Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Pasta and Vegetables with Peanut Sauce


This is really flavorful because it has a peanut taste to the sauce while it's also spicy, sweet, and salty. You can use any veggies that you want, but I really love broccoli, carrots and any kind of squash. If you have frozen veggies then use those!


Ingredients:
8 ounces pasta, cooked
1/2 bunch broccoli, cut into florets and stems peeled and sliced
14 baby carrots, halved lengthwise
2 zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced into 1/2-inch pieces

Sauce:
2 tsp. dark sesame oil
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tsp. ginger root, minced (or ¼ tsp of the dry stuff)
2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
1/2 - 3/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup soy sauce (replace with more water if you're salt-free)
2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1/8 - 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
2-4 green onions, sliced

Prepare the pasta and keep it warm. If you're using pre-cooked pasta, bring it to room temperature.

Begin steaming the broccoli and carrots. After a few minutes, or when the broccoli begins to turn bright green, add the zucchini and steam until all vegetables are tender but still crisp. The time will vary depending on the method of steaming you use, so just watch them carefully and don't let them over-cook.

While the vegetables are steaming, heat the sesame oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the peanut butter, and cook, stirring, until it is heated through. Slowly stir in the hot water and add soy sauce, vinegar, and cayenne. Stir until it is a smooth mixture, adding more water if it is too thick. Then add the cooked pasta and toss to coat.

Once the vegetables are steamed, add them to the pasta and sauce. Mix well and serve sprinkled with chopped green onions.

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