Peanut noodles

 
                               PEANUT NOODLES
 
 Recipe By     : 
 Serving Size  : 4    Preparation Time :0:00
 Categories    : Pasta                            Entrees
                 Usenet
 
   Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
 --------  ------------  --------------------------------
    1       lb           Chinese-style noodles,
                         -fresh
      1/2   T            Garlic chili paste
    2       T            Peanut butter, good
                         -(without added sugar)
    1       T            Nam pla (fermented
                         -fish sauce)
      1/2   c            Water
    2                    Scallion stalks, chopped
 
   Boil a lot of water for the noodles; this is the most time-consuming step.
   
   Rinse and trim scallions, then slice thinly.  In a small mixing bowl,
   combine peanut butter and chili paste with a fork. Mix thoroughly. Add
   water to the peanut mixture. This is tricky, since peanut butter and water
   do not want to mix. Start with a tiny bit of water, mix thoroughly until it
   is homogeneous, and then add some more water. You can begin to add larger
   quantities of water as the sauce gets thinner. The water and peanut butter
   really will mix, if you are patient.
   
   Continue adding water until the sauce has the consistency you want; I make
   it about the consistency of ketchup. Stir in the nam pla.
   
   Once the pot of water is boiling, cook the noodles until they are just
   done, and not mushy. Drain noodles and immediately mix in the sauce. Toss
   until the noodles are evenly coated. Garnish with scallions and serve.
   
   NOTES:
   
   *  Chinese-style noodles with a spicy peanut sauce -- This recipe is not
   authentic Chinese; it was created by combining readily available
   ingredients and double-checking against a Satay recipe. It's close to a
   Satay sauce, but not quite the same thing. It's also similar to a recipe in
   "The Enchanted Broccoli Forest," by Mollie Katzen.
   
   *  The ingredients are readily available at oriental grocery stores.
   Substitute soy sauce if you can't find nam pla.  For fresh noodles, you can
   substitute several packages of ramen noodles, discarding sauce powders.
   
   *  This basic recipe may be varied by modifying quantities.  Vary the chili
   paste to control hotness, and the nam pla to control saltiness (but the
   sauce will taste saltier before mixing with the noodles). If you use this
   as the main dish of a meal, it serves only two. This will keep for at least
   a week in the refrigerator.
   
   *  Serve with a good beer; it's too spicy for most wines.
   
   : Difficulty:  easy.
   : Time:  5 minutes, plus waiting for the water to boil.
   : Precision:  No need to measure.
   
   : Jeffrey Mogul
   : Digital Equipment Corp., Western Research Lab, Palo Alto, California, USA
   : mogul@decwrl.dec.com   decwrl!mogul
   
   : Copyright (C) 1986 USENET Community Trust
  
 
 
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