Easy Peanut Sauce Recipe (Thai Peanut Sauce) - The Kitchen Girl (2024)

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Make sweet and spicy peanut sauce in 5 minutes! Just whisk peanut butter with a few Asian ingredients and serve on dumplings, noodles, salad, meat, and veggies.

Why you'll love this recipe

Ingredient availability - The best peanut butter sauce ingredients might already be in your pantry. If not, they're at most grocery stores. Once you have them, you can make Thai peanut sauce anytime your heart desires – and you will.

Versatility - Thai peanut sauce is delicious on everything Asian – such as noodles, salads, sandwiches, grilled meats, vegetables, stir fry, and dumplings. It adds sweet and mildly spicy flavors in the form of a creamy, savory sauce.

Diet-friendly - I love that this condiment is naturally vegan. I'm not diet-restricted, but I'm always up for a plant-based sauce that tastes so rich, it fools people, even me!

Quick and easy - Let's also get excited over the fact that you can make peanut sauce in 5 minutes. So, you make it at the last minute, or make ahead.

Delicious - You won't believe how a few pantry staples can be whisked together to make one of the best sauces in your collection. This tasty peanut butter sauce is sure to become a favorite condiment. You'll see!

Ingredient notes

• peanut butter - I recommend unsweetened, smooth peanut peanut butter for this dipping sauce recipe since you'll be adding sweet ingredients to it.
• soy sauce - I recommend a low-sodium soy sauce which adds savory flavor without over-salting the sauce. Alternatives are listed in the recipe variations section below.
• unseasoned rice vinegar - You can substitute this with lime juice in equal amounts, if preferred.
• maple syrup - This can be substituted with another sweetener such as brown sugar, agave nectar, or your sweetener of choice.
• fresh ginger - This lends to a distinctively Asian-inspired sauce.
• garlic clove - Fresh garlic adds that unique spice we love!
• sriracha - Spicy and sweet just go together and this sauce adds the right spice! Chili garlic paste can be added for extra flavor or substituted in equal amounts.
• water - Use plain water to thin the sauce to the exact consistency you want.

As you can see, there are many substitution options. So, even if you only have peanut butter and a few basic pantry ingredients, you can still make this recipe.

What can I use peanut sauce with?

I like to call Thai peanut sauce the 'ranch' of Asian-inspired cuisine. I can't think of another condiment that pairs with so many things in that category. Here are my favorite ways to to use peanut sauce:

• dressing for Asian salad or buddha bowls
• dipping sauce for spring rolls, summer rolls, dumplings or gyoza
• sauce for Thai Peanut zoodles
• dressing for Asian slaw
• sauce for banh mi sliders or lettuce wrap
• stir fry sauce
• drizzled over kale noodles
• dip for air fryer Brussels sprouts
• chicken satay dipping sauce
• vegetable platter dip

How to make this recipe

You'll love that you don't need specialized tools to make this recipe. The microplane is great for finely grating ginger and garlic. But otherwise, a fork and bowl are really all you need!

Step 1. Place peanut butter, soy sauce, grated ginger, grated garlic, rice vinegar, maple syrup, and sriracha in a small mixing bowl.

Step 2. Use a fork to whisk ingredients together until well-combined. Add small amounts of water and continue whisking until you reach the desired consistency.

Recipe variations

My recipe for peanut sauce is a family-friendly, mild flavor, which is pretty standard for my recipes. These Asian pantry ingredients can also be used as desired.

• lime juice
• chili garlic sauce
• fish sauce
• lemongrass powder or paste
• tamarind paste
• galangal
• curry paste
• sesame oil
• Substitute water with coconut milk for a richer-tasting sauce.
• Substitute soy sauce with tamari, liquid aminos, or coconut aminos for gluten-free options.

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. It acts like flour without the extra oil, which is convenient.

Serve warm or cold?

It's up to you! Under refrigeration, peanut sauce can become firm and, at room temperature, it softens again. When serving cold, you may need to adjust the consistency by adding water. To serve warm, simply heat the sauce using the stove or microwave on medium heat, adding water in tiny amounts and stirring as needed.

Can I make ahead?

Yes! Peanut sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated for a few weeks. You can even freeze it up to 90 days, or longer if vacuum sealed. To thaw, let it rest overnight in the refrigerator. You may need to adjust the consistency by adding a little more peanut butter or water.

Does peanut sauce have dairy?

No. This recipe is naturally vegan and dairy-free. It's anything but dull. In fact, this plant-based condiment tastes so rich and creamy, you won't believe there's no dairy!

Recommended Asian recipes

• Pickled Carrots and Daikon
• Thai Coconut Soup
• Thai Pumpkin Curry
• Vegan Thai Coconut Vegetable Curry
• Asian Cucumber Salad
• Banh Mi Buddha Bowl

📖 Recipe