Spiced Peanut Dressing and Dipping Sauce

Spiced Peanut Dressing and Dipping Sauce

Two versions of the iconic spicy peanut sauce with lime and ginger. Sweetened with orange juice, it is as thick or pourable as you need. Perfect to spice up any winter salad or noodle bowl.

Print Pin

Course: dip, dressing, sauce

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: gingery, spicy

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 8

Servings:6 people

Author: The Wild Epicurean

Equipment

1 mini blender

Ingredients

Cooked Peanut Sauce (dipping)

½ cup peanut butter or peanut roasted and ground
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sweet soy sauce (Kecap Manis)
½ tsp fish sauce optional
2.5 cm finely grated ginger
2 cloves finely grated garlic
3 shallots finely minced
1 tbsp coriander root or stems. Save the leaves to garnish!
3 small red chillies and one banana chilli or 8 small red chillies
1 tsp ground coriander
⅓ tsp cumin
2 tbsp coconut cream
2 tbsp orange juice
salt and ground white pepper black pepper is also fine
coconut or olive oil
toasted peanuts to serve

Simple Peanut Sauce (dressing)

½ cup roasted and ground peanuts or pure peanut butter
2 cloves garlic - finely grated
2.5 cm fresh ginger finely grated
1 fresh chilli or 4 dried red chillies
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
½ tsp ground coriander
½ tsp fish sauce
2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp toasted sesame seed oil
2 tbsp fresh orange juice
1 tbsp fresh mint and or coriander
1 spring onion to serve
1 tsp toated sesame seeds to serve

Instructions

Cooked Peanut Sauce (dipping)

Blend the onion, garlic, ginger, chillies, coriander root and spices.
Saute the mixture in coconut or olive oil until soft. Add the ground toasted peanuts or peanut butter and cook gently for 3 minutes. Add the coconut cream and lime juice. Cook for another 2-4 minutes. Add a splash of fish sauce and tablespoon each of soy and sweet soy sauce.
Continue cooking and taste. If it is not spicy enough - add a little Sirancha or Sambal Oelek. Add the orange juice to give it the right sweetness and consistency and a little more coconut cream or oil if it starts to stick.
I let the sauce cool and blend it again so its really smooth and creamy. This is optional.

Simple Peanut Sauce (dressing)

Blend all the ingredients, except the orange juice and sesame seed oil, in a mini blender or food processor, when smooth slowly add orange juice and a little sesame seed oil until you reach the right consistency and flavour.
Roast the garlic and onion before blending if you want a more mellow flavour.
Finally, whizz in the mint and or coriander, if using. Add salt and or pepper if required. Serve sprinkled with toasted peanuts or sesame seeds.

Notes

Two classic, versatile sauces, but you may need to adjust the ginger, chilli and garlic to your liking. Use the best pure unsalted peanut butter your budget allows (or make your own!). Soy is a matter of taste, un-salted or ordinary! Many recipes for peanut sauce do add sugar - I prefer to use orange juice, again adapt to your liking but compensate the liquid.

Both sauces can be used straight away or stored in a sterilised airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.

Nutrition