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.

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.

What is the difference between peanut satay and peanut sauce? ›

First up, semantics. Sate doesn't actually mean spicy peanut sauce, though we tend to misappropriate the term here, and other dishes have been invented that use this accompanying sauce. Sate refers instead to the skewers of meat, and many variations of it come with a different sauce, and some without any sauce at all.

What is Vietnamese peanut sauce made of? ›

Vietnamese peanut sauce is simply made with peanut butter, hoisin and garlic for a sweet, tangy and rich sauce. How long can I store homemade peanut sauce? Store leftover homemade peanut sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

How do you thin peanut butter into sauce? ›

Warm water is best because it helps to loosen the nut butter more quickly, and generally equal parts nut butter to liquid is the best ratio. 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.

How do you thicken peanut sauce? ›

How to thicken peanut sauce. If you accidentally add too much water to your peanut sauce, simply whisk in small amounts of peanut butter to adjust the consistency, You may also need to add other ingredients to maintain the flavor balance. Peanut butter powder also works in place of peanut butter to make this adjustment ...

Why is peanut sauce healthy? ›

Nutritionally, studies have found that eating peanuts or peanut butter has been associated with a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. They're also an inexpensive protein and healthy fat source. This peanut sauce has a nice kick to it with the Sriracha, which is a chili sauce.

Is peanut sauce an American thing? ›

It's popular in Indonesian and Thai cooking and is often added to meats or vegetables or served over noodles. Peanut sauce is also sometimes used as a salad dressing or a dipping sauce.

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 the smelly sauce in Vietnam? ›

Your father was probably talking about the Vietnamese national food condiment called : “Nuoc Mam” which is liquid fish sauce. (FYI, it comes in various grades of quality. It is quite nutritious in vitamins and minerals. Used in its pure state it can be quite smelly.

What can I use instead of hoisin? ›

Ready-made hoisin sauce alternatives
  • soy sauce.
  • tamari, which is suitable for gluten-free diets.
  • oyster sauce.
  • chili sauce.
  • barbecue sauce.
  • sweet and sour sauce.
  • teriyaki sauce.
Feb 2, 2022

What is Chinese peanut sauce made of? ›

Peanut Sauce Recipe Instructions

Add all of the ingredients (garlic, ginger, peanut butter, soy sauce, fish sauce, sesame oil) and any optional add-ins into a small bowl. Add the hot water, and stir to combine until you have a smooth sauce. Alternatively, you can make this in a food processor for a smoother texture.

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 to make peanut sauce less salty? ›

Acid: Adding vinegar or lemon juice does a great job of balancing saltiness. Sweetness: You can also add a dash of honey or sugar. Opposites attract here and create balance. Fat: Another fix is adding some fat, a few pads or butter or a healthy glug of olive oil can absorb some of that saltiness.

What do you eat peanut sauce with? ›

Here are some ways you can use this creamy sauce that go beyond your standard noodle dishes or salads.
  • Dip your veggies. ...
  • Dress up some tacos or lettuce wraps. ...
  • Toss with chicken wings or “cauliflower wings” ...
  • Craft a unique and flavorful chicken burger. ...
  • Use as a base for soup or stew.
Dec 1, 2022

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