Get ready to elevate your meals with this creamy, flavorful Thai Peanut Sauce! It's a must-have for dipping, drizzling, or tossing with your favorite dishes. Plus, it’s made with pantry staples, so you can whip it up in just a few minutes!
📍Thailand
❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Made with simple ingredients, this peanut sauce comes together in just minutes, making it perfect for those busy weeknights when you need to get dinner on the table fast.
- Versatile: This peanut sauce can be made into a dip, drizzle, or tossed with noodles, veggies, or salads—this sauce pairs well with so many dishes!
- Bold and Flavorful: This sauce is the perfect balance of creamy peanut butter, tangy lime, and a hint of spice. It's bold and flavorful; you'll be hooked after one taste of it!
Jump to:
I absolutely love this Thai Peanut Sauce recipe because it takes me right back to my trip to Thailand a few years back, where I first fell in love with its bold, nutty flavor. I vividly remember sitting at a small street-side restaurant, dipping fresh spring rolls into a creamy, tangy peanut sauce that had that perfect balance of sweet and spicy. I was instantly hooked! The combination of the silky peanut butter, bright lime juice, and subtle heat from the red pepper flakes was unlike anything I’d tasted before. It quickly became one of my favorite parts of the trip, and I knew I had to recreate it at home for you to enjoy, too!
What I love most about this recipe is how versatile it is. While it’s perfect for dipping fresh spring rolls—it is also so good as a sauce for noodle bowls, grilled veggies, or even as a salad dressing. Plus, it’s so quick and easy to make with pantry staples, making it a super easy way to add a touch of Thai flavor to any meal. Every time I whip up a batch, it feels like I’m reliving a little slice of my adventure in Thailand.
🥘 Ingredients
- Peanut Butter: This creamy spread gives the sauce its rich, nutty base.
- Soy Sauce: Soy sauce adds a savory, umami depth to the sauce.
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar offers sweetness with a hint of molasses, balancing the sauce’s acidity. You can also substitute it with honey, maple syrup or coconut sugar.
- Rice Vinegar: Rice vinegar gives the sauce a mild tang. If you don’t have rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar can work in its place.
- Ginger: Fresh ginger provides a warm, zesty kick to the sauce. Ground ginger can be used as a substitute, but the flavor won’t be as fresh or bold.
- Garlic: Garlic adds a savory depth with its aromatic flavor. If fresh garlic isn’t available, garlic powder can be used, though it will be less flavorful.
- Lime Juice: Lime juice brings a bright, tangy note to the sauce. Fresh lime juice is ideal, but bottled lime juice can be used in a pinch.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Red pepper flakes provide a mild heat that enhances the sauce.
- Water or Coconut Milk: Water helps thin the sauce to your desired consistency, while coconut milk makes it extra creamy with a subtle coconut flavor. Use water for a lighter sauce or coconut milk for a richer texture.
*Make sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for the recipe card, which includes the full list of ingredients and quantities.
🔪 Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, lime juice, and red pepper flakes.
- Thin the Sauce: Gradually add water or coconut milk, a little at a time, whisking until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. If you want to spread or dip it, add less water/milk, and for drizzling, add more water/milk.
- Adjust to Taste: Taste the sauce and adjust the flavors if needed, adding more lime juice, soy sauce, or red pepper flakes to suit your taste.
- Serve: Use immediately as a dip, drizzle, or toss with noodles. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
🧂 Serving Ideas
Here are some delicious ways to use your Thai peanut sauce:
- Use it as a sauce for stir-frying veggies, tofu, or chicken.
- It's perfect for dipping fresh spring rolls, chicken satay, or raw veggies like carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers.
- Add a flavorful drizzle over grilled chicken, shrimp, or roasted vegetables.
- Toss with cooked rice noodles, soba noodles, or spaghetti for an easy, flavorful meal.
- Thin it out with more water or coconut milk and use it as a dressing for Asian-inspired salads.
- Mix it into a bowl of steamed rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice for added flavor.
- Spread it on wraps, sandwiches, or burgers for a bold twist.
🍴Storage Information
Refrigerator: Store your Thai peanut sauce in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Stir well before using, as the ingredients may naturally separate over time.
Freezer: For longer storage, you can freeze the sauce in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator and whisk to restore the smooth texture before serving.
🌟 Recipe Tips
- Opt for creamy peanut butter for a smooth texture, but natural peanut butter works too—just mix it well.
- Always use fresh lime juice for the best flavor—it makes a big difference!
- Blend all the ingredients in a blender or food processor if you want a super smooth sauce.
- Brown sugar adds richness, but honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar can also work.
💭 FAQs
Yes, but it will give the sauce a textured consistency. Use smooth peanut butter for a creamier result.
You can substitute it with apple cider vinegar or white vinegar, though the flavor might be slightly different.
🍲 More Thai Recipes
If you make this recipe, let me know what you think! I’d love it if you could add a star rating ★ and a comment below. Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, too!
📋 Recipe
Thai Peanut Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1.5 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup water or coconut milk
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, lime juice, and red pepper flakes.
- Gradually add water or coconut milk, a little at a time, whisking until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. If you want to spread or dip it, add less water/milk, and for drizzling, add more water/milk.
- Taste the sauce and adjust the flavors if needed, adding more lime juice, soy sauce, or red pepper flakes to suit your taste.
- Use immediately as a dip, drizzle, or toss with noodles. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
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