Thai Peanut Sauce

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup peanut oil
• 1/2 cup raw peanuts
• 2 fresh Thai chiles or serrano chilies
• 1 slice fresh ginger, 1/2 inch thick
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1/3 cup unsweetened coconut milk (canned or fresh)
• 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce
• 4 teaspoons fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 pinch salt (add to taste, as fish sauce can be very salty)
• 1/2 cup finely minced cilantro leaf, and stems

Directions

1. 1

   Heat the peanut oil to nearly smoking in a saucepan.

2. 2

   Turn off the heat and add the peanuts.

3. 3

   The peanuts should cook to a golden brown in 3-5 minutes.

4. 4

   If you burn them, throw them out and start all over again or your sauce will be bitter.

5. 5

   You may have to turn on the heat again, but stir the peanuts if you do.

6. 6

   Using a slotted spoon, transfer the peanuts to the container of a food processor or blender, along with 1 tablespoon of the peanut oil (reserve the rest) and blend them to a rough paste.

7. 7

   Add the chiles, ginger, garlic and continue to blend.

8. 8

   Add the remaining ingredients except the cilantro, and blend until smooth.

9. 9

   If it is too thick, add more oil.

10. 10

    Stir in cilantro, and serve as a dipping sauce with satay or anything else, or thin with oil and serve as a salad dressing.