Indonesian Peanut Sauté

Longtime readers of Ann Arbor Vegan Kitchen may remember a recipe for Thai Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce that I wrote about two years ago. It remains one of my most requested recipes, but today it’s getting a mini makeover.

Peanut Sauce 2.0 includes fresh basil and more lime juice, and interestingly, only one half of the peanut butter. This version is more delicate, not quite as salty, and maybe a little bit thinner.

These updates, along with crunchy red cabbage and onions…well, it’s a winning combination with just the right flavor, crunch, and color. So good, in fact, that I made it again, the next day, too.

It reminds me of a no-added-oil version of the Indonesian Peanut Sauté served at one of the restaurants in Ann Arbor that we like to visit, so that’s what I’m calling it. Hope you enjoy this as much as we do!

INDONESIAN PEANUT SAUTÉ

Servings: approximately 6
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1/2 lb. whole wheat angel hair pasta, cooked
1/4 cup vegetable broth
1/4 cup water (or more if needed)
1 onion, sliced
1 large carrot, cut into thin strips
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups red cabbage, thinly sliced
2 cups chopped broccoli flowerets
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
1/4 cup natural soy sauce or tamari
2 tablespoons rice vinegar, unseasoned
1 tablespoon fresh minced ginger
2 tablespoons date syrup
1 teaspoon of a “mild” hot sauce (I like Cholula)
sea salt to taste
juice  of one fresh lime

Instructions

Prepare 1/2 pound of pasta. Drain and set aside.

Heat a large nonstick pan over high medium-heat. Add broth, water, onions and carrot. Sauté for 5 minutes, or until vegetables are slightly cooked. Add the garlic, cabbage, and broccoli, and continue to cook for a couple of minutes until the broccoli turns bright green, but is still tender-crisp. Stir in pasta and fresh basil. Set aside.

In a separate saucepan, mix peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, date syrup, and hot sauce. Cook over medium heat, stirring until mixture is smooth. Pour over noodles.

Season with salt. Squeeze the juice one lime over the pasta, and serve.