Thai Peanut Sauce, Two Ways

Confession:  I’m a peanut butter addict.  Which is why I looove recipes full of peanut-buttery goodness…especially this slightly spicy and super versatile Thai Peanut Sauce.

Thai Peanut Sauce is lovely as a simple chicken satay dipping sauce but you can easily make it the star of your dish and make your supporting ingredients do double-duty at the same time. Thai Peanut Noodles and Thai Chicken Pizza are two healthy, flavor-packed and weeknight-friendly recipes that center around this tasty sauce.

Thai Peanut Sauce
2 garlic cloves, minced
1″ piece of ginger, grated
1 tsp olive oil
1/4 C brown sugar
1/4 C soy sauce
1/4 C water
1/4 C lite coconut milk
1/2 lime
2/3+ C chunky peanut butter
2 tsp sriracha

In a small saucepan, combine garlic, ginger and oil.  Cook over medium-low heat until aromas start to release.  Add soy sauce, water, lime juice and coconut milk. Whisk in brown sugar and peanut butter, letting peanut butter melt into sauce. Add sriracha sauce to taste.

If you’re making both dishes in the same week, you may want to double the recipe. Sauce can be saved for 1-2 weeks and reheated to serve.

Thai Peanut Noodles
1 pkg soba noodles (or whole wheat noodles if you can’t find soba noodles)
1 lb chicken or beef, cubed
2 carrots, shredded or julienned
3 green onions, sliced
sm handful of cilantro, chopped
1 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 tsp powdered ginger
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp white pepper
Thai Peanut Sauce

Bring a pot of water to a boil and salt well.  Add soba noodles and cook until al dente.  Meanwhile, season meat with ginger, garlic, pepper and soy sauce. Saute until meat is cooked through. Drain noodles. Top noodles with meat and Thai Peanut Sauce. Add green onions, cilantro and carrots and serve.

Thai Chicken Pizza
whole wheat pizza crust (I like Boboli)
1 pkg chicken tenders
2 carrots, shredded or julienned
2 handfuls sugar snap pea pods
mung bean sprouts
sm handful cilantro, chopped
dry roasted peanuts
Thai Peanut Sauce

Preheat oven to 425. Cover pizza crust in peanut sauce.  Grill or saute chicken tenders and slice into chunks. Shred or julienne carrots and cut pea pods in half.  Top pizza crust with carrots, pea pods, bean sprouts, chicken and peanuts. Bake for 20-23 minutes.  Top with cilantro and serve.