have to experiment more :)

[RawFoodieMom]

Thanks for the update! Keep us updated on the experimenting. I'll do some experimenting with almond butter on the weekend too and update my results. Hopefully we will come up with a winning process in the end! :)

[veganman]

One of these days, I plan to try it with soaked almonds. Has anyone tried that yet?

[rawfigure]

I have tried it with soaked then dried almonds and it is excellent. Too good to have in the house. :D

I ate raw peanuts once and disliked the taste in its natural state and thought no wonder they are raosted, toasted and dry roasted, to mask the taste !! :(

[SmilingRawDancer]

OK, I did a smidgen of research and came up with Vitamix' ideas:


Peanut or Cashew Butter


Yield: 1-1/4 cups (300 mL)







Processing Time: 1 minute
Speed: High


Ingredients

24 ounces (680g) roasted peanuts or cashews

Pour nuts in the Vita-Mix container. Secure 2-part lid. Select VARIABLE, speed #1. Insert tamper through lid opening. Turn on machine and quickly increase speed to #10; then to HIGH. Use the tamper to push the nuts into the blades. In 1 minute you will hear a high pitched/chugging sound. Once the butter begins to flow freely through the blades the motor sound will change from a high pitch to a low laboring sound. Stop processing. Remove nut butter to a container and store covered.

Note: Refrigerate in airtight container.

CAUTION:
Over processing will cause serious overheating to your machine! Do not process for more than 1 minute after mixture starts circulating freely.

Variation: Almond Butter
1/2 cup (120 mL) vegetable oil (add more if needed)

Substitute roasted almonds. Add oil if necessary, refrigerate and pour off excess oil next day.



For 3 cups almonds they used 1/2 cup oil.
(Of course, they roasted their almonds..I don't know if that changes the end result.)
I think the trick is in the processing time, and the added oil.
I only used 2 1/2 cups almonds, and I only added 2 tbsp. oil.
I'll up the oil, and process more...but in increments, so as to not kill my beloved Vitamix :)

[RawFoodieMom]

I have tried it with soaked then dried almonds and it is excellent. Too good to have in the house. :D

Hi rawfigure! :)

Did you add anything else to the mix, or just process soaked & dried almonds and processed it into a butter?

It seems like a great idea to use soaked then dehydrated almonds.

[tvillemom]

I don't have a vitamix....but I use a small coffee grinder to grind my nuts into flour...then I add a smidge of water and coconut oil and stir. I like the result! I would also soak (peel) and dehydrate my almonds. I also like to use cashews, they are actually my favorite. I think maybe because they are sweeter than almonds. Good luck. Maybe you could add some cashews to the almonds to make them sweeter, without actually adding honey??
Wendi

[sptygl]

just wondering, this sounds really nice
i love it on a piece of bread or cracker........... or muffin

or celery!!

i guess you can probably make 'peanut' butter out of any nut??
almond, pecan would be sweet but yummy!
walnut? brazil.........
hmmm :)