Peanut Chicken

Walking through the hospital one day, I was smelled peanut butter.  I came home and found a recipe on www.epicurious.com (Soba with Chicken and Peanut Sauce, Gourmet Jun 2007) that I then adapted into the following recipe.  I was amazed how fast it was and the texture of adding cucumber.

1 pound chicken, thinly sliced (I used breasts)

1 onion, 1 pepper or 1 cup frozen onions and peppers

1 tsp minced garlic (heaping)

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1-2 tbsp chili sauce (I used a combination of the red kind you get at the chinese stores with the chicken on it and Frank's red hot)

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 cup peanut butter

1 pound soba noodles

1 cucumber, sliced or diced

1.  In a large pot bring water or chicken stock to a boil.  Boil chicken for 2-3 minutes or until cooked through.  Remove chicken and set aside. 

2.  Return water to a boil and cook noodles according to manufacture instructions. 

3.  While the chicken is boiling, saute 1 onions, peppers and garlic until clear onions soft.  Whisk in chili sauce, sesame oil, and peanut butter and heat.  Balance the thickness of the sauce with the chicken stock/water from the noodles.  (I ended up adding about a cup or so).

4.  Prior to serving, return the chicken to the sauce and add the cucumbers.  Serve over noodles.  

I think this recipe only took about 15 minutes from start to finish to make so it is great if you are in a hurry (or just in the mood for peanut butter).  I wonder how it would taste over greens rather than with noodles.