Easy Thai peanut sauce

This easy Thai peanut sauce recipe is a very quick and easy dipping sauce recipe that gets ready in just 5 minutes and can be used in a lot of different ways. It's simple yet delicious.

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If you are a fan of Asian food then you must have tasted Thai peanut sauce which is served with a lot of Thai and Indonesian savory dishes. Today I am sharing the recipe of this vegan Asian sauce which is very flavorful and delicious.

Though it's also easily available in the market, once you learn how to make Thai peanut sauce from scratch at home in just 5 minutes, you will never use the store bought sauce again.

Jump to:

• Origin of this sauce
• What is Thai peanut sauce made of?
• Is peanut sauce the same as satay sauce?
• How to use?
• How to adjust the consistency of sauce?
• How to store?
• Recipe tips & tricks
• Step by step photo instructions
• More quick & easy dipping sauces
• Recipe

Origin of this sauce

Though most of us call this peanut dipping sauce Thai peanut sauce, its origin is in Indonesia not Thailand.

That doesn't mean it's not eaten in Thailand. You will find this peanut sauce served with almost every Indonesian and Thai savory dish.

What is Thai peanut sauce made of?

Only the following basic ingredients are used to make this simple peanut dipping sauce:

1. Peanut butter: Creamy or crunchy both are fine. Use depending upon which texture you prefer.
2. Light brown sugar: Though light brown sugar tastes the best in this dipping sauce, you can also use palm sugar, coconut sugar, or any other sugar of your choice.
3. Red chili flakes: Finely chopped red Thai chili peppers can also be added for extra heat.
4. Dark soy sauce: Tamari can also be used for a gluten-free version. Also, though soy sauce is enough to make this sauce salty, if that's not enough to suit your taste buds, add a pinch of salt.
5. Warm water: Use hot water if your peanut is very dry.
6. Fresh garlic
7. Fresh ginger
8. Lime juice: Tamarind paste can be used too.

Is peanut sauce the same as satay sauce?

Yes, this Thai peanut sauce and the satay sauce which is served with satays in many Asian countries like Thailand and Indonesia are the same. As you would have already guessed it's called satay sauce just because it's served with satay.

How to use?

This Thai peanut dipping sauce can be used in a lot of different ways, some of which I am sharing below:

1. The most popular way of enjoying it is with satays but you can serve it with any other appetizer of your choice. I also love having it with vegetable sticks.
2. Add a few tablespoons to noodles, vegetables, or baked tofu cubes to create dishes like Peanut butter noodles or Tofu in peanut sauce.
3. This spicy peanut sauce can also be drizzled on a crunchy salad like this Thai cabbage salad.
4. You can also use it as a marinade. Marinate some medium-firm tofu cubes in this sauce and bake in the oven or shallow fry in a pan.
5. It is also a very popular spring roll sauce and tastes really good with crunchy spring rolls.
6. Just pour it over grilled vegetables. It tastes delicious.
7. You can also add it to your Asian buddha bowl.

How to adjust the consistency of sauce?

Different people have different consistency preferences for Thai peanut sauce. The consistency also depends upon what exactly you are planning to use it for.

You can follow the following two ways to adjust the consistency:

• To thicken the sauce either add more peanut butter or put the peanut sauce in a pan and simmer for a few minutes on low flame.
• To make it thinner, just add more warm water.

How to store?

Store this peanut dipping sauce in an airtight container and keep in the fridge. It will be fine for a week. However, it thickens when kept in the fridge. So, before serving either microwave it for around 30 seconds or add some hot water to get the desired consistency.

This sauce can also be frozen for 3-4 months in air-tight containers. Again, when you want to enjoy it microwave for 1-2 minutes and adjust the consistency by adding warm water.

You can also season it again for a fresher and stronger taste.

Recipe tips & tricks

1. If you are using an old jar of peanut butter it will be dry and mixing it with other ingredients will be difficult. So, either microwave the old peanut butter for a few seconds or add a few teaspoons of hot water to it before using it in the sauce.
2. You can also add a teaspoon of sesame oil if your peanut butter is dry. Sesame oil will also give a very nice nutty taste to this sauce.
3. I have used regular peanut butter which already has some salt and sugar in it. If you are using peanut butter with no added sugar and salt, adjust the amount of soy sauce and sugar in the recipe.
4. To make this peanut sauce more flavorful, add around ½ teaspoon of curry powder to it.
5. Some people also add coconut milk to this vegan Thai peanut sauce. If you don't like spicy peanut sauce and want to make it milder, add a few tablespoons of coconut milk to it. Reduce the amount of water if you are also using coconut milk.
6. If you prefer spicy peanut sauce, add 1-2 teaspoons of chili oil or hot sauce.

Step by step photo instructions

More quick & easy dipping sauces

Looking for more quick and easy dipping sauce recipes from around the world? Don't miss to check the following recipes:

1. Mint Chutney (India)
2. Sweet mango chutney (India)
3. Tzatziki (Greece)
4. Muhammara (Syria)
5. Hummus (Middle East)

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Recipe