Easy Peanut Sauce Recipe
Creamy, savory, and a little spicy, this peanut sauce comes together in 5 minutes and is perfect for dipping, drizzling, marinating, or tossing with noodles, tofu, tempeh, or veggies.
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.
Video
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.
For a variation, thin it out with a splash of coconut milk to pour over noodles, salads, Buddha bowls, and tofu dishes.
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 together in a bullet or blender for an effortlessly creamy texture.
Nutritional information is only an estimate.
Nutrition
Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Sodium: 306mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg
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