Spicy Thai Peanut Sauce over Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Rice

Prep time:10 mins
Cook time: 40 mins
Total time: 50 mins


Author: Cookie and Kate

Ingredients

Spicy Thai Peanut Sauce
½ cup creamy peanut butter
¼ cup reduced­sodium tamari or soy sauce
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons honey (or agave nectar, to taste)
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, pressed
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons water

Roasted vegetables
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1x1x1/2­inch wide chunks
1 red bell pepper, cored, deseeded, and sliced into bite­sized strips
about 2 tablespoons coconut oil (or olive oil)
¼ teaspoon cumin powder
Sea salt, to taste

Rice and garnishes
1¼ cup jasmine brown rice (or any variety of long­grain brown rice)
2 to 3 green onions/chives, sliced into thin rounds (green and white parts)
Handful cilantro, torn
Handful peanuts, crushed
Sriracha/rooster sauce on the side (optional)

Instructions

1. Prep: Bring a large pot of water to boil. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit with a rack in the middle and another rack near the top.
2. Roast the vegetables: Toss the sweet potato chunks with a generous tablespoon of coconut oil, the cumin and a sprinkle of salt. Toss the bell pepper with about a teaspoon of coconut oil and salt. The vegetables should be lightly coated with oil on all sides.
3. Arrange the sweet potatoes in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Arrange the red bell peppers on a separate, smaller baking sheet. Roast the sweet potatoes on the middle rack for about 35 minutes, tossing halfway, and roast the peppers on the top rack for about 20 minutes, tossing halfway. The vegetables will be tender and caramelized on the edges when they are ready.
4. In the meantime, cook the rice: Once the water is boiling, pour in the rice and give it a stir. Boil the rice for 30 minutes, then turn off the heat and drain the rice. Return the rice to the pot and cover the pot. Let the rice steam that way for 10 minutes. Remove the lid, fluff the rice with a fork and season with salt to taste.
5. Make the sauce: in a bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients. If the sauce is too thick or too spicy, whisk in a little more water.
6. Serve: Top rice with roasted vegetables, a heavy drizzle of sauce, and a sprinkle of chopped green onions, cilantro and peanuts.

Notes

Storage suggestions: Leftover sauce should keep well, refrigerated and covered, for a couple of weeks.

Wake up the flavors with a little bit of apple cider vinegar or tamari if necessary.

Make it gluten free: Tamari is a Japanese soy sauce that has a great flavor and is gluten free, unlike most other soy sauces. I like the San­J brand.

Make it vegan: Use agave nectar instead of honey for vegan sauce.

Other recipes you might like: my summer rolls with spicy peanut sauce, peanut soba noodle bowl and Thai green curry.

Jeanine is also on a peanut sauce kick with peanut noodles and salad wrap


Recipe + Image:  http://cookieandkate.com/2013/spicy-thai-peanut-sauce-over-roasted-sweet-potatoes-and-rice/