One of my goals when cooking is to use local ingredients when possible.
Why local? There are many reasons. The most important to me are that it’s more environmentally-friendly, it supports the local economy, and it’s delicious!
Eating locally in New England during the winter months, however, can be a challenge. So instead of using solely local ingredients, I try to incorporate at least one local ingredient into each meal. The Westford Winter Farmers Market makes this much easier!
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This recipe is for a peanut sauce sweetened with honey and maple syrup, both of which are produced locally. In fact, you can find Nissitissett Apiaries selling honey at the Farmer’s Market every Saturday.
This peanut sauce is delicious over many dishes: sautéed tofu, vegetable stir fry, shellfish or other seafood, rice noodles, chicken satay, or scallion pancakes. For a change of pace, I’ve even used it over turkey burgers. Use your imagination for this one!
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Ingredients:
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoons honey (Substitute additional maple syrup in place of the honey to make this a vegan recipe.)
- ½ Cup crunchy peanut butter (Sunflower Seed Butter can be used to make this nut-safe.)
- 4 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 Cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tablespoon freshly grated ginger root
- Crushed red pepper flakes to taste (I use about a teaspoon unless I’m preparing for family members who dislike spicy foods.)
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl or measuring cup. Stir well.
- This sauce does not need to be cooked. However, I find the flavors blend better when briefly heated. I normally just pour the sauce over the entrée for the last few minutes of cooking. If using as a dipping sauce, you can heat in a small saucepan for 5 minutes over medium heat.
