Best Peanut Sauce Recipe - Evolving Table (2024)

This quick and easy Peanut Sauce recipe can be made with just a few simple ingredients in 5 minutes or less! Creamy peanut butter, savory soy sauce, a touch of sugar, and the heat of Sriracha makes for a delectably smooth, spicy-sweet flavor.

Best Peanut Sauce Recipe - Evolving Table (1)

What is Peanut Sauce?

Peanut Sauce, often called satay sauce, is sweet, savory, and often subtly spicy sauce that is made from ground peanuts, water, and other spices. It is often found in Indonesian, Thai, and other Asian cuisines served as a dip alongside spring rolls and chicken satay or even a marinade for grilled meats.

Why Make this Recipe?

Besides the fact that you are only 5 minutes and 6 simple ingredients away from one of the BEST Thai dipping sauces ever?

There is also so much room for variation– something you can’t get when you buy a bottle of it at the store.

Plus, it tastes INCREDIBLE! I know this because it has been made by TONS of readers and they all say the same thing!

Once you’ve made the recipe, try dipping your favorite Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls in it, or drizzling it atop some Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Satay, Egg Roll in a Bowl, or these PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps.

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Ingredients

The simple ingredients you need to make this Peanut Sauce recipe include:

  • Peanut butter. A smooth peanut butter without any added sugar is best.
  • Soy sauce. Gluten-free varieties or Tamari sauce may be used and coconut liquid aminos also work as a soy-free alternative.
  • Sugar. Brown sugar will taste the best, but honey and agave nectar may be used if you’d like a healthier alternative. If on a low-carb or keto diet, you can also substitute with a non-nutritive sweetener such as stevia.
  • Sriracha sauce. Feel free to substitute with another hot sauce of choice.
  • Rice vinegar. Rice vinegar is the most common and authentic acidic component to use, but fresh lime juice may also be used.
  • Garlic. A clove of fresh garlic is preferred, but ⅛ teaspoon of garlic powder can be substituted for each clove.

How to Make Peanut Sauce

The basic steps for making Peanut Sauce are simple to follow. Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.

Mix the Main Ingredients

Add all of the ingredients except for the water to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Whisk them together until smooth and well combined.

If the peanut butter is too difficult to whisk at room temperature, it can be warmed for 10-20 seconds in the microwave to soften it up and make it easier to mix with the other ingredients.

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Whisk in Water

When all the other ingredients are combined, slowly whisk in 1 tablespoon of warm water at a time. This will help to thin out the sauce to the desired consistency – going slightly thicker for a dipping sauce, and slightly thinner for a drizzling sauce or dressing.

By the time the desired amount of water is fully whisked in, the sauce should have returned to a lighter brown color, similar to that of the peanut butter.

Serve the sauce with Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls, and enjoy!

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Meal Prep and Storage

  • To Prep-Ahead: Homemade peanut sauce can be prepared up to 3-4 days in advance, however the sauce will gradually start to lose some of its flavor over time.
  • To Store: Prepared peanut sauce can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Leftover sauce can be frozen in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 4-6 months.
  • To Reheat: Stored peanut sauce may be left out on the counter for an hour before serving, or microwaved in the oven for 10-20 seconds to make it smooth and creamy.
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FAQS

Are peanut sauce and satay sauce the same thing?

While peanut sauce can technically refer to any sauce featuring peanuts or peanut butter, satay sauce is the form of preparation generally involving soy sauce, sugar, chili sauce, and water.

What do you use peanut sauce for?

Peanut sauce can be used for a wide variety of Asian dishes, such as Vietnamese spring rolls, Thai lettuce wraps, Indonesian satay, or Pad Thai with a nutty kick.

How do you thicken peanut sauce?

If peanut sauce has been thinned out a little too much, try putting it in the fridge for a short amount of time to solidify it a bit, or carefully whisk in a little more peanut butter to thicken it back up.

Why are some peanut sauce recipes cooked on the stovetop and others not?

It comes down to preference and preparation technique. Some recipes where the sauce is being used in a hot dish may call for it to be prepared very warm, or some cooks may find it easier to incorporate all of the ingredients when the sauce is heated on the stovetop.

Recipe Tips

  • Warm it up. To make the sauce easier to stir, microwave the peanut butter for 10 seconds before adding it, and use warm water instead of cold to thin it out.
  • Prep in bulk. Peanut sauce reheats beautifully, so make a double or triple batch and portion it out to freeze until ready to use it.
  • Watch the spice. Start by adding just a little bit of Sriracha to the sauce and tasting it, gradually adding more and testing until it reaches your desired level of spice.
  • Make it creamy. For a thinner, mellower, extra creamy sauce that’s perfect for tossing with noodles or salads, try replacing the water with coconut milk.
  • Experiment with flavors. Implementing ingredients like sesame oil, fresh ginger, coconut milk, alternative nut butters, or lime juice within the sauce can help yield different results.
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What to Serve Asian Peanut Sauce With

This incredibly versatile sauce makes for the perfect spicy-sweet accompaniment to loads of delicious Asian dishes:

  • Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
  • Egg Roll in a Bowl
  • Ground Chicken Thai Lettuce Wraps
  • Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls
  • Thai Peanut Sauce Chicken and Veggies
  • Peanut Butter Sriracha Brussels Sprouts
  • Thai Peanut Quinoa Salad
  • Thai Zucchini Noodle Salad
  • Easy Pad Thai

Tap stars to rate!

5 from 62 votes

Best Peanut Sauce Recipe

This quick and easy Peanut Sauce recipe can be made with just a few simple ingredients in 5 minutes or less! Creamy peanut butter, savory soy sauce, a touch of sugar, and the heat of Sriracha makes for a delectably smooth, spicy-sweet flavor.

Best Peanut Sauce Recipe - Evolving Table (7)

Yield 12 servings

Prep 5 minutes mins

Total 5 minutes mins

Print Pin Comment

Ingredients

  • ½ cup peanut butter smooth
  • 2 Tbsp. soy sauce or Tamari
  • 2 Tbsp. brown sugar honey or coconut sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar or lime juice
  • 1 clove garlic finely minced
  • ½-1 tsp. Sriracha sauce to taste
  • 3-6 Tbsp warm water

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a medium-sized bowl, except for the water, to a medium-sized bowl. Whisk until well smooth and well combined.

    ½ cup peanut butter, 2 Tbsp. soy sauce, 2 Tbsp. brown sugar, 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar, 1 clove garlic, ½-1 tsp. Sriracha sauce

  • Slowly add in warm water 1 tablespoon at a time to help thin it out. Stop adding when your desired consistency is reached.

    3-6 Tbsp warm water

  • This recipe makes roughly ¾ cup of sauce, or 12 tablespoons. Serve sauce with Fresh Spring Rolls and enjoy!

Tap stars to rate!

5 from 62 votes

Video

Notes

Dietary Modifications

The recipe you’ll find below is already vegetarian and vegan as written. Here are some substitutions you can make:

  • Gluten-Free: Substitute soy sauce for a gluten-free variety, or for Tamari sauce.
  • Peanut-Free: Use almond or cashew butter.
  • Low-Carb: Use a non-nutritive sweetener such as stevia extract.
  • Whole30: Use almond or cashew butter, coconut sugar or honey, apple cider vinegar, and a hot sauce without any added sugars.
  • Soy-Free: Substitute the soy sauce or Tamari sauce for coconut liquid aminos.
  • Refined Sugar-Free: Replace the brown sugar with honey, agave nectar, or coconut sugar.

Meal Prep and Storage

  • To Prep-Ahead: Homemade peanut sauce can be prepared up to 3-4 days in advance, however the sauce will gradually start to lose some of its flavor over time.
  • To Store: Prepared peanut sauce can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
  • To Freeze: Leftover sauce can be frozen in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 4-6 months.
  • To Reheat: Stored peanut sauce may be left out on the counter for an hour before serving, microwaved in the oven for 10-20 seconds, or heated in a small saucepan on the stove, constantly stirring until smooth and creamy.

Nutrition

Calories: 75kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 193mg, Potassium: 80mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 1IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 8mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Made this recipe?Leave a comment below!

Categorized as:
, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Low-Carb, Low-Fat, Recipes, Refined Sugar-Free, , Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole30

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FAQs

How to thicken up peanut sauce? ›

How to thicken peanut sauce. If you accidentally add too much water to your peanut sauce, simply whisk in small amounts of peanut butter to adjust the consistency, You may also need to add other ingredients to maintain the flavor balance. Peanut butter powder also works in place of peanut butter to make this adjustment ...

What is peanut sauce for spring rolls made of? ›

To make the dipping sauce, in a medium bowl, stir together the peanut butter hoisin sauce, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and Sriracha. Whisk in the hot water until sauce is smooth. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a little more water until desired consistency is reached.

What is Chinese peanut sauce made of? ›

This sauce is made using peanut butter, sauces like hot sauce, vinegar and soy sauce (tamari for gluten-free), garlic and seasoning. It can be seasoned as you like.

What is Vietnamese peanut sauce made of? ›

One of the unique aspects of Vietnamese-style peanut sauce compared to other varieties of peanut sauce is the inclusion of hoisin sauce. Vietnamese peanut sauce is simply made with peanut butter, hoisin and garlic for a sweet, tangy and rich sauce.

What makes sauce thicker? ›

The most readily available sauce-thickener is flour. For a too-thin sauce, try adding a slurry (equal parts flour and water, whisked together) or beurre manie (equal parts softened butter and flour, kneaded together to form a paste)—both are ideal thickeners for rich and creamy sauces, such as steak sauce recipes.

Is peanut butter and peanut sauce the same thing? ›

What is Thai Peanut sauce made of? Thai Peanut Sauce is made up of peanut butter, soy sauce, ginger, a sweetener (I used maple syrup), rice wine vinegar, sesame seeds, a spice and water. In some more traditional versions, coconut milk is used instead of water, but I find this combination to be perfect.

What's good with peanut sauce? ›

Carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, red peppers, and snow peas are just some of the vegetables that taste great when paired with Thai Peanut Sauce. Try a unique twist with your veggies and dip Summer Rolls into the rich, peanut flavor!

What is in Little Saigon peanut sauce? ›

Little Saigon peanut sauces blends peanut butter, soybeans, sweet potato, sesame, garlic and spices to deliver this one of a kind peanut sauce good with almost anything you can think of. Here is a little secret: mix it with Little Saigon Chili Oil to throw in that extra kick.

Is peanut sauce an American thing? ›

Although commonly associated with Thai cuisine, peanut sauce actually originated in Indonesia (source).

What ethnicity is peanut sauce? ›

Also just called peanut sauce or satay sauce, this dipping sauce is a flavorful part of Southeast Asian cuisine, especially Indonesian cuisine, where it's called bumbu kacang or sambal kacang.

What is Japanese peanut sauce called? ›

Satay is a traditional dish served throughout Asia. This is the Japanese variation of this particular dipping sauce. Use with grilled chicken, beef, pork satay sticks or with grilled vegetable kebabs. A great addition to any meal, cookout, or party.

What is the stinky sauce in Vietnam? ›

Your father was probably talking about the Vietnamese national food condiment called : “Nuoc Mam” which is liquid fish sauce. (FYI, it comes in various grades of quality. It is quite nutritious in vitamins and minerals. Used in its pure state it can be quite smelly.

What is in Naam peanut sauce? ›

Naam Sauces are free from additives and preservatives. Ingredients: peanuts, water, onion, coconut milk, soy sauce, garlic, lemon juice concentrate, curry paste (red chilies, garlic, salt, onion, spices), organic crystallized cane juice, vegetable oil, chilies.

What countries use peanut sauce? ›

In Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, the vehicle for this sauce is sate (also known as satay). At night markets and hawker stalls across these countries, charcoal grills give off fragrant smoke as they cook meat sliced thin and threaded onto skewers.

How to thicken up runny peanut butter? ›

Stir the peanut butter continuously for a couple of minutes until it becomes creamy and then keep it refrigerated. If still not thickened, grind some more peanuts and add to the peanut butter and mix till both, butter and peanuts, nicely blends with each other and then refrigerate. Keep it in refrigerator only.

How do you fix peanut sauce? ›

If your sauce has become too thin, add more nut butter. If it's too thick, thin with more water. For a fun flavor twist, add some fresh grated ginger to taste.

What if peanut sauce is too thick? ›

If the sauce is too thick, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency. Use as a dipping sauce for spring rolls or on peanut noodles.

How to make peanut butter more liquidy? ›

When using peanut butter only, the key is heat. Peanut butter is naturally high in fat, but that fat is nearly solid at room temperature. In order to soften it up, you need some heat. In my case, I heated two tablespoons in a heat-proof bowl and then stirred like crazy.

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