Thai-Style Peanut Cole Slaw

Each Friday evening, I try to stop by and visit with my friends at the Dixboro Farmers' Market. I schmooze, I shop ... it's a good way to end the week.

I bought some baked cinnamon honey almonds from Nana's Nuts, which donates some of the profits from sales to the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan to help provide some fun and diversion for sick kids. I bought a beautiful loaf of sourdough rye bread - complete with caraway, which makes it an authentic rye (to my mind, and to that of Jeremiah, the baker) - from The Mother Loaf, which specializes in "naturally leavened breads made with locally sourced, organic ingredients." And I bought some healthy fruit-based snack bars from Motor City Munchies, which are "organic, local, gluten free, raw, vegan" ... and delicious.

I'd been craving cole slaw, so I made sure to buy a cabbage from Ferris Farms, which always has such lovely vegetables (kale, potatoes, carrots, lettuces). But I wasn't in the mood for either a creamy cole slaw or a tart, vinegar-based one; I specifically wanted one with a peanutty Thai influence.

So, that's what I made. And it was so, so good! This was just an inspired concoction, and it turned out perfectly on the first try ... what serendipity ... :)


Thai-Style Peanut Cole Slaw

Salad:
1 small head cabbage, cored, quartered, sliced
1/2 small red onion, sliced thin
1/8 cup chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
generous pinch of kosher salt
generous pinch of freshly ground black pepper
generous pinch of red pepper flakes
1/3 cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped

Dressing:
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon teriyaki sauce
3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter

Combine all of the salad ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Combine the vinegar, oils, and teriyaki sauce in a small bowl; whisk in the peanut butter until the dressing is smooth, then pour over the vegetables. Stir to combine, then let cole slaw rest for 30 minutes before serving.

Serves 4.