Thai Cashew Dressing (peanut sauce substitute) (2024)

FAQs

What is a good substitute for cashews in dressing? ›

Tahini. Tahini is made from sesame seeds. It's similar in texture to nut butter but nut-free. If you looking to make a recipe like a salad dressing or sauces, tahini would make a great alternative to cashews.

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.

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.

Peanut Butter.

This gives the dressing its signature flavor, but you can use almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower butter in its place for a similar creamy texture. Just keep in mind that the flavor will change depending on which option you choose.

Pine nuts are firmly connected with cashews, making pine nuts an incredible replacement for cashews. The two of them have a somewhat sweet flavor, so they can substitute each other well. They are healthy and nutritious with rich fats.

But did you know it also works as a substitute for cashew butter? In fact, it may be the best cashew butter substitute in baking recipes. While it may not have the same subtle sweetness as cashew butter, peanut butter brings a unique flavor profile to the table.

No, tahini and peanut butter have distinct flavor profiles. Tahini has a nutty and slightly bitter taste, while peanut butter is sweet and nutty. Why is tahini so healthy? Tahini is considered healthy because it's a good source of healthy fats, protein, and essential minerals.

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).

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.

Does traditional Pad Thai have peanut sauce? ›

Traditional Pad Thai usually combines tamarind paste, fish sauce, dried shrimp, and palm sugar, creating a sweet, sour, and salty taste balance. It commonly includes tofu, dried shrimp, bean sprouts, and peanuts. However, Americanized versions might swap tamarind for ketchup, making it sweeter and less complex.

WATER, SOY SAUCE (WATER, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, SALT), SUGAR, PEANUT BUTTER, BROWN SUGAR, WINE, HONEY, SALT, SESAME OIL, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, GARLIC POWDER, VEGETABLE EXTRACT (POTATO), SPICES, VINEGAR, ONION POWDER, CULTURED DEXTROSE, MISO (WATER, SOYBEANS, RICE, SALT), PLUM PUREE, NATURAL FLAVORS, GARLIC, XANTHAN GUM, ...

You can use almond butter, cashew butter, or tahini as an alternative to peanut butter. Tamari is often a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce, but be sure to check the label because it's not always gluten-free. Use regular soy sauce if you don't need a gluten-free option.

You can also replace cashews in recipes with beans, such as chickpeas or soy beans. Pretzels are also a helpful substitution because of the similar texture and salty flavor of cashews. You can sprinkle them on salads, or mash them up and add them to ice cream for a sweet and salty flavor profile.

Substitutes for nuts include dried fruit, chocolate and seeds, such as pumpkin or sunflower.

Beans – specifically roasted soy beans, peas or chickpeas (garbanzo beans). You can roast beans in your oven very easily to make a crunchy, protein-filled snack. Roasted beans are a nice replacement for nuts in salads. Spiced and roasted chickpeas are a great “nu*t bowl” snack.

Nut-Free Option: If you have a nut allergy or prefer to avoid cashews, you can substitute them with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for a creamy texture and added richness. Vegetable Variations: Feel free to add a variety of vegetables to the dish to enhance its nutritional value and flavors.