Easy Vegan Thai Peanut Sauce

Name: Easy Thai Peanut Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: ½ cup natural, unsweetened peanut butter*; 4 tablespoons maple syrup (or agave); 3 tablespoons soy sauce**; 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; crushed peanuts; thinly sliced green onions (aka, scallions); thinly sliced red chili peppers; chopped cilantro; chopped Thai basil

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe· 5 from 2 reviews

Whip up a delicious Thai peanut sauce with this quick and easy recipe. 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.

overhead pic of easy Thai Peanut Sauce in a bowl with garnishes of scallions, red chili peppers, and crushed peanuts. It's surrounded by vegetable spring roll and vegetable sushi rolls.

While some store-bought peanut sauces are vegan-friendly, they may contain added sugars, preservatives, or other ingredients that you should avoid.

Making your own easy and quick Thai peanut sauce allows you to control the quality and quantity of the ingredients and adjust the taste and texture to your liking. Plus, it's often more affordable and fresher than buying pre-made sauces.

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.

Jump to:

INGREDIENT OVERVIEW
INGREDIENT NOTES
HOW TO MAKE THAI PEANUT SAUCE
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
ADDITIONS AND VARIATIONS
STORAGE
MORE RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE
FAQS
What did you think?
Recipe
Craving More Nuts & Twigs?
Reviews

INGREDIENT OVERVIEW

To make this easy peanut sauce recipe, you'll need the following simple ingredients: See the recipe card for the suggested quantities.

Thai Peanut Sauce ingredients in bowls on a table; overhead shot.

INGREDIENT NOTES

Soy sauce—While not all soy sauces contain wheat, many do. However, one variety, tamari, is often 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!

Lime Juice - Substitute the lime juice with rice wine vinegar or lemon juice.

HOW TO MAKE THAI PEANUT SAUCE

This sauce is super quick and easy to make, and it's also for those who like to see what they'll be doing at a glance.

ingredients for Thai Peanut Sauce in a bowl with a hand showing red pepper flakes about to be poured in.

Mix all the ingredients together in a medium bowl.

hand with a whisk, mixing the ingredients; overhead shot.

Taste and adjust the flavor to your liking. If necessary, add a little water to thin the sauce.

For a delicious chunky sauce, garnish the sauce with plenty of chopped peanuts, Thai basil, green onions, red pepper flakes, and red chili peppers.

Top Tip: Natural peanut butter tends to be a bit chunky. For a smooth, creamy texture, just place all the ingredients in a bullet or blender.

overhead pic of easy Thai Peanut Sauce in a bowl with garnishes of scallions, red chili peppers, and crushed peanuts.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Dipping Sauce: This sauce is perfect for spring or summer rolls, fresh veggies, tofu such as Smoked Tofu or Everything Bagel Crispy Tofu, or satay skewers.
Drizzle: Pour over salads, noodle bowls, or grain bowls for a delicious creamy nutty flavor.
Stir-Fry: Toss with stir-fried veggies, tofu, or tempeh for a quick and delicious meal.
Marinade: Use it for tofu, tempeh, or veggies before grilling or roasting.
Sandwich Spread: Spread it on wraps, sandwiches, or even burgers for a creamy, tangy twist.
Topping: Dollop onto baked sweet potatoes or roasted veggies for an extra layer of flavor.
Rice or Quinoa: Drizzle overcooked rice or quinoa for a flavorful side dish.
Sushi: Use as a dip for veggie sushi rolls or pour it over Vegan Sushi Bake.
Noodles or Zoodles: Toss the peanut sauce with rice noodles or zoodles, along with some vegetables, for a quick and flavorful meal.
Salad: Use this sauce as a salad dressing with chopped-up cabbage, carrots, celery, green onions, and almonds to make a delicious Asian salad.

ADDITIONS AND VARIATIONS

Spice It Up: Add sriracha or a dash of cayenne pepper for extra heat.
Citrus Zing: Mix in some zest.
Ginger: Grate about two teaspoons of fresh ginger for a more pronounced, spicy-sweet flavor.
Coconut milk: Add a splash of coconut milk from the can for a richer, creamier sauce with a hint of tropical flavor.
Sweet and Tangy: For a different sweetness profile, substitute the maple syrup with agave nectar or a touch of brown sugar.
Soy-Free Option: Replace soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos for a soy-free alternative.

side angled view of Thai Peanut Sauce in a bowl.

STORAGE

Refrigerate: Transfer your Thai peanut sauce to an airtight container or jar and store it in the refrigerator. It will keep well for up to 1 week.

Stir Before Using: The sauce may thicken or separate slightly in the fridge. Just give it a good stir before using, and if it’s too thick, you can thin it out with a bit of warm water or coconut milk.

Freezing: For longer storage, you can freeze the sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and stir well before using.

hand dipping a tofu spring roll into the peanut sauce; side angled view.

MORE RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE

FAQS

Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of smooth?

You can use crunchy peanut butter for a different texture and more nutty flavor.

How can I make this soy-free and gluten-free?

Make this recipe soy-free and gluten-free by substituting soy sauce for coconut aminos or liquid aminos.

What did you think?

Have a minute? Dive into the comments and rate this Thai peanut sauce recipe to let me know how it turned out for you. Was it a hit? Did you add any twists? I want to know if my directions were any good. Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for inspiration.

Recipe

Easy Thai Peanut Sauce

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

Print Recipe

Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 10 servings 1x

Instructions

Combine: Whisk the peanut butter, soy sauce, maple syrup, lime juice, sesame oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
Incorporate: If needed, 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.

Notes

*This recipe is designed for unsweetened, natural peanut butter—the kind that’s just pure ground peanuts. But honestly, I sometimes use the sugary, processed stuff too. If you go that route, reduce the maple syrup to 2 tablespoons to keep it from getting too sweet.

**Use tamari for gluten-free and coconut or liquid aminos for soy-free and gluten-free.

Thin it out with water or a splash of coconut milk to pour over noodles, salads, Buddha bowls, and tofu dishes.

Nutritional information is only an estimate.