Tigernuts: A recovered attempt at making butter

 

Tigernuts are tasty little tubers (not actually nuts) that pack a powerful punch when it comes to nutrition. I've had a bag of whole tigernuts in my pantry waiting to be used. In the past, I have purchased commercially made tigernut butter but of late, I've been unable to find it so I decided to try making it myself. The picture above is the end result....I wasn't successful in making butter, but I did make some excellent tigernut power balls!

Tigernuts are extremely hard and I decided to soak them for 24 hours. Then I tried to make butter using my food processor, my Vitamex and my mini food processor. None of these could break these tigernuts down into butter. I tried adding coconut oil to see if that would help things along. It didn't do much. After many minutes, the blender did manage to get them a little chopped up, it was slow going though and I was losing my patience. I put part of the mix into my ultra powerful mini food processor and that got things into smaller pieces, then the mix went back to the big food processor. I decided butter was just not going to happen. I didn't see how I would be able to get these tigernuts to a smooth consistency but I figured power balls would work perfectly. I can't pass along this recipe as it was a little bit of that, a little bit of this and then a little bit more of that until the dough was the right consistency for power balls. Here's the ingredient list though: tigernuts, oats, coconut, applesauce, coconut oil, flax seeds, chia seeds and cinnamon. In the end, I made a delicious treat and had a big clean up to do!

Benefits of Tigernuts:

  • Rich in Fibre: Tigernuts are an excellent source of dietary fibre.
  • Packed with Nutrients: Despite their small size, tigernuts are packed with essential nutrients. They are a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, while magnesium plays a crucial role in muscle and nerve function. Potassium is essential for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels, and phosphorus is important for bone health.
  • Healthy Fats: Tigernuts are also rich in healthy fats, particularly monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats.
  • Gluten-Free and Allergen-Friendly: For individuals with gluten sensitivities or allergies, finding nutritious and delicious snacks can be a challenge. Fortunately, tigernuts are naturally gluten-free and hypoallergenic, making them an ideal option for those with dietary restrictions.
  • Versatile and Delicious: One of the best things about tigernuts is their versatility. They can be enjoyed in various forms, including raw, roasted, as a butter, or ground into flour. Tigernut flour can be used as a gluten-free alternative in baking, adding a subtly sweet flavour.

Tigernuts are worth exploring and I highly recommend giving tigernut flour a try, I would suggest leaving the butter for a commercial kitchen though. 🤣

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