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Home » Recipes » Sauces

by Traci · Published: 10/02/2022 · Updated: 06/15/2020 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

The Best Peanut Sauce Recipe

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5 from 33 votes
5 minutes

Make sweet and spicy Thai peanut sauce in only five minutes. Then drizzle this savory, creamy dipping sauce over noodles, salads, grilled meats, and more!

spoonful of peanut sauce in white bowl
Table of Contents hide
1) Why you'll love this recipe
2) Ingredient notes
3) What can I use peanut sauce with?
4) How to make peanut sauce
5) Options for more Thai flavor
6) How to thicken peanut sauce
7) Serve warm or cold?
8) Can I make ahead?
9) Does peanut sauce have dairy?
10) Grab these easy Asian recipes
11) The Best Peanut Sauce Recipe

Why you'll love this recipe

The best peanut 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.

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.

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!

Let's also get excited over the fact that you can make peanut sauce at the very last minute – or make it ahead. You can even freeze it!

It's hard to believe a few pantry staples can be whisked together to make one of the best sauces in your collection. This peanut butter sauce is sure to become a favorite if it isn't already!

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 personally use low-sodium soy sauce. You can also use gluten-free tamari, liquid aminos, or coconut aminos as gluten-free substitute.
  • 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 peanut sauce.
  • garlic clove - Fresh garlic adds that uniquie 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 peanut sauce to the exact consistency you want.

As you can see, there are many substitution options. So, even if you're missing an ingredient, as long as it's not peanut butter, you can still make this recipe.

What can I use peanut sauce with?

Thai peanut sauce is the ranch sauce of Asian food. I can't think of any other condiment that goes with so many things in this category of cuisine. 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 Vietnamese sandwich 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 peanut sauce

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

To make peanut sauce, place peanut butter, soy sauce, grated ginger, grated garlic rice vinegar, maple syrup, and sriracha in a small mixing bowl.

soy sauce is poured into peanut butter in white bowl
peanut sauce ingredients in white bowl

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

fork stirs peanut sauce ingredients in white bowl
spoonful of peanut sauce in white bowl

Options for more Thai flavor

My recipe for Thai peanut sauce is a family-friendly, mild flavor (as per usual for my recipes). If you like bolder and more distinct Thai flavors, substitute coconut milk for water in this recipe. Then experiment with any of the following ingredients in small amounts.

  • lime juice
  • chili garlic sauce
  • fish sauce
  • lemongrass paste
  • tamarind paste
  • galangal
  • Thai red curry paste
  • sesame oil

It's fun to explore these flavors from your Asian pantry, but if you happen to overuse any one ingredient, it can overshadow the milder flavors. So, I recommend adding bold ingredients in very small amounts to prevent this.

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.

Does peanut sauce have dairy?

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

Grab these easy Asian recipes

  • Pickled Carrots and Daikon
  • Thai Coconut Soup
  • Thai Pumpkin Curry
  • Vegan Thai Coconut Vegetable Curry
  • Thai Cucumber Salad
  • Banh Mi Buddha Bowl
spoonful of peanut sauce in white bowl

The Best Peanut Sauce Recipe

Make sweet and spicy Thai peanut sauce in only five minutes. Then drizzle this savory, creamy dipping sauce over noodles, salads, grilled meats, and more!
5 from 33 votes
Print Pin
Prep: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Author: Traci The Kitchen Girl

INGREDIENTS
 

  • ⅓ cup Unsweetened Smooth Peanut Butter
  • 1 tablespoon Soy Sauce, or gluten free tamari
  • 1 tablespoon Unseasoned Rice Vinegar, or lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon Maple Syrup, or preferred sweetener
  • 1 teaspoon Fresh Ginger, finely grated
  • 1 clove Garlic, finely grated
  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha, or chili garlic sauce
  • Water, as needed to adjust consistency

Instructions
 

  • In a small mixing bowl, whisk together PEANUT BUTTER, SOY SAUCE, RICE VINEGAR, MAPLE SYRUP, GINGER, GARLIC, and SRIRACHA until well-combined.
  • Slowly add small amounts of WATER and continue whisking until sauce reaches desired consistency.
  • If you add too much water, add a little peanut butter to thicken the sauce.

RECIPE VIDEO

Tried this recipe? I'd love your review!Visit the comments below and tell me how it went.

Traci's Recipe Notes

This recipe yields ½ cup of peanut sauce.
Customize Thai peanut sauce with any of these ingredients:
  • coconut milk
  • lime juice
  • fish sauce
  • lemongrass paste
  • tamarind paste
  • galangal
  • Thai red curry paste

Equipment

  • Microplane zester / grater to finely grate garlic and ginger
  • small mixing bowl
  • fork or whisk
  • airtight storage container(s)

NUTRITION

Serving: 2Tbsp | Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 259mg | Potassium: 151mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.

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Comments

  1. Seva Garrett says

    January 12, 2023 at 4:17 pm

    5 stars
    love this sauce! used it for Stir Fry, everyone loved it!

    Reply
  2. Leese says

    October 03, 2022 at 1:36 pm

    5 stars
    It was so amazing. I love my food spicy so I added crushed red pepper flakes and Cayenne. I put some on spicy tuna lettuce wraps and then mixed w ramen and veggies. Can’t wait to make another batch and double it. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Traci says

      October 03, 2022 at 1:50 pm

      Yayy! I'm so glad you went for it. So easy, right? And, as you know, customizable 🙂 I love mine spicy too, so I usually add more heat than the family-friendly version I created here. Thanks so much for the feedback. Much appreciated!

  3. Only1 says

    March 01, 2021 at 11:34 am

    So do I just guess the measurements?

    Reply
    • The Kitchen Girl says

      March 01, 2021 at 12:51 pm

      I'm not sure what you mean. There's a printable recipe card with the full recipe measurements and instructions.

    • Narelle says

      March 26, 2022 at 9:37 pm

      All the information is there if you look.

  4. Patti says

    January 11, 2021 at 6:44 pm

    5 stars
    Substituted the one tablespoon of soy sauce with one tablespoon of fish sauce and added a whole tablespoon of Siracha. Really gave it a kick with umami!

    Reply
    • The Kitchen Girl says

      January 11, 2021 at 9:28 pm

      Awesome...so glad you enjoyed it! I like fish sauce in it too, but I kept it vegan knowing it could be added. Thanks for the review! 🙂

  5. Natasja says

    June 10, 2020 at 4:11 pm

    5 stars
    Made peanut soba noodles with this and it tasted so good! Even the picky eaters in my house loved it.

    We will be eating this a lot more.

    Reply
    • The Kitchen Girl says

      June 10, 2020 at 5:27 pm

      Yay! I'm so glad to hear it, Natasja! This peanut sauce really goes well on a lot of things. Glad your family is enjoying it...thanks for letting me know!

  6. K says

    January 26, 2020 at 3:58 pm

    5 stars
    Tastes great! How long would this last stored in the refrigerator? I'd love to whip up a large batch and set aside for future use.

    Reply
    • Traci Antonovich says

      January 26, 2020 at 9:06 pm

      Thanks K! I've had mine up to a week or 10 days easily...maybe even more, but mine never lasts that long lol. Glad you're enjoying the recipe 🙂

  7. GC says

    July 05, 2019 at 10:49 am

    5 stars
    Delicious sauce! I used it as a dipping sauce for dumplings. I had to use double the amount of water though for it to have a nice consistency.

    Reply
    • Traci Antonovich says

      July 05, 2019 at 1:11 pm

      Yay, so glad you enjoyed it! And yes, the water can easily be adjusted to change consistency. Glad you found your sweet spot 🙂

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