Kiwifruit & Peanut Butter Pasta Sauce

Creamy peanut butter turned into a sweet & spicy dressing—without adding sugar. Blend in fresh golden kiwi fruit to sweeten this Golden Peanut Sauce. Delicious when used as a dip, sauce or dressing. Add it when cooking proteins, vegetables, stir-fry or this peanut butter pasta sauce and bowl recipe.

Summer games are at the halfway point and Olympic fever is in full force. There are with medal counts constantly being updated and non-stop sports coverage throughout the day. This season of going for gold, has also made its way into the kitchen too.

We have had a colorful cracker snack. Celebrated a win with these gold, silver & bronze ice pops. Now we’re bringing the gold to…the kiwis in the fruit bin.

Golden Kiwis

Move over green kiwis, there is a new golden variety to choose from. This version has a smooth hairless outer skin and a sweet and juicy flesh inside.

One serving (2 golden kiwis) has 110 Calories and 2 grams of both fiber and protein. Providing 3× more vitamin C than and orange and as much potassium as a banana. I like those scores.

How to Pick & Store Kiwi 

The first time I tried a golden kiwi was over a year ago while away on vacation. Luckily, they are now more readily available closer to home. You can find them in most grocery stores, either sold individually or in a 1-2 pound box.  

To determine if it’s ripe, the kiwi should yield to slight pressure when squeezed gently in the palm of your hand. Store kiwi fruit at room temperature to ripen (3-7 days) and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks once ripe. Place cut pieces of kiwi to the freezer for even longer storage.

Ways to use kiwis

As a snack

Like the green variety, the golden kiwi makes a perfect portable snack option. If you are a fan of the skin, leave it whole and eat it like an apple. Otherwise, cut in half and scoop with a spoon. The skin serves as a perfect fruit bowl. For a one hand option, cut it in quarters lengthwise and eat like you would an orange wedge.

Break down protein

Both green and golden kiwis useful in the kitchen. They contain an enzyme, called actinidin, that helps break down proteins. Improving digestive comfort and makes them useful to use as meat tenderizers. Since they are  naturally sweet, they’re great to use in marinades and dressings—like this Kiwi Sauce recipe.

Sugar free sauce

Inspired by their naturally sweet flavor, kiwi can be used as a sugar substitute. Blend the fruit before using it to add a subtle sweetness. This is a great way to flavor plain oatmeal and yogurt.

Pureed kiwi fruit can also be used as a sweetener in sauces. Instead of adding sugar, honey or syrups—usually found in sauce or dressings—this Golden Peanut Butter Pasta Sauce uses kiwi fruit as its sweetener.

Golden Kiwi Peanut Butter Sauce & Pasta Bowl

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

A delicious peanut sauce for all your favorite dishes. Made with no added sugars or sweeteners, thanks to the addition of the Zespri's SunGold Kiwifruit.

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Ingredients

Peanut Sauce Ingredients

• 2 Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit
• 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
• ½ cup creamy, unsalted peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon each: rice wine vinegar and red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• ¼ teaspoon low sodium soy sauce
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

Peanut Pasta Bowl Ingredients

• 4 cup cooked whole grain pasta (such as spaghetti or linguini)
• 2 ⅔ cup shredded red cabbage
• 2 cups shredded carrots
• 8 scallion, sliced
• 1 cup Golden Kiwi Peanut Sauce

Instructions

To Make the Golden Peanut Sauce: 

Add all the ingredient to a small food processor. Blend until smooth, scraping down the
sides as needed. If desired, season with red pepper flakes. {Makes 1 cup} 

To Make the Peanut Pasta Bowl: 

Layer the noodles and vegetables in either a large serving bowl or individual ones . Top with the Golden Peanut Sauce. Mix together and enjoy.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 225Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 87mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 7gSugar: 9gProtein: 8g

Did you make this recipe?

Let us know how in the comments below or share on Instagram and tag @perspectiveportions, we'd love to see it.

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Check out these other great Zespri’s SunGold Kiwifruit recipes: