Is peanut butter vegan? And what are their origins?

Since the days of the Inca Empire, people have been making peanut paste by roasting and grinding raw peanuts. This should come as no surprise. The end product is tasty, high in , and full of beneficial fats and vitamins. Peanut paste, the precursor to what we now know as peanut butter, is a popular food item in many parts of the world. However, American consumers may be the biggest fans of this nutty butter. The average American consumes about three pounds of peanut butter each year, according to some estimates. That's a lot of peanuts when you think about the size of the US population (almost 330 million).

However, peanut butter has many other benefits than its healthiness and deliciousness. Interestingly, the present iteration of the spread has deep roots in the vegan movement's origins. Here we explore the history of the popular nut butter and all the modern uses it has (hint: it's not just for ).

A brief overview of peanut butter's history.

Even though the Incas were the first to develop a peanut paste, their creation was very different from the peanut butter we're used to. According to the National Peanut Board, the modern incarnation of peanut butter first appeared in the late 1800s or early 1900s (an organization that supports peanut farmers across the US).

Canadian scientist Marcellus Gilmore Edson developed and patented a peanut paste recipe (which he termed “peanut candy”) in the 1880s. About 10 years later, a doctor and inventor named John Harvey Kellogg (yep, the same person who created the cereal industry) developed his own peanut butter recipe and began recommending it to his patients as a healthy meat substitute.

Kellogg, a devout Seventh-Day Adventist, had mixed feelings about the meat business. A few decades after creating peanut butter, in 1923, he wrote a book titled The Natural Diet of Man in which he deemed meat “useless and harmless.” Nothing positive can be said about it, he wrote. That philosophy led him to create peanut butter, which he promoted as a nutritious meat substitute.

Later in the twentieth century, an inventor by the name of Ambrose Straub improved upon Edson and Kellogg's methods by developing a machine that could automatically churn out peanut butter. And then, with George Washington Carver's guidance, the peanut butter industry took off. The peanut, long connected with the modernization of society, was popularized after an agricultural expert identified 300 uses for it. The peanut butter industry has flourished worldwide because to these men's innovations. Its current market value exceeds $5 billion.

Is there any vegan peanut butter?

In today's market, peanut butter is often produced with few ingredients. Ingredients include roasted peanuts, sugar, and salt. It's a good idea to read the ingredient list on the back of the container before making a purchase, as some items may contain honey or fish-based omega-3. Peanut butter is typically considered vegan.

Do peanut butter jars contain any butter?

Real dairy butter (which isn't vegan because it's manufactured with animal milk) isn't found in peanut butter, which is why it's considered vegan. The “butter” in the name may throw you off, but it actually refers to the spread's butter-like feel and consistency rather than any actual butter or butter substitutes.

Benefits of Peanut Butter

When it comes to protein, Kellogg had it right about peanut butter. About 25 grams of protein can be found in a 100 gram serving of the spread. Not only does it provide a good dose of fiber, but it also has heart-healthy monounsaturated fats like oleic acid and omega-6 fatty acids like linoleic acid. In addition, it is a good way to get the minerals copper, magnesium, manganese, and vitamins E and B3.

Peanut butter is low in saturated fat, yet many nutritionists still advise limiting your intake. Peanut butter, like many other nut butters, is generally regarded as a nutritious food choice.

Consumption of peanuts or peanut butter was associated with a 34% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease in the Nurses' Health Study, one of the largest examinations examining women's risk of chronic disease.

DIY Peanut Butter: The Step-by-Step Guide

Peanut butter can be found at most supermarkets. If you're a true devotee, though, you might always try your hand at creating it from scratch. Very little effort is required. All you have to do to make this peanut butter is roast some peanuts and then puree them in a food processor, as instructed in this recipe from Jessica in the Kitchen. Then, flavor with sugar, salt, or , if you like. It could take less time than going to the grocery shop.

Vegan peanut butter recipes

Once you have your peanut butter on hand, be it store-bought or homemade, the obvious next step is to use it to make a sandwich or spread it on toast. If you're in the mood for some culinary adventure, you might even use it to create a decadent dessert, snack, or even savory dinner. Here, for your convenience, are several peanut butter recipes.

  1.  Chocolate-Peanut Butter Bars

These bars are incredibly easy to make and taste a lot like peanut butter cups. Besides peanut butter, vegan butter, chocolate chips, graham cracker crumbs, and sugar are all you need to whip up a batch of these tasty treats. Not difficult at all.

Get recipe here:

  1. Chocolate-Chip Oatmeal-Peanut-Butter Cookies

You can make a batch of these healthy and delicious oatmeal peanut butter cookies on the weekend and enjoy them for breakfast or a snack all week long. You don't even have to preheat the oven because they're no-bake.

Get recipe here:

  1. Vegetable Stew with Peanuts

Blend peanut butter with a variety of ingredients like , beans, broth, tamari, liquid smoke, and more for a rich and flavorful stew with Filipino influences. It's the perfect midweek pick-me-up since it's meaty, warming, and packed with flavor.

Get recipe here:

  1. Peanut Butter and Maple Syrup Pancakes

Oatmeal or a fast food bar may be all that's available for breakfast on the days you're in a rush. Pancakes are served on the off days. Eat this stack of peanut butter and maple syrup pancakes in bed, where they belong.

Get recipe here:

  1. Chocolate Peanut Butter with Banana

Feeling the need for dessert after dinner? This vegan ice cream requires very few ingredients and steps, but it will quickly replace store-bought ice cream as your favorite dessert. Bananas, chocolate powder, cinnamon, some of your smoothest peanut butter, and a blender are all you need to make this delicious treat.

Get recipe here:

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