Gado Gado (Satay Sauce)

Easy. Versatile. Rich. Filling.

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Food painting artwork

30 x 30cm acrylic and pen on canvas. As this recipe is all about the flavour of peanuts, this painting depicts the mythical peanut tree. Now as you might know, peanuts grow underground on the roots of a small bush. A bit like potatoes grow on the roots of the potato plant. That is why peanuts are also known as groundnuts, and also explains why they are actually a legume, not a nut.

However, so many people think that peanuts grow on a tree that I decided to run with this as an artistic idea. The stylistic inspiration today is from the artist Jo Lynch who has a wonderfully fun and cheerful style that celebrates colour and the use of white negative space. I thought these two pictorial ideas could be ideal to explore for a mythical tree.

By the way, all the food painting artwork is available to own in the Official Art Store.

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The meatless meals recipe

Many years ago now I gave this dish to a Scottish friend to make and test. He made it for himself and his housemates. It was reported back to me that his French housemate reckoned that this is the 'golo golo' mother of all sauces for stir fries. Apparently 'golo golo' is quite a compliment. My friend thought it was excellent too and very easy to make. So all of you peeps out there doing the Meatless Monday, this one's a good one for you.

2 tablespoons oil

6 cloves garlic

1 medium onion

1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger

1 small red chilli

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 large tomato, diced

juice of 1/2 a lemon

2 cups coconut/soy milk/cow milk

2 cups peanut butter

handful peanuts

up to 1 cup of other chopped veges (carrot, mushrooms, beans)

Saute the garlic and onion in oil.  

When soft add the ginger too.  Keep sautéing.

Then add the chilli and then tomato (and other veges).  Mix well.  Cook until tomato collapses or until veges are basically done.

Stir in the soy sauce and the milk.

Then mix in the peanut butter.

When thoroughly mixed (it gets easier as it warms up), stir in the lemon juice.  Add extra milk if it is all too thick.

Throw in a handful of peanuts and make sure everything is heated through.

Serve over rice.

Makes 5 bowls.

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More vegetarian cookbook goodies

Need help with conversions? Download this handy dandy pdf of cooking conversion charts for every cooking measuring system I could find. It should make your life easier.

Want to check out more vegetarian dinner recipes? They're all in the Table of Contents.

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