I’ve been a little busy lately, working on the technical side of the blog, as well as some side projects. And while I haven’t forgotten about the front end of the blog, I have been pressed for time.
So I share today a shorter post: a recipe for peanut sauce that comes together quite quickly, great for days and nights when you don’t have a lot of time.
Every time we have noodles with peanut sauce and vegetables – hot or cold – my husband asks why we don’t have it more often.
Until now.
Because now I’ve made a sauce I’m pretty happy with. I say ‘pretty happy with’ because I do like it, but depending on my mood and what vegetables I’m adding to this dish I still like to adjust a bit.
Sometimes I want more chilies or cilantro. When I eat it cold I like to add more soy sauce. If I’m sick with a cold, I increase the ginger.
But the base is the same; a good, solid peanut sauce.
Peanut Sauce
- 1½ – 2” piece of ginger, peeled and grated
- 1 large garlic clove, grated
- ½ tsp chili sauce (such as sambal olek)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp sugar
- juice of 1 small lime (divided)
- 1 – 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter
- ¼ cup water, as needed
- 1-2 tbsp chopped peanuts
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
I use an immersion blender for this, but the food processor would work, too, especially if you’re doubling the recipe. You could stir it all with a sturdy whisk or fork until it’s smooth, too; It’s just more work.
Grate the ginger and garlic into the measuring jug or bowl or whatever you’re mixing in, then add the chili, salt, sugar, 1/2 the lime juice, cilantro, peanut butter and soy sauce. Mix until well combined; add water a tbsp at a time to smoothen the sauce and make a salad dressing-like consistency. Taste and add more lime or soy if you want it. Maybe it will need a little more chilies for your taste.
I like to serve some limes wedges alongside at the table for each person to add, as they choose. Maybe extra soy sauce, too, or chiles, depending on who is eating this.
This makes a small jarful, around a cup. Enough to make a peanut-noodles-and-vegetables dish for a family, 2 times.
