nonya secrets No.4 Spicy Peanut Sauce

Even with the benefit kitchen gadgetry, Nonya sauces require painstaking and lengthy preparation. There are a vast number of herbs; rhizomes such as galangal, turmeric, ginger together with onions, garlic, chillies, lemon grass. They all need to be carefully measured, sliced and ground to a fine texture to produce the sambals and smooth curry pastes which are then cooked so that the onions caramelise and the ingredients come together in a melange of hot and sweet, spicy and smooth.

Created using a traditional family recipe, this spicy peanut sauce has flavour notes of lemongrass and galangal running through it. Traditionally used as a sauce for satay, but it can also be used as a salad dressing.