This raw/vegan “butter”/margarine recipe is not only quick and easy, but also free of palm & hydrogenated oils. The base is comprised of one of the healthiest (and most delicious) fats available: a very mildly flavoured, raw, unrefined coconut oil.
Despite having been unable to eat any of my own experiments over the past few weeks (I have been fasting & juicing only), my “taster” assured me that this particular batch was divine and tasted “very much like salted butter.” This experiment was developed quite some time ago (when cooked food was still an option in my diet – it’s incredible on cinnamon toast & in brown rice), posted on the blog by special request, and is being offered as my gift to you in honour of Earth Day 2013.
Ingredients:
• 1 Cup raw, unrefined, virgin organic coconut oil. I used Living Tree Community’s brand, which is quite delicious with a very light (nearly nonexistent) coconut aroma/flavour.
• 2 Tbsp organic & RAW extra virgin olive oil (first cold pressed). I prefer the unrefined variety, USA sourced. As most readers are aware, I choose to support non-commercial U.S. farmers as much as I possibly can since having returned to live in the States. After extensive research and sampling, I have found that the olives & oils from the farm linked above are absolutely unbeatable (please be sure to let them know I sent you)! =)
• 1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt (or more, to taste)*
• 1/8 tsp (or less) turmeric (creates a yellowish “butter” colour – turmeric also provides anti-inflammatory properties)
*please note: I suggest grinding even the “fine” consistency salt even further down with a mortar & pestle so that salt is a lighter, powdery consistency. Salt should be as powdery as possible for this recipe, to reduce sinking/settling during congealing process. Granular salt has a tendency to collect in one place, which will create an uneven flavour and texture in delicate, liquid-based recipes such as these.
Equipment needed:
– Liquid measuring cup
– Measuring spoons
– Shaping mould or container
– Vitamix, or similar high-speed blender (a regular blender could also work, though the high-speed mechanism of the Vitamix seems best for whipping & incorporating ingredients)
Preparation:
Important note: Coconut oil should be in liquid form. If it is a white solid, place a well-sealed container of it into a bowl of very warm water until liquification occurs.
Blend all ingredients together in Vitamix at high speed, but be sure to keep from allowing the mixture to heat up (touching the sides of the carafe should help with monitoring any heat being generated during blend time).
Place receptacle container into a bowl of ice water, then pour “butter” mixture in as soon as blending has finished (pouring it into a cold container will cause it to congeal quickly, which will keep the oil from separating from the salt and turmeric. Separation will kill this recipe, so please do be careful).
Yields two “regular” sized sticks of butter (or kept singularly in a covered tub – I would use glass or stoneware), which can be stored for several weeks or longer in a refrigerator.
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I do not have a Vitamix. I do have a blender and a food processor. Would I be able to make this with either of these?
Hi Mary,
Cheers for your question. Since having posted this recipe, I have received feedback from some people who have used regular (non-high speed) blenders and reported positive results. In fact, I’m actually considering making my next batch in a blender instead of the Vitamix. I would think it might be too messy for the food processor (mine doesn’t do so well with liquids).
Hi,
Your recipe looks fantastic!! I’m super glad to have found a vegan butter recipe without lecithin. Can we use your butter in recipes (crusts, making bread, etc)?
Hi Annemarie,
Thank you for your comment! When still eating cooked food, I successfully managed to incorporate this recipe into pie crusts. I have also received positive feedback from friends who have reported that this recipe has worked well in their baking projects.
Personally, I occasionally enjoy eating it in raw form with raw breads, porridge, etc.
I hope you find a great deal of pleasure and success in using this recipe in whichever ways you deem suitable to your own needs. =)
Is this butter good for a butter spread – to spread over toast?
Hi Tahlia! Thank you for your question. I’m certain that it would suit your purpose quite well, as it worked perfectly as a spread over raw bread (which had been brought to a temperature around 93ºF in my Sedona food dehydrator). To see how beautifully and evenly it melts at slightly over room temperature, please view my entry on “Raw Apple Cinnamon Porridge” for a detailed image of this recipe in action. =)
Looks very interesting. I am thinking of making an avocado butter based on this. If I do, I’ll post it on my food website and be sure to give you a shout-out.
Do you taste the coconut in this at all?
Greetings, and many thanks for your feedback! Please forgive my lengthy delay in response time – holiday chaos has kept me at bay over these past few weeks, so I’m just now working on playing “catch-up” with everything!
I’m intrigued to learn more about your avocado idea (I <3 avocados!), and will certainly check out your site. =)
When I make this recipe, I do *not* taste the coconut oil. However, I've only ever made it using raw & unrefined coconut oil from Living Tree Community Foods (which already tastes more "buttery" than coconut-esque). Results may vary with different oils, depending upon the flavour of those raw ingredients.
I hope that information may be helpful to you in some way!
thanks for your recipe. can i make frosting out of it? if you have tried, can you please post the recipe here…
I want to second the thank you for having a recipe that didnt include any litchien! When I did a search for its safety,it wasnt something I wanted to include in any recipe! So again,thank you so much!
Hello Meg!
I see no reason why you could not use it for frosting, though I would not use it for such as all of my frosting recipes are comprised of different elements (all raw, and no “butter” necessary). I’m assuming that you’re hoping to use it for a cooked food recipe? If you do opt to try it for such a project, best of luck and please let us know of your experience! =)