Global Munchies: 10 Savory & Sweet Peanut Butter Dishes Around the World

Peanut Butter is a Powerhouse of nutrients and we thought never to find nourishing recipes that use this creamy childhood favourite.

But guess what, we are wrong!

Prepare yourself for not using jelly and heading into the wonderful world of peanut butter in international meals.

We will share 8 mouthwatering and creative recipes in this article, all including peanut butter, from sauces and gravies to sweets and desserts.

1. Thai Peanut Noodles

Feeling the urge to get some Thai food? Food that may make a nice change from Pad Thai is Peanut Noodles. This dish elaborated here is full of colour and taste. Thai Rice noodles are stir-fried with bean sprouts and scallions and then tossed in a delicious peanut sauce that is sweet, salty and a little spicy just as Thai food is supposed to be. The peanut butter is combined with sauce ingredients to coat the noodles, which are then topped with crushed peanuts giving it a crunchy touch, Peanut Noodles is a delicious and fun way to embrace peanut butter in international meals.

2. Maafe (West Africa)

For years it was prepared specifically during the Christmas season; today although Maafe is still considered a celebratory dish, it is made year-round; the creamy stew is made from poultry, lamb, beef or any other preferred meat slow-cooked into aromatic broth mixed with peanut butter, tomatoes and spiced with ginger and nutmeg. This makes it have a soft feel to it and a comparatively thick consistency while making the stew crunchy, rich in flavours and yes, fit for anyone. This thick meal also proves the versatility of peanut butter in international meals.

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3. Gado-Gado

What can be said about Indonesian food is that fresh vegetables and dark greens are essential and Gado-Gado proves this right. This calorie-rich food concerns salad prepared using green beans, cabbage, and bean sprouts which are blanched or steamed and combined with boiled eggs and fried tofu. It is topped off with a delicious, flavorful, and thick peanut sauce that binds all the components of the dish. The temperatures of ingredients and the textures of the foods as well are well combined, peanut sauce is inevitable when using peanut butter in international meals.

4. Satay

Satay is a type of kebab which is a speciality of the street foods that you can find in Southeast Asia. Tender and flavorful meats are put into skewers and grilled to savoury charred perfection, then marinated in a delicious warm peanut sauce. Peanut butter in international meals is often identified by the inclusion of the irresistible peanut sauce that tops the grilled meat. This is because the peanut sauce can be sweet and plain where you are seated or can be hot and spicy too, which makes each time you put it in your mouth a new experience.

5. Peanut Butter and Banana Sushi

Do you ever think sushi is only raw fish and seaweed? Japan doesn’t lack creative concepts either and, thus, Peanut Butter and Banana Sushi are not extraordinary for this country. While the original recipe calls for seaweed, the Japanese version employs sweet and soft slices of Japanese milk bread. The filling is exquisite: the distinct layer of creamy peanut butter topped with thin slices of banana. This sweeter and flavorful kind of sushi is a favourite in children’s meal boxes in Japan and though the flavour is very unique to include peanut butter in international meals, children all around the world will fancy it.

6. Peanut Butter Chicken Curry

Now it is time to pay tribute to Indian cuisine and capture the gastronomic atmosphere with Peanut Butter Chicken Curry. This tasty meal is made of chicken that has been slowly cooked to the bone with a rich spiced cream sauce that contains turmeric, coriander and garam masala. The secret ingredient? A heaped spoonful of smack, sticky peanut butter makes this a dish packed with a depth of the most delicious flavour. The use of peanut butter in international dishes is distinctive in this case when imposed in Indian comfort food like curry.

7. Peanut Butter and Bingsu

Bingsu is a mountain of shaved ice that was usually accompanied by concoctions from condensed milk and fruit syrups. This one also steps things up a notch with a generous pouring of peanut butter sauce on top, making it delicious while bringing out a richer, nuttier flavour. Usually, the nuts are toasted and the fruits are chopped, and the contrasting textures can also be complemented by a sensory contrast of the taste, taking this dessert to the next level. Peanut butter in international dishes does not get a better platform than this; here is a cool trend in Korea and here it is used in a tasty and crunchy manner.

8. Peanut Butter Plantain Fritters

Peanut Butter Plantain Fritters West Africa has another delicious option of peanut butter in world foods. Plantain, a cross between a banana and a potato, is mashed and blended with peanut butter to make a sweet and savoury paste with which the vegetable is coated before frying. These are deep-fried until they are brown hence making them crispy at the outer layer while soft in the middle. A sprinkle of powdered sugar or honey will complete it off in the best way possible. These fritters are common street food in West Africa, which fully confirms the versatility of peanut butter.

Conclusion

Peanut butter is a truly universal favourite that can enhance stews, disgusting sweets, and some other marvellous dishes. You can take away some major tips from this article and create an amazing recipe of your own.

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