Almond butter is easy to use in all sorts of delicious ways across numerous cuisines.
Almond butter is made of ground almonds, usually with a bit of oil and salt added for texture and taste. It is not the same as almond paste or marzipan, both of which are made from finely ground almonds (with sugar added) and used in baking.
The texture of almond butter is similar to peanut butter (they are sold alongside one another at the grocer), but differ in taste. Whereas peanut butter has a pronounced peanut flavor, almond butter has a richer, creamier taste that is nutty, but (oddly) not distinctly almondy.
Nutritionally, they are similar. Two tablespoons of peanut butter have 188 calories and 16 grams of fat. Almond butter has 202 calories and 18 grams of fat. Almond butter can be substituted 1-for-1 in recipes that call for peanut butter.
It’s easy to make your own. Simply grind whole toasted almonds in the food processor until chunky-smooth. You may need a drizzle of canola oil to get the consistency you want. Consider using smoked or tamari almonds for an extra burst of flavor.
— J.M. Hirsch
Associated Press
