Crunchy Peanuts ~ Dates Butter With Flax Seed.

Crunchy Peanuts ~ Dates Butter With Flax Seed ........ Goes well as a spread on toasted bread slices / Roti etc ....... Yumz ......

Peanuts / Shengdana / Ground nuts / Kadlo / Kadle are nuts that are universally famous for their high oil content. They are also good for health as they have lots of stored health benefits in them. However, due to high fat content, these should be consumed with care as over consumption of the same is not good and may lead to heat in the body and also excess weight in children and elders too. Oil is extracted from ground nut and the same is used in cooking too. When peanuts that are roasted / plain are ground to paste (Without water) they release oil and become a smooth buttery paste. This is known as peanut butter. 

Peanut butter is a hit with children and they simply love it when applied on toasted bread slices, roti etc. A good and nutritious butter when spread between bread slices and packed off in tiffin boxes. As peanuts are good for health, this is one of parents best choice to send in children's lunch box. Also this can be prepared and stored for 2-3 weeks in the fridge. I am not aware of homemade peanut butter shelf life as in my home it has never lasted for more than a month in the fridge. Also I never make anything in bulk and eating the same dish over and over again not only tends one to dislike it, but it then becomes a bore also. I like preparing new things so I just make about 250 gms in all whenever I prepare the same. 

You will needs freshly roasted peanuts for making peanut butter as the peanuts should be between warm~hot when grinding it for the oil to get released from the nuts. So even if you have roasted the peanuts ahead of preparation microwave or tava fry it to medium hot before grinding for the same. DO NOT ADD ANY WATER WHILE GRINDING PEANUTS TO MAKE PEANUT BUTTER as then the whole think will turn not only rancid in a few days but may also curdle while grinding. Addition of crushed peanuts to the butter for crunchiness, Crushed roasted flax seeds and dates syrup is exclusive my take off on the peanut butter. I added these as per my family liking and for extra nutrition. You may leave out the same if not desired.

You will need : 2 cups of peanuts. 1 tablespoon of any edible oil preferably peanut oil, little bit of salt say 1/3 tsp only, 2-3 tablespoon of dates syrup or ¼ - ½ cup of seedless dates, 2 tablespoon of flax seeds and 2-3 tablespoon of sugar.  

Dry roast peanuts in a kadai. I microwaved them. Rub it between your palms when still hot and loosen the skin. Remove the skin as much as possible. A few if left on does not matter. But see to it that you them properly. 

Now remove a handful say about 1/3 cup of the crushed peanuts and keep it aside. This is to be added later on for crunchiness. If you do not want, you can leave out this step and proceed with the preparation.

Dry roast the flax seeds in a kadai. I microwaved them for 3-4 minutes. Cool a little bit and put it in a dry mixer grinder along the 1/3 cup of the roasted and skin removed peanuts kept aside and pulse till crushed ie. coarsely powder. Keep this aside to be added on later. You can leave out addition of flax seeds if not desired.

Put the remaining peanuts while still hot in a mixer grinder and pulse for a second, mix the peanuts and again pulse it for a few seconds. Run the mixer for about 2 minutes till the peanuts are grainy in texture and turns a little bit sticky.

Now add in the 1 tablespoon of oil mix well and run the mixer for a minute or two. Stop and mix well by loosening the peanuts that are stuck to the sides of the jar of mixer and further grind till you see oil getting released from the peanuts. It will take about 5-10 minutes depending upon the speed of the mixer. If the peanuts are just hot the oil gets released faster. Now add in the salt, sugar, flax seeds coarsely powdered and dates syrup and run the mixer for another minute or two till well blended. Lastly add in the coarsely powdered peanuts and flax seeds kept aside and mix well. Run for another minute. Done.

Remove the peanut butter in a clean bottle and store in the fridge. Serve by spreading it in a thin layer on tava fried bread slices or hot bread toast, or as a spread on roti or any other dish of your liking. I sometimes just like to eat a spoonful of the same as it is. Remains good for 2-3 weeks in the fridge. Remove 10-15 minutes before serving time from the fridge, for the peanut butter to come to spreading texture. Enjoy these in grilled sandwiches too. You can add them even while baking cakes, biscuits, milk shakes etc. Homemade peanut butter with dates and flax seed is ready to be used as and when you wish.