Alternatives to peanut butter

[bigfoot3000]

I'm a lover of peanut butter and have been recently talking to some pals from the states where they have Almond, Walnut, Pecan butter etc... Have any of you tasted these and where can I get them in the uk?

[pastafreak]

Healthfood shops....and I have seen 'Meridian' brand in Sainsbury.'s
I am sensitive to nuts,so instead I have seed butter....either pumpkin or sunflower, Both are available from Holland & Barrett at around £2.50. I put it on Vogels Sunflower and Barley Bread........yum.

[bigfoot3000]

Thanks for the reply pastafreak though I'm a little confused, you say that Sainsburys's have the meridan brand of which type butter? What is the seed butter's consistency and what sized jars do they come in?

[bigfoot3000]

I've tried searching for these items on h&b website and all I'm getting is bodybutter!

[madmaggot]

If you have a grinder you can make any of these by grinding the nuts to flour then adding a little milk or water.

[bigfoot3000]

No I don't have a grinder. I have seen the recipes floating about on google so if I can't find them here then I'll buy a grinder and attempt to make them!

[pastafreak]

I'll see if I can find some links

The one in Sainsbury's is a nut butter.....H&B have several versions
The seed butters are a bit course....but not hard and crunchy like peanut butter.They also have a layer of oil on the top. If you made your own...oil,not water would be added.

[NoMercy]

My fave health store back in the UK (Hereford) does Cashew nut, Macadamia, pumpkin and other seed butters. They also sell the unrefined nut oils which are great for salads. Have you tried Halva?

[pastafreak]

http://www.meridianfoods.co.uk/

And these are available at H&B....and other healthfood shops

http://www.carleys.co.uk/

[pastafreak]

Oh god...I LOVE halvah.....bliss....

[NoMercy]

Me too, I could eat it by the bucket load... :-)

[NoMercy]

Some halvas are nut butter-based, and are available to buy in all good health shops. They are a delicious alternative to chocolate and other such sweets.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halva

[Clanad]

We make a lot of homemade nut butters here in the western U.S. It really is easy, but don't you dare add milk or water. For example, almond butter is just a cup of almonds, a pinch of sea salt and 1 tablespoon (just under an ounce) of any good oil, such a EVOO...just grind the nuts in any kind of handy grinder (a food processor works best though) adding the salt, grinding until the mix becomes fairly smooth and drizzle in the oil a little at a time to reach the consistency you like.

Works well with walnuts, cashews, Brazil nuts and pecans. Keep in mind the resulting butter is very high in calories and fats and they don't keep very well. Place the end product in a sealed jar an refrigerate. It's best just to make a little at a time... perhaps a cup or two... (one additional hint, roast the nusts just slightly, maybe 5 to 8 minutes in a 350 (F) degree oven . Spread the nuts on a foil covered cookie sheet, makes the butter riicher tasting)

[bigfoot3000]

Well thanks for the answers and tips pastafreak, nomercy and clanad, I will be tasting and maybe making the ones mentioned in the future and I will report back here and let you know how it went. Yes I have tasted halva as a child nomercy, I forgot it existed till you mentioned it, where do they sell it?