Cooking for two

Sauce adds sweet heat to skewered beef

Beef Satay With Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce
Beef Satay With Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce

Sriracha, brown sugar, peanut butter and lime juice give this beef dish a spicy sweet flavor with a Southeast Asian flair.

Add some steamed vegetables and rice and you’ve got an easy weeknight dinner.

Beef Satay With Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce

For the satay:

8 to 12 ounces flank steak, trimmed (see note)

1 heaping tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon fish sauce (see note)

1 teaspoon Sriracha chile sauce

10 to 14 bamboo skewers

For the sauce:

2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

2 tablespoons hot tap water or more as needed

Juice of 1/2 lime

1 1/2 teaspoons Sriracha

1 teaspoon fish sauce

1 clove garlic, minced

1 green onion, thinly sliced

If using flank steak: Slice the steak in half with the grain,then slice each piece against the grain, on a bias, into1/4 -inch thick slices. Lay the meat in a single layer between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound to1/8 - inch thick; set aside.

In a shallow dish, combine the sugar, fish sauce, Sriracha and 2 tablespoons water, whisking until sugar dissolves.

Add the beef, stirring well to coat. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Meanwhile, soak the bamboo skewers in water.

For the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, hot tap water, lime juice, Sriracha, fish sauce and garlic, whisking until smooth.

Thin with additional water, if necessary. Sprinkle with green onion; set aside.

Adjust rack to 6 inches from broiler. Heat broiler.

Pat beef dry with paper towels and weave each piece onto a skewer. Arrange skewers in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet or broiler pan.

Shield skewer end with foil to prevent burning. Broil 6 to 9 minutes, turning once, or until beef is cooked to desired doneness.

Serve with dipping sauce.

Makes 2 servings.

Notes: Thin sliced beef steak, available in vacuum-packages at some supermarkets, works well here if you’re pressed for time.

Fish sauce is available in the Asian section at some supermarkets and at specialty stores. Can substitute equal parts soy sauce, lime juice and rice vinegar.

Recipe adapted from America’s Test Kitchen The Complete Cooking For Two Cookbook.

Food, Pages 32 on 04/23/2014

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