Groundnut oil - great in oriental cooking (Sainsbury's Groundnut Oil)

Member Name: fionamcg

Product:	Sainsbury's Groundnut Oil
Date:	26/05/08 (126 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A luscious oil, good health benefits, reasonable price

Disadvantages: Still more expensive than sunflower oil

Groundnut oil is a great oil to use as it is very pure and odour free. It is made from peanuts or monkey nuts, and so people who suffer from a nut allergy should certainly avoid it. It is great as a substitute for olive oil particularly in oriental cooking as olive oil clashes with the flavours and is too strong in comparison to groundnut oil. The high smoking point means it can be heated to a very high temperature making it ideal for stir frying; but it is also great for deep and shallow frying and as it is similar but not quite as heavy as olive oil, it is great for salads and mayonnaise.

I use groundnut oil regularly in cooking because aside from the quality of the oil, it is usually cheaper than olive oil. It also has great health benefits as it reduces the levels of bad cholesterol without lowering the levels of good cholesterol. This is a great dish that is perfect for groundnut oil.

Broccoli lemon chicken with Cashews

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of groundnut oil
340g pack of chicken breast fillets cut into strips - like goujons
2 garlic cloves, sliced
200g stem broccoli
200ml chicken stock
1 headed teaspoon of cornflour
1 tablespoon of clear honey
Zest of half a lemon and the juice of a whole one
Generous handful of cashews

1. Heat the groundnut oil in a large frying pan or wok. Add the chicken and fry for 3-4 minutes until golden.

2. Remove the chicken from the pan and replace with the garlic and broccoli. Stir fry for about a minute then cover and cook for 2 minutes more, until almost tender.

3. Mix the stock, cornflour and honey well, then pour into the pan and stir until thickened.

4. Tip the chicken back into the pan and let it heat through.

5. Add the lemon zest and juice, and cashew nuts. Stir and serve immediately with basmati rice or noodles.

Summary: A great oil that is very versatile, a fab alternative to olive oil