Wednesday, 10 March 2010

• Peanut flour, try it. It's good!

  
  

  
  I'm a fan of peanuts. I like peanuts, peanut butter, peanut cookies, peanuts in ice cream, peanuts in candy. I make a mean spicy peanut sauce for pasta and rice. They are yummy and nutritious. They are fattening. I don't love that last part so much. But about nine months ago I came across a product that allows me all the good things about peanuts without so much of the fat. That product is peanut flour.
  
  It can be purchased in light or dark roast with a fat content of 12% or 28%.The 12% flour is 50% protein. It does not have the same properties as wheat flour and cannot be substituted one to one, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have 100 other wonderful uses in the kitchen, from the traditional peanut butter sandwich to a truly wonderful baked pork chop.
  
  I purchase my peanut flour from Byrd Mill, an online source. I prefer a medium roasted flavor, which I achieve by mixing a bag of dark roast, with a bag of light roast. I buy the 12% fat content, because fat is an issue for me.  The lighter roast has a lighter peanut flavor and can be "hid" by stronger flavors in foods when you don't care for them to scream "peanuts" but want the nutritional value.
  
  This is a very versatile product. I'll give you a few ideas about how I use it.
  
  

  • Peanut non-butter...I mix the peanut flour with milk or water with some salt to the desired consistency, and use it just as I would normal peanut butter for a spread. If you prefer, you can sweeten it with honey, molasses or sugar.

  • I enjoy quick low-fat snacks of peanut non butter on bananas, or even make a peanut butter cup hot chocolate.

  • Experiment with adding it to baked goods. It's perfect for low-fat smoothies.

  • For a peanut butter candy filling, take store bought peanut butter, mix in enough peanut flour to achieve a mold-able consistency, add salt and sweetening to taste, dip in chocolate and you have a lower fat peanut butter cup.

  • Mix it into ice cream or pudding to increase the fiber and nutritional value. The milk in these products makes the peanut protein complete!

  • Add it to applesauce for a yummy nutritious kids treat.Make a low fat  Indonesian spicy peanut sauce with a fraction of the fat.

  And here is an idea for yummy Asian oven baked pork chops.
  

  • One packet of Kung-Pow or Szechaun Stir-Fry seasoning
  • 1/4 cup peanut flour
  • 1 1/2 c cracker crumbs (saltines, Ritz, Brenton's, Triscuits, etc)
  • or 1 1/2 cup cereal crumbs (Chex, rice Krispies)
  • Place all these in a bowl or bag and mix well.

  
  In a bowl mix:
  

  • 3 T soy sauce
  • 1T molasses
  • 3T wine or balsamic vinegar

  Directions:
  Heat oven to 375. Prepare baking sheet with aluminum foil or non stick spray. Moisten chops with the liquid, then coat with seasoned crumbs. Bake for 20 to 40 minutes depending on thickness of chops. For an easy side dish...take the remaining soy sauce mixture, add 2 tsp oil. Cut up into bit sized pieces celery, carrot, onion, red and green peppers. Place on sprayed baking sheet and roast along with the chops.
  
  Have you tried peanut flour? What's your favorite recipe?
  
  
  
  
  

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