Easy Peanut Sauce

Happy Monday Dabblers. If you are in Minnesota, I hope you are bundled up with a cup of tea and a dog sleeping on your feet like me (or at least 1 out of 3). Cold weather always brings on cravings for spicy, comforting food- which for me usually means a trip to Naviya's in Linden Hills. T's favorite dish there is chicken with peanut sauce, so for the last several weeks I've been working on developing a recipe for something similar at home. This sauce is easy-peasy and super versatile. Use it as a dipping sauce for chicken satays, pour it over rice or noodles, or my favorite (and dinner tonight), use it as a sauce for chicken and veggies. 

Easy Peanut Sauce

-1 13.5oz can of coconut milk

-1 c natural peanut butter

-3 tbsp tamari

-2 tbsp rice wine vineger

-1 tsp toasted sesame oil

-3 green onions, chopped

-1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust amount to your desired heat)

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat, combine the coconut milk and peanut butter. The heat will loosen up the pb and help you to incorporate it (ie. make it less blob-like). 

 

Stir gently until the pb is totally incorporated.

Next, measure and add in 3 tbsp tamari, 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar, and 1 tsp toasted sesame seed oil. If these are new ingredients for you, give them a little taste before adding them in so you can adjust this recipe to your liking! I always hesitate to purchase ingredients for a recipe if I am unsure about using them more than once, so allow me to encourage you...if peanut butter is your jam...buy all three bottles. I have been making this recipe once a week and it makes great leftovers for lunches/dinners throughout the week. 

Chop 3 green onions and add them to the mix! I like to add 1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes to this sauce to give it a subtle spicy backbone. Adjust the amount for your own spicy-levels, starting with less and building spice as you taste it.

 I love the color these two ingredients add to the sauce. 

Continue to heat on the stove for another 5 minutes, stirring gently. This allows the flavors to marry and percolate to the point of wonderful. Final step: Enjoy! I like to spoon the peanut sauce over veggies and chicken, and top the whole mixture with toasted sesame seeds.

Happy cooking, 

-The Delicious Dabbler