5-Ingredient Peanut Sauce (2024)

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5-Ingredient Peanut Sauce (1)

Try our go-to, 5-ingredient peanut sauce made with ingredients you likely have on hand right now. Perfect for salads, spring rolls, noodle dishes, and more!

5-Ingredient Peanut Sauce (2)

Origin of Peanut Sauce

Although commonly associated with Thai cuisine, peanut sauce actually originated in Indonesia (source). What Americans know as peanut sauce is more commonly referred to as satay sauce (or bumbu kacang) in Indonesia, because it’s most often served with the popular Indonesian dish, satay (skewered, grilled meats).

Our inspired version is not authentic and closer to a Thai-style peanut sauce. For another, more traditional take on Thai-style peanut sauce, try this recipe from Hot Thai Kitchen.

5-Ingredient Peanut Sauce (3)
5-Ingredient Peanut Sauce (4)

5-Ingredient Peanut Sauce

Creamy, savory-sweet peanut sauce made with 5 ingredients! Perfect for spring rolls, salad rolls, Pad Thai, salads, and more!

Author Minimalist Baker

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4 (~1/3-cup servings)

Course Sauce

Cuisine Gluten-Free, Indonesian-Inspired, Thai-Inspired, Vegan

Freezer Friendly No

Does it keep? 1 Week

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

SAUCE

  • 1/2 cup salted creamy peanut butter* (or almond butter or sunflower butter)
  • 1-2 Tbsp gluten-free tamari (if not gluten-free sub soy sauce // if soy-free sub coconut aminos*)
  • 1-2 Tbsp maple syrup (or other sweetener of choice)
  • 1 tsp chili garlic sauce (or 1 red Thai chili, minced // or 1/4 tsp red pepper flake // adjust to preferred spice level)
  • 2-3 Tbsp lime juice
  • ~1/4 cup water (to thin)

PAIRINGS

  • Noodle-Free Pad Thai
  • Easy Tofu Pad Thai
  • Thai Spring Rolls
  • Pad Thai Spring Rolls
  • Quinoa Spring Rolls
  • Collard Green Spring Rolls
  • Rainbow Spring Rolls
  • Curry Roasted Carrots
  • Blissed Out Thai Noodle Salad
  • Thai Sweet Potato Stacks

Instructions

  • To a medium mixing bowl add (starting with the amount at the lower end of the measurement range where applicable) peanut butter, tamari (or soy sauce or coconut aminos), maple syrup, lime juice, chili sauce (or chili or red pepper), and whisk to combine. Add water a little at a time until a thick but pourable sauce is achieved.

  • Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more maple syrup for sweetness, chili garlic sauce (or red chili or red pepper) for heat, lime juice for acidity, or tamari for saltiness. 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! Pairings linked above. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 1 week.

Video

Notes

*The best peanut butter to use is made with just peanuts and salt (no other additives). Our favorite brand currently is Wild Friends.
*If subbing coconut aminos know that it isn’t as pungent or salty a flavor as tamari and soy sauce. So you may need to add a bit more than the recommended amount. Season to taste.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with the lesser amount of the tamari, maple syrup, and lime juice.
*The above photos show examples of sauce made with peanut butter, cashew butter, and sunflower butter.
*For a more traditional take on Indonesian-style peanut sauce, check out this recipe from Tin Eats.

Nutrition (1 of 4 servings)

Serving: 1 serving Calories: 223 Carbohydrates: 11.7 g Protein: 10.1 g Fat: 16 g Saturated Fat: 3 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 4.51 g Monounsaturated Fat: 8 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 456 mg Potassium: 24 mg Fiber: 2.2 g Sugar: 5.1 g Vitamin A: 4.19 IU Vitamin C: 2.44 mg Calcium: 38.06 mg Iron: 1.14 mg

Reader Interactions

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All commentsI made thisQuestions

  1. C. Lore says

    Prepare to be wowed by this incredible peanut sauce! I opted for the larger measurements and whipped it up with a hand mixer since our peanut butter was on the thicker side. Let me tell you, it was a match made in culinary heaven!

    With its rich and creamy texture, this sauce was the perfect solution for our stubborn peanut butter. And the taste? Absolutely phenomenal! It’s officially our new go-to peanut sauce, no contest.

    We paired it with Easy Tofu Pad Thai, and oh my goodness—every mouthful was a taste sensation! The flavors danced harmoniously together, creating a culinary masterpiece that left us craving more.

    Trust me, you won’t want to miss out on this peanut sauce perfection. Whip it up for your next meal and prepare to be amazed!

    Reply

    • 5-Ingredient Peanut Sauce (6)Support @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoyed both recipes! Thank you for the lovely review! xo

      Reply

  2. Karin Coto says

    THIS RECIPE IS ONE OF OUR FAMILY FAVORITES. WHEN I MAKE THE PEANUT SAUCE I MULTIPLY IT BY 5 BEFORE ADDING WATER OR OTHER LIQUID. THEN I PUT 4 PORTIONS IN 4 SMALL SIZE PYREX GLASS CONTAINERS, AND STORE THOSE IN THE FREEZER, TO PULL OUT FOR FUTURE YUMMINESS. THE FIFTH PORTION IS USED RIGHT AWAY.
    We’re farmers, so we use our onions, carrots, and multiple colors of bell peppers to make a skillet full of colors. Once the veggies are almost done we stir in the peanut sauce paste, and then coconut milk to thin a bit. We put over Thai Rice, and serve with a side of greens and some toasted Naan bread with Mango Chutney.
    THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR RECIPES!!!

    Reply

    • 5-Ingredient Peanut Sauce (7)Support @ Minimalist Baker says

      That sounds amazing, Karin! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo

      Reply

  3. Kayla says

    I love this recipe! I especially enjoy that the ingredients are usually items I have on hand. My natural peanut butter is a bit more chunky and dry, so I put everything in the blender to make it silky smooth :)

    Reply

    • 5-Ingredient Peanut Sauce (8)Support @ Minimalist Baker says

      Smart! Thank you for sharing your experience, Kayla! xo

      Reply

Older Comments

5-Ingredient Peanut Sauce (2024)

FAQs

What is peanut sauce made of? ›

Instructions. To a medium mixing bowl add (starting with the amount at the lower end of the measurement range where applicable) peanut butter, tamari (or soy sauce or coconut aminos), maple syrup, lime juice, chili sauce (or chili or red pepper), and whisk to combine.

How to make store-bought peanut sauce better? ›

If you want to add even more oomph to your peanut curry sauce, you can add additional curry paste (red or green), you can add in some fresh garlic or fresh ginger, extra lime juice or a little sambal or fresh chili for extra spice. You can make it as simple or complex as you like.

How do you keep peanut sauce from separating? ›

1 Answer. You need to 1) increase the emulsification, and 2) reduce the amount of time the sauce is very hot. You can try adding honey or mustard to the sauce, that will improve emulsification. You can also hit it with a stick blender which will do a much better job of breaking it up than can be done by hand.

What to eat peanut sauce with? ›

Dip your veggies

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!

How long does homemade peanut sauce last? ›

This sauce can last for up to 1-week in a tightly sealed container or jar in your fridge.

Why is peanut sauce so good? ›

Peanut sauce reached its sophistication in Indonesia, with the delicate balance of taste acquired from various ingredients according to each recipe of peanut sauce; fried peanuts, gula jawa (palm sugar), garlic, shallot, ginger, tamarind juice, lemon juice, lemongrass, salt, chilli, pepper, sweet soy sauce, ground ...

Is peanut butter and peanut sauce the same thing? ›

What is Thai Peanut sauce made of? Thai Peanut Sauce is made up of peanut butter, soy sauce, ginger, a sweetener (I used maple syrup), rice wine vinegar, sesame seeds, a spice and water. In some more traditional versions, coconut milk is used instead of water, but I find this combination to be perfect.

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.

How do you tone down peanut sauce? ›

You can reduce the sweetness by diluting it with more peanut butter, or with tahini. Adding sliced green onions, as part of the sauce or as a garnish, will also help balance the sweetness, as will an acidic component like vinegar or lemon juice.

Is it OK to freeze peanut sauce? ›

Storing. Whether you make it ahead of time or end up with extras, the sauce will stay creamy and fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. It will firm up as it chills but you can thin it out with a splash of water or more coconut milk. It freezes well, too!

How do you thicken creamy peanut butter? ›

If you would rather have a thicker peanut butter – then you can pour a little of the peanut oil on the top into a separate container and save that for cooking later – peanut oil makes an awesome base for salad dressings and veggie stir fry!

How healthy is peanut sauce? ›

Peanut sauce is so heavy on the calories and fat because of what it traditionally contains. The base is full-fat coconut milk, with full-fat peanut butter and ground peanuts added. The sauce may also contain brown sugar or honey, soy sauce and oil, which can raise its sugar and sodium contents.

What is a skewered snack in peanut sauce? ›

Satay is also served with dipping sauce to complement the meat. In Indonesian chicken satay recipes and Thai chicken skewers, the sauce is typically made with peanut butter, sugar (I use honey), and spices. It's sweet, spicy, nutty, and absolutely delicious.

What is similar to peanut sauce? ›

Because hoisin sauce has many of the same ingredients I would use in a more involved peanut sauce, it works great here. Hoisin has hints of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, vinegar, and Chile peppers. Some version even have a peanut-esque taste to it, so it's the perfect way to shorten the ingredient list in a peanut sauce.

What is Vietnamese peanut sauce made of? ›

One of the unique aspects of Vietnamese-style peanut sauce compared to other varieties of peanut sauce is the inclusion of hoisin sauce. Vietnamese peanut sauce is simply made with peanut butter, hoisin and garlic for a sweet, tangy and rich sauce.

Is peanut sauce the same as peanut butter? ›

What is Thai Peanut sauce made of? Thai Peanut Sauce is made up of peanut butter, soy sauce, ginger, a sweetener (I used maple syrup), rice wine vinegar, sesame seeds, a spice and water. In some more traditional versions, coconut milk is used instead of water, but I find this combination to be perfect.

Does peanut sauce taste like? ›

It's salty, sweet, acidic and bold — a sauce like no other. For the uninitiated, Asian peanut sauce is a puree of peanuts, soy sauce, ginger, sesame, spices and often garlic, lemongrass and lime.

What is peanut cream made of? ›

Delicious roasted peanut cream totally free of palm oil and no added sugar, 100% crushed roasted peanuts, with folic acid and group B vitamins. This delicious cream is perfect for athletes. Ideal for breakfasts and snacks thanks to its high protein content.

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