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. Whether used as a dip for fresh spring rolls or chicken satay, or drizzled over noodles and salads, this homemade Thai dressing is guaranteed to please.

Asian dishes are well known for their complexity of flavor, but what if I were to tell you that you are only 5 minutes and 6 simple ingredients away from one of the BEST Thai dipping sauces ever?

This super simple Peanut Sauce is ultra creamy, a little sweet, just a bit tangy, and comes with a pleasantly spicy kick. 

Peanut butter is mixed with flavor-packed ingredients such as rich soy sauce, a sweetener like brown sugar, spicy Sriracha, aromatic garlic, acidic rice vinegar, and just a touch of water until delectably smooth and silky. 

Try dipping your favorite Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls in it, or drizzling it atop some Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Thai Zucchini Noodle Salad, or these PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps. I guarantee you’ll quickly find yourself coming up with all sorts of interesting recipes where this super easy, addicting sauce can be used!

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. This gives you the chance to adjust the sweetness of the sauce to your preference.
• Soy sauce. This adds a salty, umami flavor. Gluten-free varieties or Tamari sauce may be used to avoid products with gluten, 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. This spicy, lightly sweet condiment helps bring as much or as little heat as you’d like, for an extra kick.
• Rice vinegar. An acidic component gives it a nice tanginess, and cuts through some of the oily richness of the peanut butter. Rice vinegar is the most common and authentic type 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. 
• Water. This helps to thin out the sauce until it is a good consistency for dipping or drizzling, as desired.

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. 

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.

About 3-6 tablespoons of water should help it get to the right consistency, but adjust accordingly based on preference. 

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!

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, or microwaved in the oven for 10-20 seconds to make it smooth and creamy.

Dietary Modifications

The recipe you’ll find below is already vegetarian and vegan as written. Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:

• Gluten-Free: Substitute soy sauce for a gluten-free variety, or for Tamari sauce, which is prepared without wheat. 
• Peanut-Free: Use almond or cashew butter in the place of the peanut butter. 
• Low-Carb: Instead of sugar, 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, which bear a similar taste without the soy. 
• Refined Sugar-Free: Replace the brown sugar with honey, agave nectar, or coconut sugar.

FAQS

Expert Tips and Tricks

• 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.

More Asian Peanut Sauce Recipes

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

• Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
• 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