This might be the most ridiculous sounding post I have done in a long time, but… the following salad RULES
What you need:
- Chinese chili peppers (in a jar, usually preserved in oil, though dry could work…), chopped into 1/4″, 1/3″. or 1/2″ slices (listed as chopping here because you can buy them pre-chopped in liquid)
- vinegar (Dark could be better, and there is a sweetened vinegar that is only available at Asian markets, but it works well, however you need REGULAR vinegar (And I actually like MALT vinegar as the “regular) as well.)
- sweet light colored Chinese cooking wine (not the dark/red stuff)
- fresh cilantro
- fresh scallions/leeks/green onions (I use garlic stems (always), green onions, and/or leeks)
- Chinese chili oil
unsalted and not honey roasted peanuts
soy sauce
2 heaping teaspoons of sugar
Now, at this point you are thinking: “why no amounts?”
Because: everything is “to taste” but its roughly like this:
- the liquids should make about 1.5 cups. sometimes you want/need more, sometimes less
- the scallions/leeks/green onions (mix, match or just one) should be about the amount that fits in a regular colander.
- I usually use about 1/2-3/4 cup of peanuts
- usually I use a handful plus 1/2 of cilantro
- I chop up the chilis and I usually use 3-5 but sometimes more… it depends… they should be fresh or in a jar so that they are soft and let juices out
Preparation:
- Chop the greens into 1.5″ or shorter (but not TOO short) pieces
- Chop the Cilantro into large pieces (individual leafs and stems is good)
- Mix the cilantro, the other greens and the peanuts together.
- Mix the “sauce” of the oils, wine and vinegars
- put the greens on a plate and sprinkle with the peppers (they could be mixed during the mixing process before)
- Pile a handfull of peanuts on top for serving (then mix at the table)
- Drizzle the “sauce” to taste…
(I do this in a salad bowl, but a deep plate/dish makes it look more cool mounded, it just makes mixing more difficult.)
This dish goes GREAT with Chinese food, but it actually goes well with lots of other things, you might find a good way to use it and post it here.
I found this thing at a spicy hot-pot place here in Taipei, but they wouldn’t tell us the recipe (obviously), but I experimented and found this was exactly as the restaurant had made it… In fact, mine is, of course, better ;)
It will keep in the fridge for about a week in a sealed container, but its appearance is best fresh of course.
Peanut Salad with layers of vegitables and peanuts with peanuts on top, before mixing.
Peanut Salad after mixing.
Enjoy!
p.s. you could, of course and as always, add bacon pieces ;)
Related posts:
