Pork Satay with Peanut and Cucumber Sauce

Post date: Dec 26, 2009 3:11:27 PM

Pork Satay

12 cloves garlic

4 stalk lemon grass, bulbous portion only

4 small red chili peppers or 2 t. chili-garlic paste

3/4 C. oil

2 T. honey

1/4 C. fish sauce

1/4 C. curry powder

8 thick-cut butterflied pork loin chops

skewers

Mince garlic, lemon grass, and red chili pepper in blender or food processor or by hand. Add oil, honey, fish sauce, and curry powder. Blend/process until smooth. Reserve. Slice pork into strips. Pour marinade over and toss to coat. Transfer to ziploc bag and let marinate under refrigeration for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Soak skewers in water at least 15 minutes before cooking meat. Skewer pork and broil/grill until cooked (2-3 minutes for each side, depending on thickness and proximity to heat source). Serve with Peanut Sauce and Green Papaya Salad. Serves 16.

Peanut Sauce

2 T. oil

1 14 oz. can coconut milk

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium-sized onion, diced

2 t. red chili flakes

3 dried or fresh kaffir lime leaves

1 T. curry powder

1 T. fresh lemon grass, minced

1 2-inch cinnamon stick

3 bay leaves

1/4 C. fish sauce

1/4 C. brown sugar

juice of 1 lime (approx. 3 T.)

1-1/2 C. chunky peanut butter

Heat oil and cream from coconut milk in skillet on medium-high heat. Sauté garlic, onion, red chili flakes, kaffir lime leaves, curry powder, and lemon grass for 2-3 minutes. Stir in remainder of coconut milk, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, fish sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, and peanut butter. Mix well. Reduce heat and cook, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens (1-20 minutes). Yields 4 cups.

Cucumber Sauce

1 cup boiling water

3-5 fresh red chili peppers (or 1/2 t. red chili paste)

3 shallots

2 Japanese or hot house cucumber (or Western cucumber, seeded)

5 T. sugar

1/2 C. white vinegar

1 t. salt

1/4 C. chopped peanuts

cilantro sprigs

Seed and mince red chili peppers. Mince shallots. Set aside. Thinly slice cucumber and arrange in a bowl. Dissolve sugar in boiling water; add vinegar and salt; stir to combine. Pour vinegar mixture over cucumber slices. Sprinkle with minced red chili peppers and shallots. Chill.