Tag: salad

Peanut sauce

Peanut Sauce and Dressing

This versatile peanut sauce can be used on everything from salads to chicken to noodles. It is creamy and smooth with the perfect balance of flavors.

smooth and creamy peanut sauce

This peanut sauce is one of my favorites. It is so versatile and can be used as a sauce, dressing, or dip. Coconut milk acts as the base of the sauce and helps to give the peanut sauce a creamy, rich texture. Yum!

This peanut sauce uses only 6 ingredients. Many of them are pantry ingredients you probably already have on hand! It easy to make and ready in about 5 minutes. Let’s get started!

Ingredients for Peanut Sauce

Ingredients for peanut sauce

Peanut butter – It wouldn’t be peanut sauce without the peanut butter! I have made this with both natural types of peanut butter and “regular” peanut butter (like Jif or Skippy). Regular peanut butter has a stronger taste and smoother texture than natural peanut butter but both are good! You may need to adjust the amount of soy sauce and sugar slightly depending on what type you use.

Coconut milk – Coconut milk is creamy and smooth and forms the base of the sauce. It is made from cooking water and coconut together and has a mild coconut flavor. You will find unsweetened coconut milk in the canned food section of the grocery store. Make sure you do not purchase coconut cream, cream of coconut, or coconut milk from the refrigerated section as these are different products.

I usually use regular unsweetened coconut milk. Light coconut milk can also be used but the sauce might have a thinner consistency.

Right out of the can the coconut milk can separate, with the fat rising to the surface like in the picture below. Stir it well before measuring and adding to the sauce.

Coconut milk
Coconut milk can separate, with the fat rising to the surface. Stir it well before adding it to the sauce.

Soy sauce – I use regular soy sauce here.

Brown sugar – Sweetens the sauce.

Fresh lime juice – This brightens the flavor of the sauce. Only a tablespoon is needed, from about half of a lime.

Red pepper flakes – Adds a little heat. Adjust this to taste.

How to Make Peanut Sauce

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender cup and puree until smooth. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings to your liking. That’s it! SO easy!

I like using some type of blender for this sauce because it helps to easily incorporate the peanut butter into the coconut milk and makes a smoother sauce. If you do not have a blender you can use a whisk to mix everything together. It might take a minute or two to get everything incorporated and smooth.

Peanut sauce with raw vegetables

How to Use Peanut Sauce

The great thing about this sauce is that it is SO versatile! Try using it as:

  • a dressing with Thai Chicken Salad
  • a dip for fresh vegetables
  • a dipping sauce for chicken satay
  • a dressing over a warm or cold noodle salad

Whatever you do with it will be delicious!

How to Store Peanut Sauce

Store peanut sauce in the refrigerator until ready to use. It will thicken in the refrigerator so you may need to let it sit at room temperature or heat it in the microwave for a few seconds before serving. Enjoy!

Peanut sauce

Peanut Sauce and Dressing

Recipe by: Mandy
This versatile peanut sauce can be used on everything from salads to chicken to noodles. It is creamy and smooth with the perfect balance of flavors.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 cup

Ingredients
  

  • cup creamy peanut butter (see note)
  • cup coconut milk
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 4 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (from half a lime)
  • teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in a blender cup and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings to taste. Store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Regular peanut butter has a stronger taste and smoother texture than natural peanut butter but both are good! You may need to adjust the amount of soy sauce and sugar slightly depending on what type you use.
  • This peanut sauce will thicken in the refrigerator so you may need to let it sit at room temperature or heat it in the microwave for a few seconds before serving.  

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Simple Caprese Salad

I first stumbled upon caprese salad a few years ago when I was looking for ways to use extra tomatoes from my garden. Our family fell in love with the fresh taste and it quickly became one of our favorite accompaniments to grilled chicken!

If you have never had caprese salad it tastes like summer on a plate. A little bit of balsamic vinegar brings out the bright flavor of vine ripened tomatoes and sweet basil. It is a very simple salad to make and the flavors of summer really shine through. It is a great way to use all those tomatoes growing in your garden! Read on to learn how to make this delicious caprese salad at home.

Ingredients

Caprese salad uses only six ingredients. We will go through them now:

Ingredients for caprese salad: tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese.
Caprese salad is made with only six simple ingredients.

Tomatoes – Select tomatoes that are ripe, fresh, and full of flavor. Watery winter grocery store tomatoes aren’t going to cut it here. Try to choose ones that are about the same size around as your mozzarella cheese to make layering easier.

Basil – Fresh basil is the only way to go here. I like to use basil from our garden when we have it. Luckily basil has such a strong flavor you do not need too much of it.

Mozzarella Cheese – Fresh mozzarella cheese is best for this salad, and it is usually sold in a ball or log. This type of mozzarella is moister and less rubbery than the cheese that you would buy for pizza, for example. Fresh mozzarella cheese does not keep very long and needs to be eaten within a few days of opening the package. Luckily, this caprese salad won’t last that long. 🙂

Fresh mozzarella can be a little difficult to cut because it is so soft and delicate. The mozzarella I use is pre-sliced, which saves time and makes things much easier.

Balsamic Vinegar – Balsamic vinegar really brings out the flavor of the tomatoes. A little goes a long way here. If you are not a fan of balsamic vinegar you can omit it if you would like.

Olive oil – Olive oil gives some flavor to the salad and keeps things moist.

Salt – I like to use kosher salt here because it is easier to sprinkle on top of the salad. Table salt works too, in a pinch. (Get it? 🙂 )

Instructions

Step 1: Make the Balsamic Glaze

Start by making the balsamic glaze that is drizzled over the top of the salad. Cooking the balsamic vinegar will remove some of the harshness and make it taste sweeter. It also makes it thicker so it will not slide off of your salad.

To make the balsamic glaze put half a cup of balsamic vinegar into a small saucepan and bring it to a gentle boil. Allow it to simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until it is reduced by about half and the consistency is as thick as you would like. Do not walk away from this because it goes from perfect to burned in about two minutes. (Yes, I did this and yes, I had to start over). Set the glaze aside to cool while you make the rest of the salad.

Step 2: Assemble the Salad

While the vinegar is cooling assemble the salad. Start by cutting the stems out of the tomatoes and slicing them in nice thick slices about 1/4 inch thick. Open the mozzarella cheese and drain out any whey in the package. Wash the basil and remove the leaves from the stems. Now everything is ready to go!

Slicing tomatoes.
Slice your tomatoes and get your ingredients ready.

Get your serving platter and start alternating the tomatoes with the mozzarella cheese in a pretty pattern. Then poke some basil leaves here and there between the layers. Just before serving drizzle the salad with the olive oil and some of the cooled balsamic glaze. Don’t go crazy with the glaze here people, a little goes a long way. Lastly, sprinkle with salt. Isn’t it so pretty?

Caprese salad on a plate.
Caprese salad. Yum, yum, yum!

Serve

Serve your salad immediately. Enjoy it as a side dish or serve it alone with crusty bread for an easy summer lunch. Yum, yum, yum! Welcome to summer 🙂

I hope you get to try this caprese salad soon! Happy Cooking!

Simple Caprese Salad

Recipe by: Mandy
A little bit of balsamic vinegar brings out the bright flavor of vine ripened tomatoes and summery basil to give big flavor to this salad. Enjoy it as a side dish or serve it alone with crusty bread for an easy summer lunch!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4 inch thick slices
  • 4-5 medium tomatoes, cut into 1/4 inch thick slices
  • 10-20 basil leaves
  • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • kosher salt, to taste

Instructions

  • Make the balsamic glaze by pouring the balsamic vinegar into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the vinegar is thick enough to coat a spoon and desired consistency is reached. Set aside to cool.
  • While the vinegar is cooling assemble the salad. On your serving platter alternate the sliced tomatoes with the mozzarella cheese in a pretty pattern. Then poke some basil leaves here and there between the layers. 
  • Drizzle the salad with the olive oil and as much balsamic glaze as you would like. Sprinkle with kosher salt to taste.
  • Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Notes

This salad may also be made without the balsamic glaze if desired.

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