Sunday, September 14, 2008

Broccoli, Snow Peas and Rice Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce

As I stated a few posts back, I am on a doctor-supervised low sodium regime. It is helping. My BP was down to normal last Thursday when I had it checked. But salt tastes good, y'all! And boy, do I miss it. I feel like I have to re-learn a bunch of my favorite recipes with new, low sodium ingredients.

Tonight I made some stir fried broccoli and snow peas with rice noodles and spicy peanut sauce. I was much too impatient to take a picture of it before I ate it, but trust me, it was real purty!

Here's how I made the sauce. This makes enough for two greedy hungry people or 4 boring sensible people:

Bring 1 1/2 cups of low sodium vegetable broth to a simmer.
Add 2 cloves of pureed garlic and 1 teaspoon of pureed ginger root.*
Add 1 tablespoon black strap molasses.
Add 2 tablespoons of cider or rice vinegar.
Add 3 tablespoons of unsalted smooth or chunky peanut butter.
Add 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes.
Add a touch of sweetness, like maybe 1/4 teaspoon of brown sugar or maple syrup.
Swish this around until it's heated through and all the lumps are dissolved.
Gradually whisk some cornstarch into the sauce until it begins to thicken and look creamy. This will probably be a teaspoon or two. And voila--low sodium Peanut Sauce!

*The easiest way to puree garlic and ginger is to use a microplane grater on the fine end. If you do not own a microplane grater, then for cryin' out loud go buy one! Try not to grate your knuckle with it like I did tonight. Micorplanes are really sharp. You can also buy garlic-ginger paste at the Indian grocers, but fresh tastes better.

I stir fried some fresh broccoli and snow peas in a little peanut oil, placed them on a bed of rice noodles, poured the fragrant peanut sauce over the whole mess, and garnished with a little chiffonade of Thai basil. I love to say chiffonade. It makes me sound so snooty.

It turned out really good! I might make it again tomorrow night, since I still have leftover ingredients. I'll try to restrain myself long enough to take a picture before I gobble it up.

5 comments:

pnlkotula said...

That sounds very good. Even to my uncultured taste buds. And low sodium is good for my hubby. I may be adventurous like sometime in November when I eat something other than cereal for dinner.

Jacquie O. said...

OMG YUM! I can't wait to make this!

BTW...the Mo & the Viv were down here this past week (we went to VA Beach) and the Mo says to me...Jacquie, whatever happened to that pretty singer girl you knew...you know she had blond hair and liked my dirty jokes?

Needless to say, I knew it was you!!!

They send their love!

Janine Serresseque said...

Jake, Aww! The Mo and The Viv! Your mom and Maurice are so dear. I hope they're doing okay and you had a grand time with them. They are gems!

Anonymous said...

If anyone could make a low sodium diet tasty it would be you. If you keep this up you should collect your recipes and who knows? Perhaps a cookbook and a bit of money for Miss Janine?

Janine Serresseque said...

Wouldn't that be fun! The hard part is getting anybody to want to taste any of it in the first place! "Low Sodium." These are not sexy words.