Nuoc leo - Vietnamese peanut sauce

From issue #5.
Photography by Photography by Nick Tresidder.

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon peanut oil
80 grams pork mince
3 cloves garlic, crushed
¼ cup chilli soy paste
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup water
1 tablespoon sugar
½ cup roasted peanuts, crushed
¼ teaspoon chilli flakes
2 tablespoons lime juice

METHOD

Heat the peanut oil, add the pork and garlic and cook, breaking up any lumps with the back of the spoon. Add the soy and tomato pastes, stir well and add the water, sugar, peanuts, chilli flakes and lime juice. Cook gently for 5 minutes or until the sauce has reduced by half. Taste for seasoning, adding extra lime juice if needed. Allow to cool.