Sunday, February 27, 2011

Peanut in a blender

February is the cruellest month, screw Elliot. I've used more sick time this last 27 days than I have in the last five years. I've got the flu, laryngitis, strep throat and malaria all at once. I'm about ready to drop.

And there is simply nothing better for sickness than sesame noodles. We used to eat 'em all the time for lunch in China and they are still my go-to comfort food when I'm feeling a bit under the weather.

The problem with posting that recipe, though, is that I've promised Caitlin for, like, ever, that I'd post her my peanut sauce recipe. Normally I'd just make both and post both, but realistically I'm so sick that it's a challenge to even breathe consistently. So for lunch today I decided to make my fav fab peanut sauce recipe and then make sesame noodles with it instead. It worked out swimmingly and now I feel one step away from Styx.

Better Than Yours Peanut Sauce

1/2 cup unsweetened, unsalted peanut butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari, if you're a wheat whiner)
2 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
1 tbsp Blair's Original Death Sauce OR 1 tsp Dave's Insanity OR 1/2 tsp Blair's Mega Death Sauce, or 3 tbsp Sriracha (Rooster) Chile Sauce (turn down the garlic, then) OR 2 tbsp Sambal Oelek
1 tsp brown sugar, preferably demerara
about 2 tbsp minced cilantro, chives, parsley or a mix

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend the hell out of it.

You will need to add water to thin it down -- I leave the exact amount up to you, but 1/4 cup is a good starting point. I like to drizzle in a bit of sesame oil while the machine is blending, and surprisingly enough you may need to add a soupcon of salt (despite the soy). Don't be a wimp and leave out the sugar, especially if you're using Blair's... the sweetness helps to balance the flavours.

To make sesame noodle sauce: replace tahini for peanut butter and add a bit more hot water.

I serve this over everything and anything; as a dip, as a sauce, as a dressing, as a wound treatment and as a mud bath. It's simply marvellous and, as it says in the title, it's Better Than Yours.

Enjoy.

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