The Best Peanut Sauce (Easy 3-Minute Recipe) (2024)

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This quick and easy vegan 3-minute Peanut Sauce recipe is simply the best and can be used as a dipping sauce, salad dressing, for noodles, crispy tofu, and many other Asian dishes! It is creamy, spicy, absolutely delicious, and perfect to make ahead with simple pantry staples!

The best easy peanut sauce

I have already made this delicious Thai peanut sauce countless times because it is so simple, incredibly delicious and a great universal recipe that goes well with many dishes! For that reason, I decided to publish a separate blog post just for the sauce so you can quickly find the recipe anytime and I don’t have to write it down again and again whenever I use the sauce in other recipes.

Honestly, I should really do this more often with my vegan basic recipes, because sometimes you are just looking for a quick sauce, dressing, or dip. While I have so many of them here on the blog, they are mostly part of another recipe so they might be difficult to find. Anyway, I have linked some of my favorite recipes for sauces and dips at the bottom of this post. But now back to the actual topic, because this recipe for peanut sauce is something you have to try!

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How to use this sauce (serving suggestions)

This quick and easy peanut sauce is wonderfully spicy, creamy, loaded with peanut flavor and:

  • Perfect as a sauce for all Asian-inspired rice or noodle or vegetable stir-fry dishes, like Vegan Pad Thai, Thai Noodle Salad or Asian Chili Garlic Noodles.
  • Makes a great dressing for fresh salads and bowls, such as Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad (Bun Chay), Korean Bibimbap, Crispy Sesame Tofu, or Poke Bowl.
  • Can be added to curries or soups as a flavorful seasoning to add more aroma.
  • Perfect for grilling to use as satay sauce for Indonesian tofu skewers or other grilled vegan meat alternatives.
  • Can be used as a dipping sauce for finger food snacks, e.g. fresh Summer Rolls or Chinese Spring Rolls or crispy Yaki Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls).

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How to make the best vegan peanut sauce

What I also love about this recipe for Thai peanut sauce is that you only need simple ingredients that are easy to find at any Asian store or supermarket.These are:

  • creamy peanut butter
  • soy sauce, or tamari (if gluten-free)
  • agave syrup
  • rice vinegar
  • sesame oil
  • fresh garlic and ginger
  • sriracha (or sambal oelek or sweet chili sauce)
  • fresh lime juice
  • water (or coconut milk)

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You can either put all the ingredients in a blender and blend them until creamy. Or you can also put them into a glass or bottle, then close it tightly and shake vigorously. Alternatively, you can simply whisk together everything in a bowl until you have a smooth peanut sauce. Use less water (or coconut milk) when serving the peanut sauce as a dip or use more when serving it as a salad dressing.

If you like the peanut sauce spicier, use more sriracha or sambal oelek. Optionally, you could also stir in more homemadeSweet Chili Sauce instead, about 2-3 tablespoons. Since the chili sauce is sweet on its own, you can even leave out the agave syrup. As an alternative to agave syrup, feel free to use maple syrup, coconut blossom syrup, or another syrup of your choice. Regular white or brown sugar will probably work too, but I find a sticky syrup better for the perfect consistency.

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The Best Peanut Sauce (Easy 3-Minute Recipe) (9)

How to store peanut sauce?

The peanut sauce can be kept in a sealed jar or bottle for up to 1 week in the refrigerator. It will taste even better the next day once all the flavors are absorbed.

If the sauce gets too thick when it cools down, simply stir in a little more water or coconut milk until the desired consistency is achieved. You could also heat it up briefly in the microwave or over low heat on the stovetop to make it more liquid again. For longer storage, you can freeze the peanut sauce and defrost it whenever you want.

This best creamy peanut sauce is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free (lactose-free)
  • Quick and easy to make
  • Simple
  • Delicious
  • Spicy
  • Aromatic
  • Nutty
  • Customizable
  • Mild to hot
  • Versatile to use
  • Perfect as a dip, sauce or dressing for many Asian dishes!

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More vegan recipes for dips, sauces, dressings & co:

  • Sweet chili sauce
  • Barbecue sauce
  • Chipotle sauce
  • Creamy guacamole
  • Hummus
  • Cashew dip
  • Ajvar (paprika dip)
  • Herb dip
  • Vegan Tzatziki
  • Cashew mayonnaise (vegan aioli)
  • Yogurt dressing

If you try this vegan creamy peanut sauce, please leave a comment and a rating if it is “the best recipe“ for you, too! And if you take a picture of your Asian inspired dish and share it on Instagram, please tag me @biancazapatka and use the hashtag #biancazapatka, because I love to see your remakes! Enjoy your sauce!

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The Best Peanut Sauce

Author: Bianca Zapatka

This quick and easy vegan 3-minute Peanut Sauce recipe is simply the best and can be used as a dipping sauce, salad dressing, for noodles, crispy tofu, and many other Asian dishes! It is creamy, spicy, absolutely delicious, and perfect to make ahead with simple pantry staples!

Print Pin Review

Cook Time 3 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Basics, Dip, Dressing, Salad, Sauce, Side Dish

Cuisine Asian, Indonesian, Thai

Servings 4 Servings

Calories 64 kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp (65 g) creamy peanut butter
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari (if gluten-free)
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup or other syrup
  • 1-2 tbsp rice vinegar to taste
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 large clove garlic pressed
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger finely grated
  • 2 tsp sriracha or sambal oelek to taste
  • juice of 1 lime approx. 1-2 tbsp or to taste
  • a bit of water or coconut milk until the desired consistency is reached

Instructions

  • Simply place all the ingredients for the peanut sauce in a blender (or in a bowl or jar) and then blend (or whisk or shake with the lid closed) until it is smooth and creamy. Add some water or coconut milk until the desired consistency is reached. (Use less water or coconut milk if you serve the peanut sauce as a dip or use more if you serve it as a salad dressing).

  • Enjoy with summer rolls, satay skewers, in a Thai noodle salad or with other dishes!

Notes

  • Spiciness: If you like the peanut sauce spicier, use more sriracha or sambal oelek. Optionally, you could stir in some more sweet chili sauce instead, about 2-3 tablespoons. Since the chili sauce is sweet as it is, you can skip the agave syrup.
  • Syrup: Feel free to use your favorite syrup, such as agave syrup, maple syrup, coconut blossom syrup. Normal white or brown sugar will probably work too, but I find sticky syrup makes the best consistency.
  • Acidity: I recommend using less rice vinegar / lime juice at first and adding more later if needed, to ensure that the sauce doesn't become too sour afterwards.
  • Storage/Shelf Life: The peanut sauce can be stored in a sealed glass, jar, or bottle for up to 1 week in the refrigerator. It will taste even better the next day once all the flavors are absorbed. If the sauce becomes too thick as it cools, simply stir in a little more water or coconut milk to desired consistency. You could also warm it gently in the microwave or over low heat on the stovetop to make it more liquid again.
  • Freezing instruction: For longer storage, the sauce can be frozen and thawed if necessary.
  • Serving suggestions and further information on this recipe can be found in the blog post above!

Nutritions

Serving: 2tbsp | Calories: 64kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 256mg | Potassium: 58mg | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg

Nutrition is calculated automatically and should be used as estimate.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @biancazapatka or tag #biancazapatka!

IF YOU HAVE PINTEREST, YOU CAN FIND ME HERE AND PIN THE FOLLOWING PICTURE, IF YOU LIKE! 🙂

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The Best Peanut Sauce (Easy 3-Minute Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

How do I thicken my peanut sauce? ›

To thicken the sauce, add it to a saucepan and heat it on low-medium heat. The sauce will thicken as some of the liquid evaporates. To fix any sauce separation, add a few drops of water to the sauce and whisk vigorously until the sauce is smooth again. Add more spices.

What's a good substitute for peanut sauce? ›

How to make this Nut-Free “Peanut” Sauce
  • Sunbutter – I prefer this smooth brand with no added sugar. ...
  • Coconut aminos – This soy sauce alternative is made from reducing coconut sap until it's dark and syrupy. ...
  • Garlic powder.
  • Red pepper flakes – These are optional if you don't want it spicy.
  • Fine sea salt.
Jan 8, 2019

How to make store-bought peanut sauce taste better? ›

You can make it sweet and tangy, with the addition of tamarind paste. You can make it sweet and spicy, by adding fresh ginger, garlic, and chili paste. You can reduce the sweetness by diluting it with more peanut butter, or with tahini.

Why is my peanut sauce not smooth? ›

If the oil is separating from the sauce a bit (this can happen from the oil in the coconut milk and the peanut butter, but it's easy to fix!), add water a few drops at a time and whisk until it comes smoothly back together.

How can I thicken a sauce quickly? ›

Use one tablespoon cornstarch mixed with one tablespoon cold water (aka a cornstarch slurry) for each cup of medium-thick sauce. Thoroughly mix the cornstarch and water together, then pour into your sauce. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly.

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. Perfect for salads, spring rolls, noodle dishes, and more!

What is peanut sauce made of? ›

In a medium bowl, stir together the peanut butter, lime juice, rice vinegar, sriracha, tamari, sesame oil, maple syrup, ginger, and 4 tablespoons of the water. If the sauce is too thick, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.

Why is my peanut sauce breaking? ›

Sauces can break for any number of reasons including cooking at high heat, adding too much liquid to a hot pan, or even just waiting too long for everything to combine appropriately.

What is 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!

Should you refrigerate peanut sauce? ›

Simply keep it in a cool, dark place. Generally, an unopened bottle of peanut sauce will last about a year if it's stored correctly. While it's a good idea to keep the “use by” date in mind, it's usually just fine for a few months after that date. Once the bottle is opened, you'll need to keep it in the refrigerator.

How do you intensify peanut butter flavor? ›

You can further augment the gustatory potential of the peanut butter by using both vanilla extract and almond extract in your dough—just a splash of the latter is enough to boost your cookies' nuttiness (while remaining subtle enough that no one will cotton onto the presence of drupe essence in your legume dessert).

How do you thin peanut butter into sauce? ›

Start with a little less than equal parts warm water to nut butter and add more water as needed, until the sauce is your desired consistency. You'll want it thinner for drizzling, and thicker for dipping.

How do you fix 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.

What if my Thai 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? ›

Two easy ways to thin peanut butter

The National Peanut Board suggests adding a little water for some extra moisture. Add the water slowly and be sure not to overdo it — too much water can make the peanut butter runny. Another option is to heat peanut butter up in order to liquify the fat content.

What do I do if my peanut butter is too thick? ›

Oil: This is optional, but if your peanut butter is too thick, add a teaspoon or two of light-flavored oil (like avocado or peanut oil).

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