Quote:
Originally Posted by cdcox
The sugar helps with blending the flavors. I don't put enough in to make it taste sweet.
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Sweet cuts the heat [so you can put more heat in
] it also delays the 'hit' of the heat a bit, like until after you've had a couple spoonfuls already. Same reason your hotter BBQ sauces are a little sweeter. Peanut butter, really it isn't a 'must' but if you use the natural stuff, it provides more body and a little more umami. . . . Think of it analogous to stock or marrow/collagen. Thickens and smoothes instead of a beefy/beany stew. And flavor-wise it just enhances the beans, because duh it is one. Naturally, if you use regular Jif or Peter Pan, cut back on the sugar a bit.
A couple tablespoons of each for a 2-quart batch is more than enough. though up to a 1/4-1/3 cup of peanut butter won't hurt anything.