Linguine with Snow Peas, Cucumber, and Peanut Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 2/3 cup canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 pound linguine
• 1/2 pound snow peas, cut diagonally into thin slices
• 1 1/2 cups bean sprouts (about 1/4 pound)
• 2 scallions including green tops, chopped
• 1 cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and sliced thin
• 1/2 cup chopped peanuts

Preparation

1. 1. In a blender or food processor, combine the garlic, soy sauce, peanut butter, chicken broth, lime juice, red-pepper flakes, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Puree until smooth.
2. 2. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the linguine until almost done, about 9 minutes. Stir in the snow peas and bean sprouts and cook until the vegetables and pasta are just done, about 3 minutes more. Drain and toss with the peanut sauce, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, the scallions, cucumber, and 1/3 cup of the peanuts. Serve with the remaining peanuts sprinkled over the top.
3. Wine Recommendation: Choose a simple kabinett riesling from the Rheinhessen. These rieslings' piquant juxtaposition of fruity acids and balancing sweetness is the perfect foil for the salty and spicy flavors of Asian cuisine.
4. Notes: Though they're certainly edible, the seeds from a mature cucumber can be somewhat watery. You can simply scoop them out of a halved cucumber with a spoon and discard them--or buy an English (hothouse) cucumber, which is almost completely seedless.