Make Like Jamie Oliver and Cook With Peanut Butter More Often: Here's How

Peanut butter is one of the most popular spreads in the US. In 2020, nearly 300 million Americans spread it on toast, enjoyed it in a sandwich with jelly, or baked it into cookies. But peanut butter is more than just a delicious treat, it can also make for a great cooking ingredient, too. This common pantry staple can add depth of flavor to stir-fries, form the basis of a tasty, creamy dipping sauce, and even be used to thicken soups and stews. In fact, top vegan chefs like Miyoko Schinner, Gaz Oakley, Max La Manna, and even popular British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver have all developed recipes with peanut butter. Want to learn more about how to do it yourself? Check out some of our favorite vegan recipes with peanut butter below.

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Why cook with peanut butter?

There are many benefits to cooking with peanut butter. For one, it’s incredibly versatile and can be used in a wide range of dishes— including sauces, marinades, soups, stews, dips, and so much more—to add creaminess, thickness, and a boost of rich, nutty flavor.

But peanut butter is also good for our health, too. For the most part, the spread is made from a handful of simple, vegan ingredients, including roasted peanuts, oil, sugar, and salt (although some store-bought versions may contain more). When consumed in moderation (as it does contain low levels of saturated fat), peanut butter is a good source of protein, healthy fats, and B vitamins, as well as minerals, like magnesium, potassium, and iron.

On top of this, peanut butter is affordable and accessible—most of us have it on hand in the kitchen already, making it easy and convenient to grab when throwing together an evening meal or preparing lunch.

For more on the benefits of peanut butter (as well as the interesting history of the popular spread, which can be traced back to the Ancient Incas), check out our guide here. And if you’re feeling inspired to add a little peanut butter when you’re cooking, you can also check out seven of our favorite vegan recipes below—all of which feature the nutty, versatile, creamy spread in different delicious ways. 

How to cook with peanut butter: 7 vegan recipes to try

Hannah Kaminsky

1 Vegan Thai-Spiced Sweet Potato Stew

This nourishing vegan sweet potato stew—which is simmered in coconut milk—combines traditional Thai flavors with wholesome ingredients like sweet potatoes, bell pepper, green beans, and rich peanut butter. Finish with cilantro for a flavorful, comforting dish that’s super easy to prepare at home.
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Sarah Nevins

2 Root Vegetable Vegan Bowl With Creamy Peanut Sauce

This tasty vegan, nutritious bowl features caramelized sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and broccoli, which are served over rice and topped with spring onions, cilantro, and crunchy chopped peanuts. The creamy peanut sauce is the real scene-stealer. The combination of peanut butter, sesame oil, sriracha, ginger, maple syrup, tamari, and rice vinegar work together to add a spicy-sweet kick to the nutritious dish.
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Ashley Maddan

3 Vegan Smoky Tempeh Peanut Satay

Skewered tempeh is marinated in a vibrant Thai-inspired blend, including creamy peanut butter, smoked paprika, and soy sauce, in this deliciously smoky satay recipe. For best results, serve lightly charred with scallions and crushed peanuts.
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Nico Vera

4 Vegan Afro-Peruvian Carapulcra

This spicy chickpea stew, enriched with creamy peanut butter, comes from The Vegan Peruvian Kitchen cookbook. It features toasted chickpeas, hot Peruvian peppers, and five-spice powder, all of which help to infuse a delicious depth of flavor.
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Zhoro Apostolov and Michelle Cehn

5 Vegan Rainbow Spring Rolls With Peanut Dipping Sauce

With a colorful array of vegetables and tofu, these vibrant, fresh spring rolls are at their best when served with a creamy peanut dipping sauce. From The Friendly Vegan Cookbook, the dip combines soy sauce, lime juice, rice vinegar, sugar, ginger, garlic, chili flakes, and, of course, rich, thick peanut butter.
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6 Filipinx-Inspired Vegan Peanut Vegetable Stew

If you love peanut satay, you’ll definitely want to give this Filipinx-inspired vegan peanut vegetable stew a try. Taken from The Healthspan Solution cookbook, the dish is also enriched with smooth peanut butter, and features plenty of nourishing ingredients, including eggplant, long beans, squash, bok choy, and artichoke hearts.
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Nico Vera

7 Spicy Aji Verde Sauce

This spicy, green aji verde dipping sauce is made with a flavorful combination of serrano pepper, mint, lime, and herbs, but its thick, creamy texture comes from peanut butter and soy yogurt. For a delicious meal, serve with vegan beef and onion empanadas.
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Charlotte is a writer and editor based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.