How to Make Peanut Sauce and Why You Should (2024)

Published: · Updated: by Elaine - 9 Comments

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Learn how to make the best peanut sauce with coconut milk, then adjust the seasonings to make it as mild or as spicy as you like. Follow these simple directions to make your own homemade Thai peanut sauce for spring rolls, satay sauce, noodles, power bowls, and more!

How to Make Peanut Sauce and Why You Should (1)

There are many peanut sauce recipes and they're all a little different! After experimenting and testing different versions several times, this recipe for peanut sauce with coconut milk is the one I like best. Today I'm here to explain how to make the best peanut sauce and why you should!

Once you've tasted homemade, you'll never go back to store-bought!

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

  • Best flavor: Peanut butter and coconut milk give this sauce a creamy texture, tamari adds a rich, deep salty flavor, rice vinegar, and lime juice make it tangy, and Thai chili sauce adds lots of spicy sweetness. Add ginger and garlic to this mix and you have an incredibly tasty sauce to add lots of interest to your meals!
  • Great for dipping, drizzling, and tossing!
  • So many ways to use it: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled so you can always have some on hand, ready to use in SO many ways! It's delicious as a veggie dip, over noodles, with spring rolls, on chicken wings, or drizzled over roasted vegetables. Jazz up a salad, a power bowl, or a simple stir-fry with a drizzle of peanut sauce.
  • Homemade is best: Making homemade sauce from scratch means you can avoid additives, adjust the ingredients to suit your tastes, and save money!

It's also amazing in these recipes:

  • Asian Broccoli Salad with Peanut Dressing
  • Simple Singapore Chicken Satay
  • Crunchy Thai Noodle Salad
  • Zoodle Pad Thai with Shrimp

After having an incredible peanut sauce in a Thai restaurant while vacationing in Indonesia, I played with my old recipe a little to make it lighter and creamier. This recipe for peanut sauce with coconut milk is a delicious result!

🛒 Ingredients

Before we get to the full recipe, here are a few notes about the ingredients. You'll find a complete list with amounts in the recipe card at the end of this post.

How to Make Peanut Sauce and Why You Should (2)
  • creamy natural peanut butter: This recipe will not taste the same if you use peanut butter with sugar added, so be sure to use natural peanut butter.
  • canned coconut milk: Canned, full-fat coconut milk will give this sauce that sought-after creamy texture.
  • tamari (soy sauce): Choose gluten-free tamari, if necessary. For a paleo diet, substitute coconut aminos.
  • rice vinegar
  • garlic: Fresh cloves are always best!
  • fresh ginger: Start with a little. You can always add more.
  • sweet Thai chili sauce: There is no added sugar in this recipe as you'll use this sweet chili sauce instead.
  • fresh lime juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice adds an extra burst of fresh flavor.

Adjust the seasonings to suit your family's tastes! This version is quite mild, so you can easily increase the amount of ginger and sweet chili sauce if you want a spicier result.

🥄 Easy instructions!

Combine all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until smooth and creamy. Use in your favorite recipe or store covered in the fridge.

How to Make Peanut Sauce and Why You Should (3)

❓Questions readers ask

How long will peanut sauce keep in the fridge?

Peanut sauce will last for up to a week when kept refrigerated in a covered container. If it thickens up, you can thin it out with a little water or coconut milk.

Can I freeze peanut sauce?


Peanut sauce freezes well. It will last for several months. Take it out of the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge overnight.

Can I substitute another nut butter?

Yes! You can make almond sauce or almond dressing instead. Simply substitute the same amount of almond butter for the peanut butter.

🍽 Ways to use peanut sauce

This recipe as written below makes approximately 1 ½ cups of sauce.

I store it in ½ or 1 cup containers in the fridge or freezer so it's ready to use for my favorite recipes, like the following:

  • Simple Singapore Chicken Satay: street food you can make at home!
  • Thai Noodle Salad: crisp and crunchy salad, loaded with fresh veggies and tossed with a peanut sauce dressing.
  • Try this Asian sauce on Udon noodles or zucchini noodles, or with Thai lettuce wraps.
  • Brighten up a power bowl or a Buddha bowl with a couple of tablespoons of this sauce. Sprinkle with finely chopped peanuts for extra crunch!
  • It's amazing on a Thai-style pizza. Top your favorite gluten-free pizza crust with shredded chicken, shredded red cabbage and carrots, cilantro, and peanut sauce!
  • They'll be asking for seconds of broccoli salad when you toss it with peanut sauce!
  • Air fry chicken wings until crispy, then toss with peanut sauce, like these Air Fryer Thai Peanut Chicken Wings.
  • It makes a great dip for fresh veggies, too.
How to Make Peanut Sauce and Why You Should (4)

👍🏼Time-Saving Tip!

Double or triple the recipe and freeze what you won't be using right away. One 14-ounce (400 ml) can of coconut milk has about 1 ½ cups of milk, enough for a triple batch of the recipe below.

Enjoy every lick-your-fingers spoonful!

When you make this recipe, please leave a comment and a rating below. I love hearing from you! Thanks in advance. Subscribe to my newsletter and receive new recipes and tips straight to your inbox once a week.

🗒 More easy recipes for sauces and seasonings

  • Quick Pickled Shallots with Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Easy Nuoc Cham (Vietnamese Dipping Sauce)
  • Spiced Cranberry Orange Sauce with Triple Sec
  • Is Dijon Mustard Gluten-Free?

See more

📖 Recipe

How to Make Peanut Sauce and Why You Should (9)

Peanut Sauce with Coconut Milk

Learn how to make peanut sauce, then adjust the seasonings to make it as mild or as spicy as you like. Follow these simple directions to make your own homemade Thai peanut sauce for spring rolls, satay sauce, peanut sauce for noodles and more!

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dressings and Sauces

Cuisine: Asian, Thai, Gluten-free

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 tablespoon

Calories: 42kcal

Author: Elaine

Ingredients

  • ½ cup creamy natural peanut butter
  • ½ cup canned coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoon coconut aminos (for paleo diet) or tamari soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 clove garlic,
  • ¼ inch knob of fresh ginger (or more)
  • 1 tablespoon sweet chili sauce (or more)
  • 1 teaspoon lime juice

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until very smooth and creamy.

  • Store in small glass jars in the refrigerator or freezer. This recipe makes about 1.5 cups.

Notes

Double or triple the recipe and freeze what you won't be using right away. One 14-ounce (400 ml) can of coconut milk has about 1 ½ cups of milk, enough for a triple batch of the recipe below.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 42kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 65mg | Potassium: 49mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @enessman or tag #flavourandsavour!

More recipes to try

  • Easiest Hot Honey Recipe with Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • How to Make Cajun Seasoning Mix
  • How to Make Authentic Greek Tzatziki Sauce
  • 5-Minute Basil Cashew Pesto

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gordon

    How to Make Peanut Sauce and Why You Should (14)
    This recipe freezes so well! Thanks for the note about making a triple batch to use the full can of coconut milk. I've loved having jars in the freezer to take out for a weekday meal.

    Reply

    • Elaine

      Thanks for commenting, Gordon--and thanks for the five-star rating. Happy to hear this time-saving tip works for you, too!

      Reply

  2. Liz

    How to Make Peanut Sauce and Why You Should (15)
    Thanks for the note on how to triple the batch using 1 can of coconut milk! Just made a triple batch for the freezer.

    Reply

    • Elaine

      Thank for the 5 stars, Liz! That's a great idea. Envious of how organized you are!

      Reply

  3. Laura Nessman

    How to Make Peanut Sauce and Why You Should (16)
    There are so many variations out there -- but this one is THE BEST.

    Reply

  4. Sean@Diversivore

    I adore a good peanut sauce. It goes with so many things! And you've laid this out so nicely too, with the options and the basic ingredients. I've tried my hand at a few peanut sauces in the past and been unimpressed, and I think it's because too many of them basically just try to make peanut butter into a thin sauce without the added flavours (ginger, garlic, lime, etc.). So hooray for this! Thanks!

    Reply

  5. Nicoletta @sugarlovespices

    How to Make Peanut Sauce and Why You Should (17)
    Loreto is the sauce connoisseurs between us and he makes them all the time. I wasn't used to having any kind of sauces (other than tomato sauce 😉 ) until I came to Canada and now I am already addicted to some of them. Like a good, and homemade, peanut sauce! Yours look and sounds amazing, with the coconut milk (which I love!).

    Reply

  6. Nicole | What She Ate

    I made some peanut sauce yesterday too and it's nearly gone already. How addictive is that stuff?! Even when you make a double batch, it doesn't last. Haha. Love your recipe. Travelling always seems to inspire the taste buds.

    Reply

    • Flavour & Savour

      So true, Nicole. It's hard to stop devouring it. And yes--we don't go on vacation to lose weight 🙂

      Reply

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How to Make Peanut Sauce and Why You Should (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.

Why is peanut sauce healthy? ›

Peanut sauce can be a healthy addition to any diet. Since it is made from peanut butter, it naturally has some protein. Look for ones with not a lot of sodium or added sugar. Better yet, when making it at home, you have full control over the quality of the ingredients.

Why is my peanut sauce breaking? ›

A broken sauce is generally caused by the separation of sauces into two components: a watery liquid and an oily film on top. This happens when there's too much fat or liquid in the mixture. This can happen when there are not enough emulsifiers (which help keep your ingredients together).

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 goes well with peanut sauce? ›

Cucumbers: Slice a cucumber into spears or chips, and you'll have an excellent dipping vegetable for peanut sauce. Cucumbers are often featured in Asian cooking because they offer a cool complement to a spicy sauce. Carrots: Carrots are delicious when combined with thick sauces.

How long does homemade peanut sauce last? ›

I suggest doubling or tripling the recipe to have throughout the week with salad rolls, roasted veggies, and salads. How long with the sauce last? The Peanut Sauce will last up to 1 week in a tightly sealed container in the fridge.

Is peanut sauce good for your heart? ›

Peanuts and peanut butter have mostly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, sometimes called the 'good fats'. When these fats replace saturated fat in the diet, they lower total and “bad” LDL cholesterol as well as triglyceride levels, while keeping “good” HDL cholesterol high.

Is peanut sauce an American thing? ›

Peanut sauce, satay sauce (saté sauce), bumbu kacang, sambal kacang, or pecel is an Indonesian sauce made from ground roasted or fried peanuts, widely used in Indonesian cuisine and many other dishes throughout the world.

What culture uses peanut sauce? ›

Most often associated with Thai cooking (at least in western countries), peanut sauce is traditionally made from roasted or fried ground peanuts, which allow for a better melding of the peanut flavor with the sauces and other ingredients.

Why is my peanut sauce so salty? ›

Too salty? You probably added too much soy sauce. Counteract this by adding more peanut butter, sugar, or water.

How to make peanut sauce less spicy? ›

Mix in Some Sweetness

Adding some sweetness to your dish is a perfect way to tone down the spiciness and make it more bearable. Whether it's drizzling honey on top of your dish, adding a bit of sugar to the recipe, or squeezing in lemon juice to enhance the flavors; a touch of sweetness can balance out the heat.

How to thicken a sauce? ›

Use two tablespoons flour mixed with ¼ cup cold water for each cup of medium-thick sauce. Thoroughly mix in the water to prevent lumps. After stirring the combined flour and water into the sauce, cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Heat one minute more to cook the flour thoroughly.

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.

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 does peanut sauce taste like? ›

Sweet and spicy, it's delicious as a dipping sauce and on noodles, salads, and more. This peanut sauce recipe is so tasty that you'll want to eat it straight off a spoon! It has an amazing creamy texture, with a nutty, bright, and spicy flavor from peanut butter, lime, and sriracha.

What is Vietnamese peanut sauce made of? ›

1 cup creamy peanut butter. 1 cup hoisin sauce (I use the Lee Kum Kee brand) 1 cup water. Optional: Chili garlic sauce, sriracha or some sort of chili paste for spice.

Does peanut sauce taste like peanut? ›

Sweet and spicy, it's delicious as a dipping sauce and on noodles, salads, and more. This peanut sauce recipe is so tasty that you'll want to eat it straight off a spoon! It has an amazing creamy texture, with a nutty, bright, and spicy flavor from peanut butter, lime, and sriracha.

What is peanut paste made of? ›

Peanut paste is the term usually used for roasted and ground peanuts in liquid form. At room temperature or higher, the paste is a thick viscous liquid, which flows somewhat like honey.

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