Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp neutral oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small shallot, finely minced
  • 0.5 cup hoisin sauce
  • 0.25 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 0.5 cup warm water
  • 1 tsp sambal oelek
  • 1 tsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp roasted peanuts, crushed

Instructions:

  1. Heat 1 tbsp neutral oil in a small saucepan over medium low heat. Add 2 cloves minced garlic and 1 small minced shallot, cooking for 2 minutes until the shallots are translucent and fragrant.
  2. Pour in 0.5 cup hoisin sauce and stir constantly for 30 seconds until the sauce begins to bubble gently.
  3. Drop in 0.25 cup creamy peanut butter. Use your whisk to break it up and blend it into the hoisin until no large streaks of peanut butter remain.
  4. Slowly pour in 0.5 cup warm water while whisking. The sauce will look broken at first, but keep stirring until it suddenly thickens into a glossy, uniform liquid.
  5. Add 1 tsp sambal oelek and stir well.
  6. Whisk in 1 tsp rice vinegar and 1 tsp sugar.
  7. Continue cooking for 2 minutes on low heat until the sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon.
  8. If it's too thick, add water one teaspoon at a time.
  9. Stir in half of the 1 tbsp roasted crushed peanuts.
  10. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with the remaining peanuts.