Choosing Nut and Seed Butters + Toasted Sunflower Seed Butter Recipe

Posted by Hiba on Jun 07, 2015 in Recipes & Food

Growing up in an Arab family, I knew all about tahini or sesame seed paste. It was the magical ingredient needed to make hummus taste like hummus. Yet beyond hummus, I never thought of using it or any other nut or seed butter for anything else.

It was only when I started reducing my dairy consumption and getting over my fear of fats that I discovered nut and seed butters made simply from a nut or seed that has been ground into a creamy paste. The healthiest kinds have only one ingredient – the nut or seed, without added salt, sugar or oils.

Recently, I started making my own almond butter and it has become a staple in my kitchen.

Beyond tahini though, I wasn’t familiar with any seed butters. Until I started thinking: Could sunflower seeds become an interesting paste that I could use in a similar way to almond butter?

I had no choice but to try. I started by toasting the sunflower seeds to bring out their taste and make them easier to digest. I then put them in my food processor and ground them until they became a creamy spread. The taste is absolutely delicious with a subtle woodsy, even slightly smokey, taste.

This took about 10 minutes, with time needed to stop and scrape down the sides – although the length of time will depend on your food processor.

Making your own nut or seed butter is a lesson in trust. When you see how your nuts or seeds are being ground, it is hard to believe they could ever become a creamy paste. Yet in the kitchen as in life, we sometimes simply need to trust that we are exactly where we need to be – or in this case that your sunflower seeds are on the path to becoming a creamy spread.

Using Nut or Seed Butters

I use nut and seed butters in many different ways as they are a tasty way to add healthy fats and protein. They are also very filling, so a little goes a long way!

Spreads

As a savoury spread over crackers, vegetable sticks, apple slices or pancakes.

As a sweet spread mixed with a little sweetener and spices or cacao as in this recipe or in this chunky Nutella spread.

Sauces

Use them instead of oil to make a salad dressing: Simply mix with water and add lemon, salt and pepper or other spices.

Smoothies

Add a spoonful to smoothies. The healthy fat actually makes it easier for the body to absorb nutrients from the fruits and vegetables.

Breakfast

Add a spoonful to porridge to make it more creamy (instead of milk) or mix a little with water in a bowl and stir well to make a crude nut or seed milk for muesli.

I also make a lazy almond milk with just almond butter and water blended together in this iced coffee recipe.

A baked sweet potato with a little nut or seed butter and berries makes a very satisfying and filling breakfast.

Desserts

I sometimes add a little to dark chocolate to give it a creamy taste. This is absolutely divine!

How to Make Toasted Sunflower Seed Butter

Preheat oven to 135 degrees Celsius.

Put about 250 grams or 1 cup of raw, unsalted, organic sunflower seeds onto a tray and toast them in the oven until they are crunchy and lightly browned – about 30 minutes.

sunflower seed butter1

Leave the seeds to cool slightly then put them in a food processor at high speed. You will have to stop a few times to scrape down the sides.

Like I mentioned earlier, when you seed your seeds looking like this, it really is a question of trust! You might have to stop your food processor and allow it to cool down before continuing.