This easy peanut sauce recipe is a staple when I make Asian style dishes. It’s simple to make and tastes amazing! I’m almost embarrassed about how easy it is. Easy peanut satay sauce is a fantastic dipping sauce for parties, appetizers, and other food that deserves to be dipped. Make a batch of this peanut sauce ahead of time and impress everyone at your next party.
Quick and Easy Peanut Sauce
YOU WILL LOVE THIS
- It’s super quick and easy to make. Just a few wholesome ingredients and a couple minutes of prep time (with no fancy kitchen gadgets) are all it takes! And although a whisk will help make it super creamy, a regular old fork will work just fine as well. It’s perfect as a dip for fresh spring rolls or a chicken satay sauce paired with fresh pickled carrots and cucumbers!
- The flavor is amazing. The fresh flavors in this easy peanut sauce are out of this world – creamy, tangy, peanut butter with a hint of lime, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil makes this peanut sauce better than any store-bought version! There are a lot of great sauces at the grocery store – but when it comes to peanut sauce, homemade is always better!
INGREDIENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
- Soy Sauce — This adds saltiness along with some umami flavor that really makes this sauce sing. You can substitute coconut aminos, low-sodium sodium soy sauce or tamari, as well.
- Peanut Butter — I like to use standard creamy peanut butter because of how smooth it is and because it’s slightly sweet. This combination works beautifully with the other ingredients. But you can substitute natural peanut butter or your preferred nut butter, like almond or cashew.
- Lime Juice — Fresh squeezed is best but this is our family’s favorite brand of bottled lime juice. You could substitute with lemon juice, but it will alter the flavor slightly.
- Rice Vinegar — You can swap the rice vinegar for apple cider vinegar if you don’t have any on hand, but the rice vinegar will give you the best flavor.
- Brown Sugar — Along with the creamy peanut butter, brown sugar makes the peanut sauce slightly sweet and works beautifully with the lime juice, vinegar, and soy sauce. I like brown sugar because of the molasses flavor it incorporates, so light or dark will work.
- Sesame Oil — A little bit of sesame oil goes a long way, so all you need for this recipe is a half of a teaspoon. Look for pure, toasted sesame oil.
- Dry Seasonings — You’ll need garlic powder, ground ginger, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper for this peanut sauce. You can substitute fresh minced garlic cloves, fresh grated ginger, sea salt, and a freshly cracked peppercorn medley, if needed, but make sure to check the proper ratio for dry to fresh substitutions.
INSTRUCTIONS
MAKE AHEAD, STORAGE AND FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS
- You can make this easy peanut sauce recipe up to a week in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge!
- It will thicken up as it sits in the fridge, so you might need to add a splash of lime juice or water before mixing it up when it comes straight from the refrigerator. Or let it sit out on the counter for a half-hour or so and allow it to come to room temperature.
- It’s also freezer-friendly for up to 6 months! Freeze it in measured increments, like in an ice cube tray, to easily thaw and use later.
TIPS
- You could also blend this sauce in a food processor or blender to save a few minutes of prep work.
- Feel free to add a splash or two of water to the sauce until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Spice up this peanut sauce with a pinch of red pepper flakes, a squirt of sriracha, or a scoop of red chili paste.
- Depending on what type of nut butter you use, the sauce may look a bit odd and stringy while you are mixing it – this is normal. With different ingredients coming together, it’s going to take a few minutes until everything becomes well incorporated. Check out my pictures above to see how it may look while mixing, and then how it should look after mixing.
Easy Peanut Satay Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp finely chopped onion
- 1 small clove garlic, finely chopped
- ½ cup Eta Crunchy Peanut Butter
- ½ cup water
- 2 Tbsp sweet chilli sauce
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- Squeeze of lime or lemon juice to taste
Method
EASY PEANUT SAUCE
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Yield: about 1 cup 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
DESCRIPTION
INGREDIENTS
- ½ cup natural peanut butter (creamy or crunchy) *
- 2 tbsp low-sodium tamari
- ½ tbsp ginger, finely grated (about ½” knob)
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- ½ tbsp maple syrup*
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar (can also sub lime juice)
- ¼ – ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2–4 tbsp filtered water
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add all ingredients except for the water to a medium bowl and mix until well-incorporated
- Next, add 2 tbsp of filtered water to the bowl and gently mix. Continue to add water in 1 tbsp increments until your desired thickness is reached.
- Let sit for at least 5 minutes before serving, to allow the flavors to combine. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 10 days.
NOTES
- Try to use a peanut butter with only 2 ingredients: peanuts and salt. If you like some texture in your sauce like I do, I’d recommend using crunchy peanut butter (or adding in some chopped peanuts at the end!)
- Maple syrup can be substituted with coconut sugar, or any other sweetener of your choice
EASY PEANUT SAUCE
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED
- Peanut butter
- Soy sauce (use tamari to keep it gluten-free)
- Maple syrup or honey
- Lime juice
- Sriracha
HOW TO MAKE IT FROM SCRATCH
HOW TO SERVE IT
- As a dip for vegetable spring rolls
- Dip for crispy Baked Tofu or Air Fryer Tofu
- As a sauce over your favorite noodles
- Use it as a salad dressing
SUBSTITUTIONS
- Almond butter
- Cashew butter
- Tahini
- Sunflower seed butter
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter, tamari, lime juice, maple syrup, and sriracha. I use a microplane to finely mince the ginger and garlic on top. Use a whisk to stir it all together until smooth.
- Add a tablespoon of water to the bowl, and whisk again until the sauce is thinner. If you want an even thinner sauce, add another tablespoon of water, and stir again. Be careful not to add too much water at once, so the sauce won’t get too thin.
- This peanut sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It will thicken more when chilled, so you may need to add another tablespoon of water when you get it out of the fridge later.
NOTES
- Nutrition information is for roughly 3 tablespoons of sauce. This information is automatically calculated, and is just an estimate, and not a guarantee.
- You can use almond butter, cashew butter, or tahini as an alternative to peanut butter.
- If you need a soy-free option, try coconut aminos instead. You’ll probably have to add extra salt, in that case, since it’s not as salty as soy sauce or tamari.
NUTRITION
Health Benefits of Peanuts
1. Healthy Heart
Various studies have proven that eating peanuts decreases the chances of suffering from any kind of heart disease. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, daily consumption of nuts can reduce the risk of death from heart disease by 29%.
Peanuts contain nutrients that are necessary for having a healthy heart. They have magnesium, and copper, a healthy ratio of unsaturated fats and antioxidants like resveratrol. Peanuts are also rich in monounsaturated fats, protein and fibre that reduce cholesterol levels. These contain amino acids and antioxidants that keep the inner lining of the arteries safe thus protecting against heart conditions like atherosclerosis.
2. Good Source of Proteins
Peanuts are rich in protein content, ranging from 22–30% of their total calories. Protein helps build muscle mass and promotes muscle growth while also supporting bone health.
Peanut butter added on toast or crackers is a good pre-workout or mid-day snack adding to the total protein.
The requirement of protein, which is necessary for the growth of children, can be fulfilled by peanuts. Good protein intake also helps speed up wound healing.
3. Helps in Weight Loss
Peanuts can be added in moderation for those looking to lose weight.
The high protein content as well as the healthy unsaturated fats are not only good nutrients for weight loss but also provide high satiety value, thereby preventing one from binge eating. Additionally, protein reduces the level of Ghrelin- the hunger hormone and increases the production of Peptide YY – the hormone responsible for making you feel full.
4. Makes your Brain Sharper
For a healthy as well as sharper brain, you require nutrients like vitamin B1, niacin, and folate. When you eat peanuts your body is fueled with these nutrients. As a result, your brain becomes more active and sharp. Niacin and Vitamin B1 can also help one keep away age-related cognitive decline and diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Peanuts are loaded with a bioactive ingredient called resveratrol. Resveratrol improves cognitive abilities and verbal fluency. Polyphenols present in peanuts are known as mood food and also help in psychiatric and cognitive disorders.
5. Strong Bones
Ageing causes the weakening of several bones present in our body. Therefore, before your bones start to lose their strength, you should focus on eating healthy food options such as peanuts. It is rich in manganese and phosphorus. These nutrients and other vitamins present in peanuts will keep up the strength of your bones, thereby aiding you at your old age.
6. Healthy Skin
Peanuts contain resveratrol and monounsaturated fats that not only make the skin clear but even wash away toxins from the body that make the skin appear greasy and dull. Resveratrol further delays the signs of ageing like wrinkles, fine lines and dark spots. It is also a proven cure for skin illnesses like Psoriasis and Eczema.
Studies show that vitamins C and E present in peanuts provide protection against UV rays of the Sun and any subsequent damage. Vitamin C also gives elasticity to the skin making it look younger and brighter.