I'm super excited to be hosting Robin Robertson on her Nut Butter Universe blog tour. Not only is Robin here with a recipe for my favorite type of dish – a stir-fry with spicy peanut sauce – but there's also a chance for you to enter to win a copy of Nut Butter Universe for yourself! And here's Robin…

Szechuan Stir-Fry with Fiery Peanut Sauce

A creamy peanut sauce is the star of this versatile stir-fry. You can vary the vegetables according to your personal taste and their availability. In addition, the amount of heat in this dish can be controlled by the amount of red pepper flakes added to the sauce. Strips of extra-firm tofu are a pleasant foil for the spicy sauce. This recipe calls for serving it over rice, but it’s also delicious tossed with cooked rice noodles instead.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup water

• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup wheat-free tamari

• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar

• 2 teaspoons natural sugar

• 1 teaspoon ketchup

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste

• 1 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water

• 1 tablespoon neutral vegetable oil
• 8 to 12 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained, pressed, and cut into 1/2-inch strips
• 1  large yellow onion, halved length- 
wise and thinly sliced
• 2  cups broccoli florets, blanched
• 1  red bell pepper, cut into thin 
strips
• 2  cups thinly sliced napa cabbage
• 1 cup thinly sliced fresh shiitake mushrooms

• 3 to 4 cups cooked brown rice

• 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, chopped (optional)

Directions:

1. In a bowl, a food processor, or a blender, combine the water, peanut butter, tamari, vinegar, sugar, ketchup, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes, and blend well.
2. Pour the mixture into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the cornstarch mixture and cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens. Taste and adjust the seasonings, if needed. Remove from the heat and set aside. Add a little water if the sauce becomes too thick.
3. Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the tofu and stir-fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the onion, broccoli, and bell pepper, and stir-fry for 3 minutes. Add the cabbage and mushrooms and stir-fry 3 minutes longer, or until the vegetables soften, adding a little water if the vegetables start to stick.
4. Return the tofu to the skillet. Add the sauce and stir-fry to coat the vegetables. Serve over the rice and top with the chopped peanuts, if using.

Serves 4 to 6

From Nut Butter Universe by Robin Robertson. ©2013 Robin Robertson. Used by permission from Vegan Heritage Press. Photo by Lori Maffei.

Now it's your turn to enter to win a copy of Nut Butter Universe! Enter below and increase your chances to win by following me on Facebook and Twitter. US residents only please. Contest ends Friday, February 22nd, 2013 at Midnight EST.