Vietnamese Bean & Peanut Dipping Sauce
(tuong goi cuon)

This is a traditional dipping sauce which has many variations. It goes great with salad rolls. This version is heavy on the peanuts to make it a quasi peanut sauce versus pure bean dip.

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup ground roasted peanuts (add more if you like)
- 1/4 cup salted or fermented whole soybeans
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/3 cup coconut milk
- 4 Tbsp brown sugar
- 4 Tbsp chopped shallots
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp Vietnamese style chilli paste in vinegar (sambal oelek) - optional

Method:

1. Add to a blender or food processor, the soybeans, water, coconut milk,
brown sugar, shallots and vinegar. Blend into a smooth liquid.

2. Add mixture to a saucepan and bring to a boil on moderate heat.

3. Reduce heat to simmer and add peanuts and sambal oelek (chilli).

4. Cook on simmer for 5 minutes or more and your sauce has thickened.

5. Cool down and serve in individual dipping bowls.

Makes just over 2 cups of sauce