Macadamia Butter

Name: Macadamia butter — a very rich, buttery paste of roasted macadamia nuts (Macadamia integrifolia and Macadamia tetraphylla). It is one of the most expensive nut butters.

Description

The macadamia is native to the subtropical rainforests of south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales in Australia, where Aboriginal peoples ate the nuts for thousands of years. It was named by the botanist Ferdinand von Mueller after the Scottish-Australian chemist John Macadam. Commercial production grew mainly in Hawaii from the early 20th century, and Australia and South Africa are now major producers.

Nut butters are made by grinding roasted or raw nuts into a smooth or crunchy paste, and the best are simply nuts, with perhaps a little salt. Because macadamias are so high in fat, the butter is especially smooth, rich and sweet-tasting, with a creamy, almost buttery texture, and it tends to separate into a layer of oil on top.

Main nutrition value

Macadamia butter is very high in healthy monounsaturated fat and so is the most energy-dense of the nut butters, while being lower in protein and fibre than almond or peanut butter.

How best to be consumed

Macadamia butter is luxurious, so a small amount goes a long way.

1. Spread thinly on toast, banana or rice cakes.
2. Stir into porridge, or swirl into smoothies for richness.
3. Use in baking, such as cookies, or in sauces and dressings.
4. Choose versions with macadamias as the only ingredient, plus a pinch of salt.
5. Store in a cool place or fridge, and stir well.

Overconsumption could cause…

Macadamia butter is very rich, so portion control matters most.

1. Weight gain, since it is more calorie-dense than most other nut butters.
2. Added sugar, palm oil and salt in some commercial brands, so check the label.
3. Tree nut allergy, which can be severe, so anyone allergic to nuts should avoid it and check labels for cross-contact.
4. A cost that adds up, which may tempt people to buy blends with cheaper oils, so check the label.

GroupsNut Butters

Made fromMacadamia Nuts

Related foodsAlmond ButterCashew ButterChocolate-Hazelnut SpreadHazelnut ButterMixed Nut ButterPeanut Butter

Wikipedia — Macadamia, used for origin, naming and history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macadamia