Peanut

About

Raw peanuts have a beany flavor. Roasting or frying develops sweeter notes with hints of chocolate and meat, along with a vegetal undertone, producing a complex flavor that pairs well with rich meats, sweet shellfish, and tart fruits like apple and lime. Ground into peanut butter, the flavor becomes sweeter, saltier, and slightly bitter. Peanut pairs with an unusually wide range of international cuisines.

Pairs well with peanut

• EaPotatoPeanut's meaty character pairs naturally with potato, seen in Colombian empanadas de pipián (fried potato and peanut pastries served with…
• FrTomatoThe West African stew mafe combines peanut and tomato in a sauce that stays constant across variations made with chicken, goat or beef.
• SpCinnamonCastries Crème, a peanut liqueur, combines a strong peanut-butter flavor with subtle notes of cinnamon and brown sugar.
• FrAppleGrated or sliced apple in a peanut butter sandwich is a less sugary alternative to jam, and a tart apple like Granny Smith provides a more…
• RoChocolatePeanuts were historically compared to cocoa in flavor, leading to cheap chocolate substitutes; the Goo Goo Cluster (1912) was an early…
• CrCoconutA frequent pairing in Indonesian cooking.
• MeBeefIn the Peruvian dish anticucho, skewered meat-traditionally ox heart, increasingly beef-is marinated in vinegar, garlic, chili, cumin and…
• BeMintMint and peanut butter are sometimes combined in sandwiches, a pairing that makes more sense in light of the chopped mint and roasted…
• MaShellfishSatay sauce turns skewered mussels or large shrimp into a rich dish, while the Brazilian stew vatapá simmers shellfish in a…
• MePorkPeanut and pork appear in an Americanized take on dan dan noodles, not part of the authentic Sichuan dish, stir-fried minced pork with…
• MeChickenKung pao chicken, a Sichuan dish, combines diced chicken with peanuts, dried chilies, and scallions in a stir-fried sweet-savory sauce,…
• GrChiliCapsaicin dissolves in fat, not water, so oily peanuts are thought to help neutralize chili's burn; peanut's tryptophan may also counter…
• MeLambLamb and peanut appear together in a Bolivian soup or stew, in West African mafe, and, less commonly, in Southeast Asian-style satay,…
• CiLimePeanuts flavored with lime, or lime and chile, are popular in Mexico, sold packaged or fresh from street vendors, fried in pork fat and…
• WoCarrotA carrot and peanut salad, grated carrot mixed with salted peanuts, red wine vinegar, peanut oil and a little sesame oil, balances the…
• CrBananaA fried peanut butter and banana sandwich on white bread was reportedly Elvis Presley's favorite, without bacon -- a common misconception…
• GrCilantroSubstituting cilantro and peanuts for basil and pine nuts turns pesto into a Vietnamese-style sauce, good tossed with warm egg noodles,…
• EaCelery'Ants on a log,' an American snack of celery stalks filled with peanut butter and topped with raisins, balances celery's crisp bitterness…
• GrCucumberThe Indian dish khamang kakadi combines diced cucumber, roasted crushed peanuts, chopped green chili and grated coconut, dressed with…
• SuAsparagusAsparagus's rich, meaty flavor suits peanuts well, particularly with an Asian-style dressing of sunflower oil, lemon juice, light soy…
• FrGrapeGrape jelly, traditionally made from Concord grapes, is the classic partner for peanut butter in the American peanut butter and jelly…
• SuBroccoliCrunchy peanut butter pairs well with broccoli, whose florets catch crumbs of peanut; the combination works in dressed salads or in…
• BeBlack CurrantPeanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the U.S.