3 ways to jazz up dinner with peanut butter
Jennifer Chandler
When most people think of peanut butter, they think of dessert or the classic PB&J sandwich, but did you know that peanut butter is absolutely wonderful in savory dishes? Here are three ways to turn a jar of peanut butter into a delicious treat.
Make a salad dressing
There is a reason most restaurant Chinese chicken salads are made with a peanut dressing. Cloyingly sweet peanut butter makes a delicious dressing when paired with Asian-cuisine staples such soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar and fresh ginger.
Peanut butter dressing is also very versatile. In addition to a salad dressing, use it as a dipping sauce for veggies, spring rolls or chicken satays.
Make a soup
Peanuts are the base of soups in many countries, including Thailand and Africa. These nutty and flavorful soups are traditionally filled with lots of veggies. You can add chicken, noodles or rice to make the dish more filling.
Make a marinade
Peanut butter makes a delicious base for a marinade.
It’s wonderful paired with grilled chicken, shrimp and even tofu. Chicken satays (skewered thin strips of chicken) are probably one of the most popular recipes made with a peanut marinade. When serving, sprinkle chopped peanuts over the top for a peanut-y garnish.
One last tip
When using peanut butter in a recipe, either creamy or crunchy will work. If using fresh ground peanut butter, you may need to add a little oil or honey to get the desired texture and sweetness the recipe calls for.