Just creamy, zesty, peanut goodness—my favorite combo.
One Salad Sunday recently I came up with the idea to make a Thai Peanut Quinoa Salad. Shredded cabbage, pieces of carrots, fresh cilantro; the flavors and textures were all there. Except, it was missing one very important component…
A Thai Peanut Dressing!
I started with the Peanut Sauce Recipe (which is so easy to make!).
Then I thinned it out a smidge with some warm water, upped the Thai flavors a bit, and voila! This dressing takes just minutes to whip up and a handful of simple ingredients.
Want a few other healthy homemade salad dressing recipe ideas? Check out this Healthy Balsamic Vinaigrette, Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing, or this Spicy Cashew Dressing next!
I whipped up this Thai peanut dressing today, and it turned out absolutely delicious. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about the flavor! It’s definitely going into our regular recipe rotation. Thanks.
– A-M
17 Simple Salad Dressings e-Book
An e-cookbook full of quick vinaigrettes and creamy dressings that are ready in under 5 minutes!
Ingredients and Substitutions
For the exact measurements and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card below.
- Ginger. You can mince fresh ginger, or grab a bottle from the store.
- Peanut butter. Be sure to grab a creamy peanut butter so you don’t have chunks in your dressing. Look for a natural peanut butter, if available.
- Vinegar. Rice vinegar is key to creating the flavor profile you’re looking for. If you don’t have it, try white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
- Soy sauce. If needed, grab coconut aminos for this creamy Thai peanut dressing. Tamari is also another great gluten-free substitute.
- Sweetener. For the best results, honey or pure maple syrup should be used. You want a natural liquid sweetener, as things like brown sugar can make the dressing grainy.
- Sesame oil. Note the difference in types when shopping; you want unrefined sesame oil, not toasted sesame oil. You should find it in the oil and vinegar section of grocery stores.
Step-by-step Instructions
Please see the recipe card below for the full instructions, ingredient amounts, and a printable recipe.
Combine the ingredients.
Add all of the main ingredients, except the water, to a medium-sized or large bowl. Use a whisk to thoroughly mix everything.
Drizzle in the water.
Slowly pour in a little water at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
Use or store.
If you’re enjoying the dressing now, drizzle it over your favorite salad.
Alternately, place it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 1 week. Be sure to mix well before using.
FAQs
Thai peanut dressing is a combination of creamy peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and a sweetener, then seasoned with lime juice, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and Sriracha. It’s delicious as a dip or a dressing for salad.
Thai peanut sauce and dressing aren’t bad for you. However, note they are pretty high in calories, so should be enjoyed in moderation.
This easy Thai peanut dressing can be kept in an airtight container, like a mason jar, in the fridge for up to 1 week. It’s even better the next day.
What to serve with it?
The better question is what can’t you serve with this dressing? Try it on any of these recipes for a real treat!
You can’t go wrong with replacing the dressing on your favorite salads, like this Fall Harvest Salad or Massaged Kale Salad.
Pour it over this Zucchini Noodle Salad, too. Add some rotisserie chicken if you want a complete meal.
Make a side dish, like Thai Peanut Quinoa Salad or these Vietnamese Spring Rolls, a little lighter.
Or, serve it with Oven Roasted Cauliflower!
17 Simple Salad Dressings e-Book
An e-cookbook full of quick vinaigrettes and creamy dressings that are ready in under 5 minutes!
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Thai Peanut Salad Dressing
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Ingredients
- ⅓ cup peanut butter creamy
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or Tamari or Tamari
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lime juice freshly squeezed
- 1-2 tablespoons honey or pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon ginger paste or finely minced fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon garlic finely minced
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ½-1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce optional
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Add all ingredients, except for water, to a medium-sized bowl. Whisk to combine. Slowly add in water until your desired consistency is reached.⅓ cup peanut butter, 2 tablespoons soy sauce or Tamari, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1-2 tablespoons honey, ½ teaspoon ginger paste, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, ½-1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce, ¼ cup water
- Use immediately or store Thai peanut dressing in the refrigerator for up to 1 week between servings. Bring to room temperature and stir well before using.
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Video
Notes
- Serving size: ~2 tablespoons of salad dressing.
- Peanut butter: Avoid a chunky dressing by opting for creamy peanut butter in this Asian salad dressing.
- Sesame oil: Unrefined sesame oil is called for in this recipe.
- Serving: Dip crunchy veggies, like red bell peppers or carrots, in this dressing, or drizzle it over meats for added flavor.
- Spice: Include some red pepper flakes for a kick.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Dressing Recipes
It’s so quick and easy to whip up your favorite dressings with a few simple ingredients.
10 stars tasted great. I added to my salad a lot of red cabbage ,pecans ,oranges red grapes,red onions,wild blueberries bell peppers ,pepitas, turmeric,cucumbers cosmic apples,green onions was absolutely amazing,I doubled my salad dressing salad was enormous for two were fasting for melanoma prayers.🥰🎉
Oh wow — thank you so much! That salad sounds absolutely incredible, and I love how colorful and nourishing it is. I’m so glad the dressing brought it all together. Sending so much love and prayers your way during your fast for melanoma 💛 Truly grateful you took the time to share this with me.
This is my go-to recipe for peanut dressing. I use 1 tbsp of liquid amino, and 1 tbsp of tamari. I add honey and a little maple syrup, and usually don’t need to add water.
I love the freedom within to recipe to highlight whichever taste you want. Thanks so much!
I love this — thank you so much, Alyce! That combo of liquid aminos and tamari sounds delicious, and I love how you balance it with honey and maple syrup. That flexibility is exactly what I was going for, so I’m thrilled it’s become your go-to peanut dressing. Really appreciate you sharing how you make it your own!
Delicious as well as super easy to make. Great topping on a tofu steak along with cucumber salad.
Yummy!
I would typically order this with any order from my favorite Thai restaurant but with a little work in the kitchen..seems much cheaper!
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Breanna! That sounds delicious. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!
Looove this dressing. I put everything in the blender and it comes out amazing !! A family favorite
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Luki! It’s good on so many things! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!
This is so easy and the taste is so good. Will be making this on repeat!
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Lydia! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!
I whipped up this Thai peanut dressing today, and it turned out absolutely delicious. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about the flavor! It’s definitely going into our regular recipe rotation. Thanks.
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe! It’s always great when guests love a recipe, too. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!
Easy and super delicious
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Yvette! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!
Delicious. Like the real thing. I love the recipe and had all the ingredients on hand. Easy
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Gee! It’s the best when you have everything on hand. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!
Very good dressing!!!!
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Yakini! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!