Curry Peanut Dipping Sauce

Here is my personal recipe for the curry peanut dipping sauce. I made it up using common Thai and Lao ingredients. Please note that the paprika is a common ingredient in the Khao Bune fish curry broth to give the broth a radiant red colour.

Vegetarian Recipe: Curry Peanut Dipping Sauce
1 tablespoon oil
½ tablespoon chopped garlic
1 tablespoon chopped shallots or onions
1 cup fresh coconut milk
1 kaffir lime leaf
2 sprigs lemongrass
1 tablespoon Thai Lao Curry Paste
¼ cup chopped tomatoes
½ cup ground peanuts
1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon chopped chilies (optional)
1 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons squeezed lime juice

In a wok over medium heat, add oil, chopped garlic and shallots. Stir until shallots are soft. Add remaining ingredients and stir fry for about 10 minutes or until the sauce is thick. Remove from heat. Discard the lemongrass and lime leaf. Serve sauce with fresh spring rolls or shrimp chips.

Fresh Peanuts

I love snacking on fresh peanuts. I serve peanuts as an appetizer. Raw or fresh peanuts are not common and not many Asian supermarkets carry them. Raw peanuts are smaller and taste sweeter than peanuts used for roasting. The reason is because the peanuts are harvested about two months earlier than peanuts for roasting. Fresh peanuts taste like sweet corn.

Instructions on cooking Fresh Peanuts:
Wash the peanuts in cold water and drain. Add two inches of water and one tablespoon of salt in a large pot and bring to boil. Add the peanuts and cook for 30 minutes. Remove peanuts and allow to cool before eating.

Green Mango Salad

I shred the green mango like the green papaya; I use only a sharp knife. I make the green papaya salad with the use of a Thai / Lao Mortar & Pestle Set but DO NOT use a mortar and pestle to make the green mango salad.

Salad Recipe: Green Mango Salad
1 cup shredded mango
2 tablespoons crushed toasted peanuts or ground toasted sticky rice
2 tablespoons chopped red onions
1 chopped chili (optional)
2-3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons fish sauce
1 teaspoon shrimp paste

In a bowl, add sugar, fish sauce and shrimp paste. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add chilies and red onions and mix. Add mixture to a bowl of shredded mango and toss. Top with crushed toasted peanuts or ground toasted rice. Alternatively you can use the sour fruit dipping sauce. to make this green mango salad

Toasting Peanuts

Toasted, Roasted Peanuts are used as garnish over salads, dipping sauces, and noodles. It adds that "bitter crunch" to your bite. I love it!

Make sure you do not purchase whole fresh peanuts; purchase whole roasted peanuts where you have to individually remove the shell and membrane. Do not roast salted peanuts--it removes the authenticity. Always garnish with crushed toasted peanuts. The only dish that could pass for using whole toasted peanuts is over pad Thai noodles.

Instructions: Toast unsalted peanuts in a shallow pan over medium heat. Often shake the pan or stir the peanuts with chopsticks. Stop toasting when 75% of the peanut surface is dark. Use a Thai / Lao Mortar & Pestle Set to crush the peanuts into separate pieces.

Also watch related videos like Spring Roll Dipping Sauce and Spring Rolls made with Rice Paper.