Peanutty Goodness! Broccoli and Tofu in a Peanut Sauce

Every once in a while I crave the creamy goodness that is peanut butter. Of course peanut butter is delicious on toast, with apples or bananas and as a spread in general but in this recipe my thought was to experiment with peanut butter as a sauce...like in a lot of southeast asian cuisine. Before I get to the recipe, let's talk a little about peanuts and peanut butter. First, it seems like peanut butter should be as close to crushed or pureed peanuts as you can get...so I say go for the natural gooey stuff it looks kinda nasty at first but hey...you avoid the trans fats and all that hydrogenation processing that must go down ;o)

What's good to know about peanuts/peanut butter is that it contains good fats that may help reduce bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol in our bodies...yes, you can have your cake and eat it too! More on the benefits or noteworthy precautions on this food can be found here - http://peanut-butter.org/peanut-butter/Health+Benefits+of+Peanut+Butter.

Most importantly, however, to keep in mind when lathering on that thick layer of peanut butter...it may have some good fats but it's also super high in calories so lets stick to moderation for this delicious treat. A good fat doesn't negate the high calories!!! So...let's get cooking...

Broccoli and Tofu in Peanut Sauce

1 Tbsp of Peanut Oil

1 Crown of Broccoli Chopped

1 Onion Chopped

1 Red Pepper Chopped

1 Block Firm Tofu Cubed

1/2 cup Peanut Butter

1/2 cup Hot Water

2 Tbsp White Vinegar

2 Tbsp Soy Sauce

1 Tbsp Molasses

Hot Pepper (cayenne) to Taste

Heat the peanut oil in a skillet. Add the vegetables and tofu, sautee until tender, about 5 minutes. In the meantime combine all the other ingredients in a small bowl. When the veggies and tofu are cooked pour this mixture over the veggies and tofu and simmer for another 5 minutes. YES...it's really that easy!

I like this recipe over brown rice or noodles. You can also mix up which vegetables you use...I can see celery and mushrooms tasting pretty good with this mixture! With literally a 30 minute preparation to completion time, there are no excuses!!! One serving is about 29 g protein; 24 g carbs.