Indonesian Peanut Sauce

brianl's Note:

A Balinese recipe modified to use ingredients readily available in the West.

• Total Time: 40 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 5 cups

• 1 cup chunky peanut butter
• 3 cloves garlic , chopped
• 2 -5 hot chili peppers , chopped
• 2 inches fresh gingerroot , peeled and chopped
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 4 cups unsweetened coconut milk
• 2 -3 tablespoons soy sauce , to taste
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice , to taste

Directions:

1. Puree peanut butter, garlic, chille peppers, ginger root, and brown sugar in food processor.
2. Transfer mixture to heavy saucepan.
3. Stir in coconut milk, soy sauce and molasses.
4. Gently simmer, uncovered, until sauce is thick and full flavored, about 30 minutes, stirring often.
5. Let sauce cool to room temperature.
6. Correct seasoning, adding soy sauce or lime juice to taste.

Reviews

[RotiJala]

It is excellent but, instead of peanut butter, please use roasted peanuts and crush them in a mortar with a pestle or, in a pinch, a plastic bag with the side of a wine bottle. It really makes a big difference in authenticity!

[Chef #1086871]

The real deal - Thank you!!! Its just like you'd get in a good Indonesian restaurant! I had no food processor so I chopped the garlic, ginger and chilli finely and mashed it in a bowl with the peanut butter before transferring to a large saucepan and adding the coconut milk. Delicious.

[Chef #491532]

Thanks so much, Brian! I thought this was a great, quick peanut sauce. My family said it tasted just like what we used to eat when we lived on Java. I used 5 Tablespoons of Kecap Manis instead of the soy sauce and molasses and I had to let my sauce cook for 50 minutes to thicken up. This is my new quick sate sauce. Love it!