Spicy Szechuan Peanut Sauce

Total Time: 19 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 14 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup sesame oil
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
• 2 tablespoons grated gingerroot
• 1 1/2 teaspoons asian chili sauce or 1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (lemon at a pinch – use a little less)
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 lb noodles, of your choice
• finely chopped scallion
• chopped roasted unsalted peanuts

Recipe

• 1 blend all ingredients in blender until smooth.
• 2 transfer to a jar with a tight-fitting lid (keeps 1 week, chilled; or distribute among 3 small containers and freeze what you don’t want to use within a week).
• 3 to use: boil 1 lb asian noodles or spaghetti until al dente.
• 4 toss with ¾ cup of sauce (or more to taste), finely chopped scallions and chopped peanuts.
• 5 note: in the winter, i eat these noodles hot.
• 6 in summer i rinse under cold water, cool and drain and serve them as a spicy noodle salad, often adding shredded bok choy, carrots, snowpeas, lots more of the peanut sauce, etc.