Umami Overload, or Peanut Paradise

Look into SE asian cuisines (Thai, Malay, Indonesian)

Peanut Sauce!

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/printer_friendly/12029

Jeneen

RobtE said:

Last week I finally got around to buying some peanut butter. It's good stuff
- so good that the other night I decided to do away with the bread
altogether. A jar of peanut butter and a spoon is all I needed.

Midway from jar to mouth, though, I had an idea: "What this needs is a bit of
soy sauce." So I tried it. A few drops of Kikoman on the spoonful of PB.
Lawdy, lawdy, Miss Clawdy! It was too good to be believed. Salt, sweet, umami
- it had it all.

Now, the question is, what can one do with this discovery? Such an exalted
taste combination calls for something more than just a sandwich (though I
tried that too and it was truly a consciousness-expanding experience). So,
what sort of savoury dish can be made with PB and soy sauce?

RobtE

RobtE said:

So, what sort of savoury dish can be made with PB and soy sauce?

This salad is MAH-velous!

* Exported from MasterCook *

Spicy Peanut Lo Mein Salad

Recipe By 😄amsel in dis Dress
Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : pasta salads/dressings
side dishes

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/2 cup peanut butter -- chunky
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon saki (rice wine)
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 1/2 teaspoons hot bean sauce
5 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons fresh garlic -- minced
3 tablespoons cilantro (coriander) leaves -- minced
16 ounces lo mein noodles

Combine all ingredients (except noodles) thoroughly.

Cook lo mein noodles according to package directions, being careful not to
overcook. Immediately drain and rinse in cold water.

Gently toss the sauce and the noodles together.

Serve chilled. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top to serve, either in the
serving platter, or on individual portions.

Substitutions:
Use vermicelli instead of lo mein noodles.
Use creamy peanut butter instead of chunky.
Increase hot bean sauce to 2 tablespoons for a spicier salad.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

NOTES : 2nd Annual Twin Cities RFC Picnic

--
Coming at you live, from beautiful Lake Woebegon

"RobtE" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Last week I finally got around to buying some peanut butter. It's good stuff -
so good that the other night I decided to do away with the bread altogether. A
jar of peanut butter and a spoon is all I needed.

Midway from jar to mouth, though, I had an idea: "What this needs is a bit of
soy sauce." So I tried it. A few drops of Kikoman on the spoonful of PB.
Lawdy, lawdy, Miss Clawdy! It was too good to be believed. Salt, sweet,
umami - it had it all.

Now, the question is, what can one do with this discovery? Such an exalted
taste combination calls for something more than just a sandwich (though I
tried that too and it was truly a consciousness-expanding experience). So,
what sort of savoury dish can be made with PB and soy sauce?

RobtE

I think the Thai's have beat you to the punch. Just search "Peanut & Soy"

Dimitri

RobtE said:

Last week I finally got around to buying some peanut butter. It's good
stuff - so good that the other night I decided to do away with the bread
altogether. A jar of peanut butter and a spoon is all I needed.

Midway from jar to mouth, though, I had an idea: "What this needs is a
bit of soy sauce." So I tried it. A few drops of Kikoman on the spoonful
of PB. Lawdy, lawdy, Miss Clawdy! It was too good to be believed. Salt,
sweet, umami - it had it all.

Now, the question is, what can one do with this discovery? Such an
exalted taste combination calls for something more than just a sandwich
(though I tried that too and it was truly a consciousness-expanding
experience). So, what sort of savoury dish can be made with PB and soy
sauce?

RobtE

peanut noodles. 🙂

--

saerah

"It's not a gimmick, it's an incentive."- asterbark, afca

aware of the manifold possibilities of the future

"I think there's a clause in the Shaman's and Jujumen's Local #57 Union
contract that they have to have reciprocity for each other's shop rules."
-König Prüß

RobtE said:

Last week I finally got around to buying some peanut butter. It's good
stuff - so good that the other night I decided to do away with the bread
altogether. A jar of peanut butter and a spoon is all I needed.

Midway from jar to mouth, though, I had an idea: "What this needs is a
bit of soy sauce." So I tried it. A few drops of Kikoman on the spoonful
of PB. Lawdy, lawdy, Miss Clawdy! It was too good to be believed. Salt,
sweet, umami - it had it all.

Now, the question is, what can one do with this discovery? Such an
exalted taste combination calls for something more than just a sandwich
(though I tried that too and it was truly a consciousness-expanding
experience). So, what sort of savoury dish can be made with PB and soy
sauce?

RobtE

You are very close to an Indonesian satay sauce recipe (also spelled
sate). You could look up dishes that include that sauce and then test
them with your own new combination or just use them for general inspiration.

A lot of those recipes use chicken or pork. You could add chilies (or
tabasco or sambal), coconut milk and possibly water for making properish
satay sauce.

RobtE said:

Last week I finally got around to buying some peanut butter. It's good
stuff - so good that the other night I decided to do away with the bread
altogether. A jar of peanut butter and a spoon is all I needed.

Midway from jar to mouth, though, I had an idea: "What this needs is a
bit of soy sauce." So I tried it. A few drops of Kikoman on the spoonful
of PB. Lawdy, lawdy, Miss Clawdy! It was too good to be believed. Salt,
sweet, umami - it had it all.

Now, the question is, what can one do with this discovery? Such an
exalted taste combination calls for something more than just a sandwich
(though I tried that too and it was truly a consciousness-expanding
experience). So, what sort of savoury dish can be made with PB and soy
sauce?

RobtE

It's used as a base for various sorts of sate sauces. Add some shrimp
paste or fish sauce and a little garlic for a simple version.

Arri London said:

RobtE said:

Last week I finally got around to buying some peanut butter. It's

good

Quoted message said:

stuff - so good that the other night I decided to do away with the

bread

Quoted message said:

altogether. A jar of peanut butter and a spoon is all I needed.

Midway from jar to mouth, though, I had an idea: "What this needs is

a

Quoted message said:

bit of soy sauce." So I tried it. A few drops of Kikoman on the

spoonful

Quoted message said:

of PB. Lawdy, lawdy, Miss Clawdy! It was too good to be believed.

Salt,

Quoted message said:

sweet, umami - it had it all.

Now, the question is, what can one do with this discovery? Such an
exalted taste combination calls for something more than just a

sandwich

Quoted message said:

(though I tried that too and it was truly a consciousness-expanding
experience). So, what sort of savoury dish can be made with PB and

soy

Quoted message said:

sauce?

RobtE

It's used as a base for various sorts of sate sauces. Add some shrimp
paste or fish sauce and a little garlic for a simple version.

The tiniest drop of hot chilli oil will make a world of difference with
a peanut sauce, adjust according to taste.

Dont neglect the ginger in the equation either.

I am very fond of equal parts of sesame oil, soy sauce and sake as a
marinade, dipping sauce, sauté base or other "dressing" or use with a
dark or brown roux. I have often wondered about adding a peanut element
to the basic trinity of soy sauce, sake & sesame oil.
---
Joseph Littleshoes

Joseph Littleshoes said:

Arri London said:

RobtE said:

Last week I finally got around to buying some peanut butter. It's

good

Quoted message said:

stuff - so good that the other night I decided to do away with the

bread

Quoted message said:

altogether. A jar of peanut butter and a spoon is all I needed.

Midway from jar to mouth, though, I had an idea: "What this needs is

a

Quoted message said:

bit of soy sauce." So I tried it. A few drops of Kikoman on the

spoonful

Quoted message said:

of PB. Lawdy, lawdy, Miss Clawdy! It was too good to be believed.

Salt,

Quoted message said:

sweet, umami - it had it all.

Now, the question is, what can one do with this discovery? Such an
exalted taste combination calls for something more than just a

sandwich

Quoted message said:

(though I tried that too and it was truly a consciousness-expanding
experience). So, what sort of savoury dish can be made with PB and

soy

Quoted message said:

sauce?

RobtE

It's used as a base for various sorts of sate sauces. Add some shrimp
paste or fish sauce and a little garlic for a simple version.

The tiniest drop of hot chilli oil will make a world of difference with
a peanut sauce, adjust according to taste.

LOL only if one likes chile oil. Some don't.

Quoted message said:

Dont neglect the ginger in the equation either.

Some sate sauces don't have ginger. There are thousands of
possibilities.

Quoted message said:

I am very fond of equal parts of sesame oil, soy sauce and sake as a
marinade, dipping sauce, sauté base or other "dressing" or use with a
dark or brown roux. I have often wondered about adding a peanut element
to the basic trinity of soy sauce, sake & sesame oil.
---
Joseph Littleshoes

Only one way to find out; try it.

The chemistry of peanut butter in sauces is interesting. When one sautees
flour in butter until golden brown and then adds liquid (milk, broth, etc)
then the
liquid thickens into a sauce. the starch molecules in the flour are balled
up.
The sauteeing denatures them and opens them. At a chemical level, the
chains of
sugars in these open starch molecules are incredibly long. When the liquid
is
added, then the chains connect electrostatically across the liquid and
thicken it.
This same process occurs when peanut butter is sauteed in butter, (flavored
with
soy, sugar, peppers, spices, lemon juice, etc) and combined with coconut
milk or cow's milk.
For the Indonesian dishes, one should use ketjap benteng manis which is a
sweet,
thick, soy sauce. It can be found at All Things Dutch online and in many
Asian
groceries.
One special dish at our home is to make a peanut butter sauce as follows:

PEANUT SAUCE FOR SATÉ

4 Tbs smooth peanut butter

2 Tbs brown sugar

1 Tbs vinegar

6 Tbs water

1 tsp sambal oelek

3 Tbs Ketjap Benteng Manis (Indonesian sweet soja sauce) coriander

Mix everything together to make a sauce. Heat until smooth and bubbly. Add
water to thin if too thick.

Cook some white rice, steam some chopped cabbage, bean sprouts, and green
beans separately. Fry some not too ripe bananas in butter, halved. Boil
some eggs, peel and halve them. Serve all of these vegetables on top of the
white rice and covered in the sauce. The sambal oelek is red pepper paste
avaiable in all Asian groceries. It is fire. Use half as much if you do
not like it hot, but double it if you do.
Good luck,
Edward Warren
"RobtE" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Last week I finally got around to buying some peanut butter. It's good
stuff - so good that the other night I decided to do away with the bread
altogether. A jar of peanut butter and a spoon is all I needed.

Midway from jar to mouth, though, I had an idea: "What this needs is a
bit of soy sauce." So I tried it. A few drops of Kikoman on the spoonful
of PB. Lawdy, lawdy, Miss Clawdy! It was too good to be believed. Salt,
sweet, umami - it had it all.

Now, the question is, what can one do with this discovery? Such an
exalted taste combination calls for something more than just a sandwich
(though I tried that too and it was truly a consciousness-expanding
experience). So, what sort of savoury dish can be made with PB and soy
sauce?

RobtE

RobtE said:

Salt, sweet, umami - it had it all.

Let me make it clear that I know perfectly well what "umami" means. But now
I've got "Oo mau mau, poppa oo mau mau" running through my head.

Bob

Bob said:

RobtE said:

Salt, sweet, umami - it had it all.

Let me make it clear that I know perfectly well what "umami" means. But now
I've got "Oo mau mau, poppa oo mau mau" running through my head.

Damn it, man, now you've gone and infected /me/! LOL

Twenty-plus years ago my little brother was doing his Masters in
mathematics. When he was doing his course in Boolean Algebra, he told me
that every time his instructor said "boolean", he found he had "Woolly
Bully" running through his head. That was enough to infect me, and now
the same happens to me. I can only assume that in another two decades
time, when someone says "umami", I'll still myself thinking, "Oo mau
mau, poppa oo mau mau". Thanks for that. :-)

RobtE

PS I've asked everyone I know about that song. We all recognise the
line, and can even sing the line, but no one can remember the name of
the song or the band that did it. Clue me in.

"RobtE" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Damn it, man, now you've gone and infected /me/! LOL

Twenty-plus years ago my little brother was doing his Masters in
mathematics. When he was doing his course in Boolean Algebra, he told me
that every time his instructor said "boolean", he found he had "Woolly
Bully" running through his head. That was enough to infect me, and now the
same happens to me. I can only assume that in another two decades time,
when someone says "umami", I'll still myself thinking, "Oo mau mau, poppa
oo mau mau". Thanks for that. :-)

RobtE

PS I've asked everyone I know about that song. We all recognise the line,
and can even sing the line, but no one can remember the name of the song
or the band that did it. Clue me in.

Twas Elvira by the Oak Ridge Boys.

Lynne A
[email hidden]

LynneA said:

"RobtE" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

PS I've asked everyone I know about that song. We all recognise the line,
and can even sing the line, but no one can remember the name of the song
or the band that did it. Clue me in.

Twas Elvira by the Oak Ridge Boys.

Aha! Now that you've mentioned it, I think you're right. They did use
the line. But I think they were quoting an earlier song. Didn't the
original have jangly '60s surf-guitar thing? About the same vintage as
Wolly Bully and Wild Thing..

LynneA said:

"RobtE" <[email hidden]> wrote...

Quoted message said:

I can only assume that in another two decades time,
when someone says "umami", I'll still myself thinking, "Oo mau mau, poppa
oo mau mau". Thanks for that. :-)

PS I've asked everyone I know about that song. We all recognise the line,
and can even sing the line, but no one can remember the name of the song
or the band that did it. Clue me in.

Twas Elvira by the Oak Ridge Boys.

Huh? Whatchu been smokin', gal? I don't know who did the song Robt is
talking about, but I do know Elvira (though I wish I didn't). Elvira has a
tiny bit of that going on, but they're two very different songs. I know
that the mau-mau song was in the dinner scene on E.T., but it's not listed
as part of the soundtrack. 🙁

I'll bet Boli knows. He's old. <EG>

Carol

--
Coming at you live, from beautiful Lake Woebegon

RobtE said:

Aha! Now that you've mentioned it, I think you're right. They did use
the line. But I think they were quoting an earlier song. Didn't the
original have jangly '60s surf-guitar thing? About the same vintage as
Wolly Bully and Wild Thing..

Yeppers! It's an oldie. I have *no* clue who performed it.

Carol

--
Coming at you live, from beautiful Lake Woebegon

"Damsel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

LynneA said:

Quoted message said:

Twas Elvira by the Oak Ridge Boys.

Huh? Whatchu been smokin', gal? I don't know who did the song Robt is
talking about, but I do know Elvira (though I wish I didn't). Elvira has
a
tiny bit of that going on, but they're two very different songs. I know
that the mau-mau song was in the dinner scene on E.T., but it's not listed
as part of the soundtrack. 🙁

I'll bet Boli knows. He's old. <EG>

Carol

--
Coming at you live, from beautiful Lake Woebegon

It's the chorus, actually, so not a tiny bit-but as far as a very different
song that had that in it also? Before my time, I guess. And I haven't
watched ET in so long, I wouldn't have a clue<G> Wonder if we still have
that VHS floating around? Dammit, now I've gotta see if I can find out what
this other song is!GG

Lynne A
[email hidden]

"RobtE" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

LynneA said:

"RobtE" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

PS I've asked everyone I know about that song. We all recognise the line,
and can even sing the line, but no one can remember the name of the song
or the band that did it. Clue me in.

Twas Elvira by the Oak Ridge Boys.

Aha! Now that you've mentioned it, I think you're right. They did use the
line. But I think they were quoting an earlier song. Didn't the original
have jangly '60s surf-guitar thing? About the same vintage as Wolly Bully
and Wild Thing..

Mmmm, not sure, I was born in 67. I have listened to a fair bit of 60's
music, but I can't say as I recall that one.

Lynne A
[email hidden]

Damsel wrote on 23 Jun 2005 in rec.food.cooking

Quoted message said:

RobtE said:

Aha! Now that you've mentioned it, I think you're right. They did
use the line. But I think they were quoting an earlier song.
Didn't the original have jangly '60s surf-guitar thing? About the
same vintage as Wolly Bully and Wild Thing..

Yeppers! It's an oldie. I have *no* clue who performed it.

Carol

Are we talkin....Bird? Bird Bird Bird is the word?

--
It's not a question of where he grips it!
It's a simple question of weight ratios!

A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconut.

Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?