The Unexpected Ingredient In Whole Foods' PB&J-Inspired Burger

A simple recipe requiring just two ingredients, the PB&J has been around for many years and has become a mainstay in lunch boxes. According to the National Peanut Board, the recipe first appeared in 1901 in the Boston Cooking School Magazine of "Culinary Science and Domestic Economics" by Julia Davis Chandler, where she refers to it as the original. For well over a century, the easy-to-make sandwich has been a beloved recipe. A classic, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich has its share of iterations throughout the years, from the odd ingredient Channing Tatum adds to Elvis' famous sandwich (via Southern Living).

One of the more inventive takes on the sandwich comes from a grocery store. While only found in three countries, Whole Foods has become a popular store for health and wellness food fans. And the chain has gone so far as to change the "J" in its twist on the PB&J.

Instead of the "J" in PB&J standing for jelly, the "J" in Whole Foods' recipe stands for jalapeño. And in their version, the two classic ingredients are no longer perfectly sandwiched between two slices of white bread. Now, the peanut butter and jalapeño sits between two brioche buns. That's right, the grocery chain's unique PB&J is now a burger.

In honor of summer, Whole Foods recently put out a list of amped-up burgers. One option includes regular burger staples like a beef patty, onions, aged cheddar, ground mustard, and bacon. The twist comes with the addition of jalapeños and creamy peanut butter. The trick for a deliciously creamy sauce for the burger is to use peanut butter with no added ingredients, just peanuts and salt (per Whole Foods). The grocer also recommends spreading the peanut butter while the burger is still warm: "You want the peanut butter to warm up and melt a little to get a saucy consistency."

Whether PB&J burgers or sandwiches, the trick to the perfect peanut butter and jelly is all about contrast.