Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (2024)

Published December 29, 2021.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This very easy-to-make full-flavored Thai-style peanut sauce is a perfect accompaniment to any of your grilled or cooked meat recipes. You should absolutely serve this up with my chicken satay recipe.

If you are a huge sauce fan like I am then expand your repertoire by making my homemade pesto or teriyaki sauce.

Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (1)

There are quite a few different styles of peanut sauce ranging from Indonesian to Malaysian, to Thai, and beyond. All of them are unique in ingredients and flavors and all act as a dipping sauce for cooked protein or vegetables.

This peanut sauce recipe is much more of a Thai-style sauce, but I do not use curry. I don’t feel it necessary to use curry as there are so many other flavors in the sauce that compliment and there is no need to add curry to overtake it. You can however use it, and if you want I’ve got an amazing homemade recipe for fresh curry.

Peanut Sauce Ingredients

Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (2)
  • Peanut Butter – Creamy peanut butter is best for this recipe.
  • Coconut Milk – Full fat unsweetened canned coconut milk.
  • Vinegar – You can use coconut or rice wine vinegar.
  • Ginger – Fresh peeled ginger is best, but you could substitute for a ½ teaspoon of dry.
  • Chili-Garlic Sauce – Also known as sambal which can be found in the Asian aisle in your local grocery store.
  • Sugar – It’s best to use palm sugar but that may be hard to find. If so, perfectly substitute for packed light brown sugar.
  • Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves are best, but you can substitute for 1 teaspoon of dry.
  • Lime Juice – Use fresh limes to juice.
  • Soy Sauce – Any good soy or tamari sauce will work.

How to Make Peanut Sauce

Use these step-by-step instructions for making this tasty Thai peanut sauce recipe:

Add all the ingredients except for the coconut milk to a large bowl.

Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (3)

Gently whisk everything together until combined. This peanut butter will tighten up a little bit.

Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (4)

Slowly add in the coconut milk a ½ cup at a time and gently whisk it in until the sauce is smooth and combined. Store until ready to use.

Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (5)

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead: You can make this up to 3 days ahead of time.

How to Store: Cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (6)

chef notes + tips

  • Feel free to use chunky peanut butter if you want
  • You can use bottled coconut milk, but for maximum fat and flavor canned is best.
Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (7)

More Sauce Recipes

  • Horseradish Sauce
  • Crème Fraiche
  • Gravy
  • Pomodoro Sauce
  • Chimichurri

Be sure to follow me onFacebook,YouTube,Instagram,andPinterest,and if you’ve had a chance to make this then definitely drop me a comment and a rating below.

Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (8)

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Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe

Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (9)

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5 from 9 votes

This very easy-to-make full-flavored Thai-style peanut sauce is a perfect accompaniment to any of your grilled or cooked meat recipes.

Servings: 2 cups

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce
  • 2 finely grated garlic
  • 1 ” chunk of finely grated ginger
  • 2 tablespoons palm sugar
  • 2 teaspoons coconut or rice wine vinegar
  • 15 ounce can full-fat coconut milk

Instructions

  • Add all the ingredients except for the coconut milk to a large bowl.

  • Gently whisk everything together until combined. This peanut butter will tighten up a little bit.

  • Slowly add in the coconut milk a ½ cup at a time and gently whisk it in until the sauce is smooth and combined. I usually only use about ½ of the coconut fat that’s at the top of the can.

  • Store covered in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Notes

Make-Ahead: You can make this up to 3 days ahead of time.

How to Store: Cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Feel free to use chunky peanut butter if you want

You can use bottled coconut milk, but for maximum fat and flavor canned is best.

Nutrition

Calories: 1257kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 39gFat: 110gSaturated Fat: 54gPolyunsaturated Fat: 19gMonounsaturated Fat: 33gSodium: 2486mgPotassium: 1370mgFiber: 9gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 104mgIron: 10mg

Course: Appetizer, sauce

Cuisine: Thai

Author: Chef Billy Parisi

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24 comments

    • Keith Duffek
    • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (10)

    This so easy to make and so good!

    • Reply
    • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (11)

        so good!!

        • Reply
      • Linda Chiasson

      Hi. Love your recipes and videos. For the peanut sauce, is palm sugar necessary? Ty

      • Reply
      • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (12)

          regular sugar works. I believe I mention that in the post.

          • Reply
        • Sabella Gioia
        • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (13)

        I’m considered by family and friends to be a really good cook. Having said that, you are my ‘go to’ Chef whenever I want or need to research a recipe or try something new. You never disappoint, in fact, you always exceed my expectations! Tried this sauce for the first time. Everyone loved it! Made it for the Thai Style Chicken Satay.

        • Reply
        • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (14)

            Perfect!

            • Reply
          • Sharon Ilich

          Love reading and trying your recipes

          • Reply
          • lynn Willard
          • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (15)

          Holy Smokes!!! this is the bomb recipe. I have literally put this on everything since the day I made it. LOL chicken dipping sauce, salad dressing, on a spoon as a midnight snack. JUST MAKE IT!! seriously……..now…….run!!!!

          • Reply
          • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (16)

              so good!!

              • Reply
            • Martin

            Here in the Netherlands we always make satay sauce while stirring in a pan. So a warm preparation. Is that also the intention with this recipe or do you eat this variant cold?

            • Reply
            • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (17)

                Either

                • Reply
              • DJ Posner
              • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (18)

              During the pandemic I taught myself Thai cooking. This recipe is outstanding and your techniques used on the Satay recipe are so helpful. Thanks Chef!

              • Reply
              • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (19)

                  My pleasure!

                  • Reply
                • Willam Spyrison
                • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (20)

                Deliciously Yummers

                • Reply
                • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (21)

                    so good!!

                    • Reply
                  • Don
                  • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (22)

                  This makes a good salad dressing.

                  • Reply
                  • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (23)

                      Thanks for trying it!

                      • Reply
                    • Mark

                    Tried this for the first time! Everyone absolutely loves ❤️ it! I use your recipes all the time and I have never had a meal that wasn’t well received. Thank you very much your guidance and recipes are making me a better cook than I really am. My wife brags about my cooking all the time. Thanks again, Mark

                    • Reply
                    • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (24)

                        Thanks for giving it a shot!!

                        • Reply
                      • frannie

                      I do love this sauce……and it’s delicious on everything!

                      • Reply
                      • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (25)

                          Agreed

                          • Reply
                        • Lisa Leng
                        • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (26)

                        I made this to go with Chicken Satay, however, I use it on everything, sooo delicious!! 🥜

                        • Reply
                        • Michelle
                        • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (27)

                        I wonder if I could use this in a vegetable noodle bowl as the dressing on warm noodles and veggies.

                        • Reply
                          • Lisa Leng
                          • Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (28)

                          Definitely, I use it on lots of recipes!

                          • Reply
                      Homemade Peanut Sauce Recipe (2024)

                      FAQs

                      What is peanut sauce made of? ›

                      A typical recipe usually contains ground roasted peanuts or peanut butter (smooth or crunchy), coconut milk, soy sauce, tamarind, galangal, garlic, and spices (such as coriander seed or cumin). Other possible ingredients are chili peppers, sugar, fried onion, and lemongrass.

                      What to use instead of peanut sauce? ›

                      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.

                      How long does homemade peanut sauce last? ›

                      This sauce can last for up to 1-week in a tightly sealed container or jar in your fridge.

                      How to thicken up peanut sauce? ›

                      How to thicken peanut sauce. If you accidentally add too much water to your peanut sauce, simply whisk in small amounts of peanut butter to adjust the consistency, You may also need to add other ingredients to maintain the flavor balance. Peanut butter powder also works in place of peanut butter to make this adjustment ...

                      Why is peanut sauce so good? ›

                      There are many ways to make a peanut sauce, but the essential ingredients include ground peanuts, something savory (kecap manis or hoisin are common) and fragrant aromatics, like ginger, galangal, tamarind and chiles. The resulting sauce adds rich creaminess and toasty earthiness to whatever it touches.

                      What is the difference between peanut sauce and satay sauce? ›

                      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).

                      Why does peanut sauce break? ›

                      This happens when there's too much fat or liquid in the mixture. This can happen when there are not enough emulsifiers (which help keep your ingredients together). Sauces are usually made from multiple ingredients that include both oil and water. Oils and water will naturally separate.

                      What does peanut sauce taste like? ›

                      It's salty, sweet, acidic and bold — a sauce like no other. For the uninitiated, Asian peanut sauce is a puree of peanuts, soy sauce, ginger, sesame, spices and often garlic, lemongrass and lime.

                      How to make peanut sauce less salty? ›

                      Acid: Adding vinegar or lemon juice does a great job of balancing saltiness. Sweetness: You can also add a dash of honey or sugar. Opposites attract here and create balance. Fat: Another fix is adding some fat, a few pads or butter or a healthy glug of olive oil can absorb some of that saltiness.

                      How to tell if peanut sauce is bad? ›

                      First, take a look at it. If you notice any mold, there's a significant change in the color or texture of the sauce, or the sauce has started to separate, it's best to throw it away. Also, take a moment to smell the sauce. If you notice a rancid or “off” smell, the sauce is likely spoiled.

                      Is it OK to freeze peanut sauce? ›

                      Storing. Whether you make it ahead of time or end up with extras, the sauce will stay creamy and fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. It will firm up as it chills but you can thin it out with a splash of water or more coconut milk. It freezes well, too!

                      Does peanut butter thicken sauce? ›

                      I also have a selection of nut butters on hand – my staples are peanut, almond, and cashew butter – which are perfect thickeners as well. If you're braising chicken, for instance, stir in two to three tablespoons of ground almonds into the sauce as the cooking time comes to a close.

                      Why is my peanut sauce not smooth? ›

                      If the oil is separating from the sauce a bit (this can happen from the oil in the coconut milk and the peanut butter, but it's easy to fix!), add water a few drops at a time and whisk until it comes smoothly back together.

                      What is Vietnamese peanut sauce made of? ›

                      One of the unique aspects of Vietnamese-style peanut sauce compared to other varieties of peanut sauce is the inclusion of hoisin sauce. Vietnamese peanut sauce is simply made with peanut butter, hoisin and garlic for a sweet, tangy and rich sauce.

                      Is peanut sauce made from peanut butter? ›

                      All you need to do is whisk together peanut butter, coconut aminos, brown sugar, rice vinegar, lime juice, garlic, ginger and water.

                      Is peanut sauce the same as peanut butter? ›

                      What is Thai Peanut sauce made of? Thai Peanut Sauce is made up of peanut butter, soy sauce, ginger, a sweetener (I used maple syrup), rice wine vinegar, sesame seeds, a spice and water. In some more traditional versions, coconut milk is used instead of water, but I find this combination to be perfect.

                      Does peanut sauce taste like peanut butter? ›

                      It has an amazing creamy texture, with a nutty, bright, and spicy flavor from peanut butter, lime, and sriracha.

                      References

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