This easy peanut sauce is a five-minute recipe and uses only a handful of ingredients. Creamy, tangy, and with just the right amount of everything, this sauce is so irresistible you'll want to drizzle it on anything and dip everything.
Seriously, this Thai-inspired peanut sauce is one of those magical things that turns "meh" into MORE PLEASE with just a drizzle.
It's the sauce I didn't know I needed until I found myself licking the spoon and contemplating whether I could turn it into a soup, a marinade, or maybe even just drink it straight (jury's still out).
This version has been on repeat in our house-mostly because it hits that sweet-salty-spicy-creamy spot, but also because it's so dang easy to make.
While traditional Thai peanut sauce often starts with roasted peanuts, tamarind paste, and sometimes fish sauce, this version takes a shortcut with pantry-friendly ingredients like peanut butter, soy sauce, and maple syrup. It skips the grinding and specialty shopping but still delivers that sweet, salty, tangy, spicy balance that we love. Think of it as the weeknight-friendly cousin-less authentic, more accessible, but just as slurp-worthy.
I love to use it at home in Thai Peanut Noodle Salad and my Vegan Summer Rolls.
If you like making sauces and dressings at home as much as I do, I have a quick and easy method you can learn in How to Make Homemade Vegan Sauces. For premade sauces, check out 25 Vegan Dips and Sauces You're Going To Love.
Jump to:
Ingredients for Peanut Sauce
To make this easy peanut sauce recipe, you'll need the following simple ingredients: See the recipe card for the suggested quantities.
- Soy sauce - While not all soy sauces contain wheat, many do. However, one variety, tamari, is naturally gluten-free.
- Peanut butter - I usually stick to natural peanut butter-just pure ground peanuts. But I'll admit, I've been guilty of grabbing the sugar-loaded stuff too. If you're doing the same, cut the maple syrup to 2 tablespoons. For a lower-fat option, give PB2 powder a shot-it's peanut butter with most of the fat removed, so you can mix it with water and enjoy a low-cal, low-guilt version. If you are allergic to peanut butter, sunflower seed butter will work too.
- Lime Juice - Substitute the lime juice with rice wine vinegar or lemon juice.
Additions and Variations
- Grate about a teaspoon of fresh ginger for a more pronounced, spicy-sweet flavor.
- A splash of coconut milk from the can for a richer, creamier sauce with a hint of tropical flavor.
- For a different sweetness profile, substitute the maple syrup with agave nectar or brown sugar.
- Replace soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos for a soy-free alternative.
How To Make Peanut Sauce
It doesn't get any easier than this to make a delicious peanut sauce.
Just add the ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk away. You can also use a bullet or a food processor. Taste and adjust the flavor to your liking. If necessary, add a little water to thin the sauce-how much depends on how you're using it (thicker for dipping, thinner for drizzling). See the recipe card for details.
Top Tips
- For a delicious chunky sauce, garnish the sauce with plenty of chopped peanuts, Thai basil, green onions, red pepper flakes, and red chili peppers.
- Natural peanut butter can be a little thick or chunky. For a silky-smooth sauce, pop it in the microwave for about 15 seconds to soften, or just blend everything in a bullet or blender for an effortlessly creamy texture.
Delicious Ways to Use Peanut Sauce
This dressing is a total multitasker. It's great on salads, drizzled over tofu or tempeh, tossed with noodles, or used as a dip for veggies (or just a spoon, no judgment). Here are a few more ideas.
- This sauce is perfect for spring or Vegan Summer Rolls and tofu such as Smoked Tofu or Everything Bagel Crispy Tofu, or satay skewers.
- Dollop onto baked sweet potatoes or roasted veggies for an extra layer of flavor.
- Pour over grain bowls for a delicious creamy nutty flavor.
- Use it to marinate tofu, tempeh, or veggies before grilling or roasting.
- Use as a dip for veggie sushi rolls or pour it over Vegan Sushi Bake.
- Use this sauce as a salad dressing and serve it alongside Vegan Tom Yum Noodle Soup.
More Delicious Asian-Inspired Vegan Recipes
Peanut Sauce FAQS
Make this recipe soy-free and gluten-free by substituting soy sauce for coconut aminos or liquid aminos.
To make this sauce nut-free, simply swap the peanut butter for sunflower seed butter. It provides a rich, creamy texture without the nuts.
Refrigerate peanut sauce in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Stir before using, and thin with warm water or coconut milk if needed. For longer storage, freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, then thaw in the fridge and stir well before serving.
Easy Peanut Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup natural unsweetened peanut butter*
- 4 tablespoons maple syrup or agave
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari for gluten free option
- 2 tablespoons lime juice or rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- water optional for thinner consistency
Garnish
- crushed peanuts
- thinly sliced green onions aka, scallions
- thinly sliced red chili peppers
- chopped cilantro
- chopped Thai basil
Instructions
- Combine: Whisk the peanut butter, soy sauce, maple syrup, lime juice, sesame oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
- Incorporate: If you need it thinner, add warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and whisk until you reach your desired consistency. The warm water will help thin the peanut butter and create a smoother sauce.
- Adjust: Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as necessary. You can add more soy sauce for saltiness, maple syrup for sweetness, or lime juice for tanginess.
- Serve: Once the sauce is well combined and the desired consistency has been reached, transfer it to a serving dish and garnish with roughly chopped peanuts, chopped cilantro or Thai basil, red pepper flakes, or red chili peppers if desired. By picking a few of the garnishes, it makes for a nice presentation and a delicious chunky dip.
Just me says
Super easy. Very tasty. Added a bit of water to thin out which didn’t decrease the nice flavor. Made Laab with tofu in warmed low carb tortillas, added peanut sauce inside and lime. Yummy!!!
Regi Pearce says
That sounds absolutely delicious! I love the idea of using the peanut sauce in tofu Laab!Thanks so much for sharing your tasty combo and glad you enjoyed it!
Anonymous says
Yummy!