Nut Butter Universe: A Review and a GIVEAWAY!

by JL Fields on February 27, 2013

If you read vegan blogs, you’ve been reading all about Robin Robertson’s latest cookbook Nut Butter Universe.

I was provided a review copy of the book and I must tell you it is loads of fun! First, who doesn’t love nut butters? (Well, unless you’re allergic). Second, nuts and seeds are one of five fabulous vegan food groups (along with vegetables, fruits, beans and legumes, and grains) so how great to have an entire book devoted to helping us get nutritious nuts and seeds into our diet?

I’m cuckoo for nut butter! After taking a cooking class at Natural Gourmet Institute and learning that one cup of nuts, one food processor and 12 minutes is all you need to make your own, it’s a staple for me. Enter Robin’s book – the recipes and possibilities are simply limitless. While the title is nut “butter” don’t be fooled! Robin also provides recipes for nut-based mayo, cheese, and cream and sour cream.

Robin starts with the basics about nut butters and then moves into recipes:

Soups: Peruvian Peanut Potato Soup, Cream of Chestnut Soup, Creamy Mushroom Soup, and more.
Starters: Smoke and Spice Almond Hummus, Savory Three-Nut Pate, Spinach-Walnut Crostini, and more.
Salads: Crunchy Coleslaw with Creamy Cashew Dressing, Pecan Lover’s Potato Salad, Mixed Greens and Papaya with Thai Peanut Butter Dressing, and more.
Side Dishes: Spicy Walnut Green Beans, Roasted Tahini Cauliflower, and more.
Main Dishes: Vegetable-Cashew Korma, West African Vegetable Stew, Sun-Butter Macaroni Pie, and more.
Sandwiches: Thai Tofu-Vegetable Wraps, Open-Face Peanut Butter and Tomato Broil, and more.
Breakfast & Beyond: Ginger-Walnut Scones, Apple-Almond Butter Pancakes, Pineapple-Coconut Smoothie, and more.
Desserts: Almond Joy Pudding, Tree-Nut Butter Cookies, and more.
Sweet Treats: Peanut Butter Cups, Power Ball Energy Bites, and more.

A solid addition to the appendices is a gluten- and soy-free recipe index.

I’m sure after seeing just a sampling of the wide variety of recipes included in this clever book that you want a copy, right? No problem, I‘m hosting a giveaway! Simply enter below!

If you can’t wait, or don’t win, no worries. Nut Butter Universe is available on Amazon!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tagged as: giveaway, nut butter, nut butter universe, robin robertson

jen345

I love using nut butters as part of a sauce in a grain bowl. Yum!
Ben

I’ve had my eye on this book ever since I first heard about it. Definitely intrigued!
Christine

I like to mix nut butter into pasta sauces – gives them an extra oomph.
A2

I use cashew butter and make it into cream and serve with poached pears – learned about this from Linda Watson.
Amanda

YES! I want to try all of those recipes! I’m betting that heaps of these will be kid-friendly, too.
http://www.facebook.com/sharanya.ram.5 Sharanya Ram

Love this book and nut butters.i use them in salad dressing
Jenn

I wasn’t expecting much from the name of the book (yes, I’m a blog reader and this is the first time I’m hearing of this book!), but the recipes sound intriguing!
Birgit

Love Robins books. I know this one will be a winner too.,
Hannah

oh my goodness! Nut butters – homemade? Yes please!
http://www.facebook.com/CanisFirebrand Paul Battani

I like using it as a spread on bread, as in a sandwich, or on some vegetables. I’m excited to try the nut-based mayo as a replacement for mayo/vegan mayo that I’ve been using so far.
http://www.facebook.com/cheryl.gillean Cheryl Gillean

Would love to win this book. Have not tried to make nut butters yet but it is on my list of new vegan foods to learn.
Jeni

I love using nut butter in sandwiches but also a favorite use is in mole sauces.
heidi

almond butter on an ezekial cinnamon raisin english muffin. yum!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=692426063 Asia Ferguson

I’d love to try the recipes in this book! My bf’s non-veg mother usually requests a cashew “cheese” dip I make (a combination of recipes from 2 different books) for our get togethers. I don’t use nuts nearly often enough, so it’d be great to have a bunch of recipes in one book.
Kelly C

I love using it in baking to replace oil or butter!!
flora

I’ve been coveting this book for a while now..!
Cheryl

These recipes sound wonderful! I look forward to trying them!
Susan G

Yum! Sounds wonderful. Really want to make that cashew queso. I love raw unsalted almond butter with blackberry jam on sprouted wheat toast or rice cakes.
Sam

I love eating nut butter as is, straight off the spoon!
http://www.facebook.com/jnawman Jenna Marie Kirkum

Soups and for my toddlers’ meals
Susan

on toast for breakfast
saniel

I like using it in my pancake batter or a sauce for my veggie burgers
Hilary

I love nut butter no matter how it’s used. Looking forward to this book one way or another.
Darbi

I put it in my oatmeal!
Becky n

Favorite way to use nut butter… for adding rich flavors to sauces and soups!
Michele W

Wow what a great variety of recipes
http://charj.myopenid.com/ charj

My favorite way to use nut butters is to add creaminess to smoothies and soups
D.E.

Since dealing with anemia, I’m discovering the wonders of peanut butter but I wonder whether there are other nut butters that have a good iron content or enhance iron absorption?
Pingback: Nut Butter Universe Blog Tour — Robin Robertson
Susan wymer

On celery with raisins
http://www.facebook.com/people/Terri-Jones-Cole/1514543136 Terri Jones Cole

I love noodles with peanut sauce!
http://www.betterwithveggies.com Heather Blackmon

I’m a nut butter addict, we usually have several different jars in the pantry! I love that there’s a whole book.
http://twitter.com/Liz_triathlete Elizabeth Sager

When I lived in Ghana I loved eggplant groundnut soup (groundnuts are what they call peanuts!)
http://www.facebook.com/steff.mora Stephanie Mora Stonemetz

yummy yum yum nuts!
http://bittsblog.blogspot.com bitt

in chocolate cups.
Beth

I love it in sandwiches!! PB&J is the best thing ever
Amanda

I like it on whole wheat toast.
WhyyesitisKate

, I love, love, love it in smoothies. Peanut butter and jam smoothies. So good.
Christy

spread on a rice cake with jam
Laura

I pretty much put pb on everything. Sweet, savory, I don’t really care. I can’t think of a food that would not be better with the addition of pb or some type of nut butter.
Sherry

I use all natural peanut butter to make one of my favorite recipes which is Chinese style noodles with peanut sauce……..YUM!!
Jill

This book sounds awesome. Would love to win it!
Ree

Love nut butter in a smoothie or with overnight oatmeal.
http://tastespace.wordpress.com/ janet @ the taste space

I like adding peanut butter to smoothies.
Tami

This book sounds wonderful, I am dairy free and use like alternatives to dairy that are not soy based.
Laurel

Looks like arming oneself with this book and Miyoko Schinner’s and you’ll have access to every recipe you’ll ever need.
http://www.facebook.com/DarksideKnitter Susan Taylor

This sounds like a fabulous book, I’ll admit my experience so far hs been limited to peanut butter. I think it’s time I branched out.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003086857196 Crystal Pak

I love making cookies with nut butters
Jennifer Bast

For a comforting sweet treat I put some nut butter in a little bowl, add a spoonful of jam and then eat with some gluten free pretzels.
Stephanie Hindman

I love nut butters!!
MelodyAsbury

One of my new favorite breakfasts is oatmeal with some cocoa powder and a spoonful of peanut butter mixed in. Yum.
susan

love almond butter from whole foods on a rice cake….quick breakfast
Alanna

I wish I had access to nut butters that aren’t ridiculously expensive. So far, I’ve had to stick to plain peanut butter (good thing I’m obsessed).
Jody Haller

There is a tie in the way I like to use nut butter. I use it in smoothies with coconut water for extra creaminess and I use it to make peanut sauce, which I could (but don’t) drink by the gallon. This books looks like a dream!
Monica

On a spoon… I regret nothing.
http://www.facebook.com/CatlynLawson Catlyn Lawson

I have to say making stir fry sauces with peanut butter is my favorite!
page

i love it plain, off a spoon!
Carolyn

I am a fan of peanut butter, but I look forward to trying “Crunchy Coleslaw with Creamy Cashew Dressing” and “Pecan Lover’s Potato Salad.” Along with “Spicy Walnut Green Beans” and “Vegetable-Cashew Korma!”
The Peace Patch

I love cashew butter on homemade blueberry pancakes.
http://www.facebook.com/jennifer.arpink Jennifer Arpink

I like nut butter with fruit (apples or banana), or celery.
RR

I love adding it to smoothies and also making creamy dressings for salads and Rice paper wraps.
radioactivegan

I love peanut butter slathered on celery .. I’m pretty tame, I suppose. I heard recently that the estimates of calories for some nuts are off, because we don’t really absorb all the calories in some nuts (like almonds). Of course, the jury is still out on that – but it’s interesting to wonder about!
Amy

Had a PB&J for lunch today – always a good use of nut butter. Otherwise, I also use it to make homemade salad dressings.
martie

Love Robin’s work! I like to make pb cookies!
Mina Azarnoush

I don’t use nut butters often, but when I do, I like to mix them into oatmeal with some bananas!
Paula

Love Robin Robertson & love nut butter! This book sounds like a winning combination!! Thanks for the giveaway offer.
Paula

My fave way to use nut butter is making homemade peanut butter cups.
steph

in oatmeal!
http://twitter.com/Tofu_Mom Marti Miller Hall

On Toast!! Toast is the best!!
Jessica Caneal

Smoothies are hands-down my favorite way to use nut butter!
Ashlie

On apples or baked sweet potatoes, with plenty of sea salt!
Lakshmi Dove

I love nut butters on steam veggies, a little bit go a long way
Laurie B

I like to use nut butters in sauces, because they add creaminess and subtle flavor.
April

Lately my favorite way has been carrots and celery with peanut butter. Simply delicious
http://wayfaringchocolate.com Hannah

Chestnut soup! Oh, I need this for that recipe alone!
- http://wayfaringchocolate.com Hannah
  
  But otherwise, my favourite way to use nut butter is on a spoon, direct to mah belly.
Ashley

I love it on toast with some jelly!
http://twitter.com/TheHealthyMaven Davida Kugelmass

I’m addicted to nut butter! Would love to try out some recipes from this cookbook!
Guest

I love baking with nut butter so some ideas about how to use it in savoury dishes would be great!
Renee

I love using nut butter in sauces.
Jesse @OutToLunchC

I LOVE nut butter, I probably eat is every day. I recently got a vitamix and I would love to get some nut butter recipes to make in it.
Jesse @OutToLunchC

I like nut butter in EVERYTHING but mostly in my overnight oats.
Chris

I’m just starting to dabble in making my own nut butters. This book sounds very interesting!
Erin

Chocolate peanut butter cups!
Gaby

I have a borderline (aka full blown, not willing to admit or change it) addiction to nut butters of all kinds. I actually cannot leave a whole peanut butter jar in my kitchen because it will be gone in under 24 hours! But this book…oh my! forget my addiction, I will have to restock all the nut butters!
Eliazbeth

I admit it…it can’t get better than a spoonful from the jar.
- Amy
  
  Guilty!
Josiane

That book sounds really interesting and inspiring! I love using nut butters, and I’m sure there are tons of creative uses for them I haven’t yet thought of, so Nut Butter Universe would be a most welcome addition to my bookshelves!
Cindy

Nut butter on toast. Nut butter with veggies or with fruit. Everywhere!
Michele W

Great recipes on this site, will be looking forward for this book.
http://www.facebook.com/cee.shelton.3 Cee Shelton

My favorite way to use nut butter is in vegan thumbprint cookies. I like eating it on toast, in oatmeal, with granola, milk and fruit, but pb & j cookies are so good! My daughter and I like to bake them together.
Judy

I use nuts and seeds in so many of the recipes that I cook now that I am vegan! I love love tahini and make a fantastic lemon tahini salad dressing! I also put peanut butter in with fruit. I hope I win this book because I can’t wait to try Robin’s new recipes!
http://www.facebook.com/jennifer.kliment.3 Jennifer Kliment

I have 2 favorite ways to use nut butter: first is in salad dressing second is as a coating for roasted root vegetables. Yum!
http://www.facebook.com/jessica.henson3 Jessica Henson

I would love to have this book. As a new vegan, I’m always looking for creative new recipes.
Jess C

For dippin carrots! ☺
http://twitter.com/VeganYackAttack Vegan Yack Attack

Hmm.. My favorite way to use nut butter? Pretty simple really, I just eat it with a spoon.
David

I like nut butter on toast
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