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    Home » Recipes » Sauce + Seasoning

    Easy Peanut Sauce

    Apr 17, 2018 by Kaitlin

    This is our very favorite Thai-style easy Peanut Sauce recipe with garlic, ginger, and a touch of sweetness! It's only 6 simple ingredients and 10 minutes to make. Plus incredibly versatile in the ways you can enjoy it. (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free.)

    Small glass jar filled with creamy Thai Peanut Sauce

    I cannot contain my excitement for this easy peanut sauce recipe!

    It's one of my favorites and has such amazing taste and texture.

    We balance the flavors by combining fresh garlic, ginger, and some tangy sweetness. Then swirl it into a luscious peanut butter base.

    Plus it's easy to make with only 6 ingredients and less than 10 minutes of prep time. Let's do this!

    Ingredients in separate bowls for Thai Peanut Sauce

    Ingredients for Thai Peanut Sauce

    For this recipe you will whisk together in a bowl:

    • Peanut butter: I use creamy and natural. (If peanuts are an issue, I'm guessing you could substitute it with a different nut butter or seed butter, but I have not tested this.)
    • Brown sugar or maple syrup: Most often I use pure maple syrup for a refined sugar-free option. But brown sugar works great too.
    • Tamari: Or substitute soy sauce or coconut aminos. I use tamari for gluten-free.
    • Fresh lemon juice or lime juice
    • Garlic cloves: Either use one or two fresh minced garlic cloves depending on your preference.
    • Fresh ginger: You can use as much or as little as you prefer.
    • Hot water: This is used to thin the sauce to your desired consistency.

    Like it spicy? You can also add some heat with red pepper flakes or sriracha sauce to taste.

    Peanut dressing being poured on ingredients for Thai Quinoa Salad

    Ways to Use

    This recipe is super flexible in ways to make it and enjoy it. A few ideas include:

    • Thai-Style Quinoa Salad (pictured above)
    • On noodle dishes like Easy Peanut Noodles (pictured below)
    • Spring Roll Bowls
    • As a dipping sauce for fresh veggie spring rolls
    • On protein like tempeh or Baked Tofu
    • A rich sauce for stir fry with vegetables
    • Thin it out to create a flavorful salad dressing (to use on this Asian-Style Kale + Tofu Salad or Asian-Style Chopped Salad)

    Storing

    Store your leftovers in an airtight container or sealed mason jar in the fridge. We find they keep for about 4-5 days.

    Creamy Thai-style Noodles with peanut butter sauce

    For more inspiration, also browse all sauce + seasoning recipes or ginger recipes.

    Small glass jar filled with creamy Thai Peanut Sauce

    Easy Peanut Sauce

    Our favorite Thai-style peanut sauce with garlic, ginger, and a touch of sweetness! Only 6 simple ingredients and super versatile.
    4.89 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Comment
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Author: Kaitlin - The Garden Grazer
    Course: Sauce
    Cuisine: Gluten-Free, Oil-Free, Thai-Inspired, Vegan
    Servings: 4 (1/3 cup servings)

    Ingredients

    • 1/2 cup peanut butter (I use creamy, natural)
    • 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup or brown sugar (more/less to taste)
    • 1 1/2 Tbsp. tamari (or soy sauce)
    • 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon or lime juice
    • 1-2 cloves garlic
    • 1 tsp. fresh grated ginger (more/less to taste)
    • Hot water to thin to desired consistency
    • Optional: red pepper flakes

    Instructions

    • Mince garlic and grate ginger. (I use a microplane grater for ginger.)
    • In a mixing bowl, add all ingredients except water.
    • Heat about 3/4 cup of water to just under boiling.
    • Add water a couple tablespoons at a time, slowly whisking and working the mixture together.
    • Continue adding water and whisking until sauce reaches your desired consistency. (I usually add about 1/3 - 1/2 cup hot water.)
    • Salt to taste if desired or adjust flavors as needed: more tamari for saltiness, more sweetener, garlic, ginger, or fresh lemon/lime juice.

    Notes

    Yield: Recipe makes about 1 1/3 cup sauce.
    For gluten-free: Use tamari.
    Peanut butter: For easier whisking, microwave/warm the peanut butter for a few seconds before adding to bowl.
    For salad dressing: Simply add more water to thin it out to desired consistency.
    Recipe inspired by The Spruce.

    Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Peanut Sauce
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    217
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    16
    g
    25
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    19
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    5
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    8
    g
    Potassium
     
    253
    mg
    7
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    13
    g
    4
    %
    Fiber
     
    2
    g
    8
    %
    Sugar
     
    8
    g
    9
    %
    Protein
     
    9
    g
    18
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    1
    IU
    0
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    3
    mg
    4
    %
    Calcium
     
    25
    mg
    3
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you make this recipe?Leave a star rating or comment below!

    Follow The Garden Grazer on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook for more updates and inspiration.

    More Vegan Sauce & Seasoning Recipes

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    • Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus
    • Roasted Red Pepper Dressing (Oil-Free)
    • Vegan Cashew Queso

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating:




    1. Margie

      April 11, 2022 at 7:21 pm

      5 stars
      I love this sauce so much! My husband and I have Pad Thai every Monday night now. He likes the sauce really thick so we do maybe 1/4 cup of water and it comes out so good. We use brown rice noodles and I love crunchy peanut butter so I use it for extra crunch. Fantastic recipe with plenty of room to add your own touch.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin

        April 13, 2022 at 7:44 am

        Wonderful to hear, Margie! So glad you're both enjoying it, and great call with the crunchy peanut butter. Pad Thai Monday sounds like a fantastic way to start the week! Thanks for sharing your kind and helpful feedback.

        Reply
    2. Natasha

      July 30, 2019 at 3:22 pm

      5 stars
      Love it! Make it all the time now

      Reply
      • Kaitlin McGinn

        September 16, 2019 at 9:35 am

        So great to hear this Natasha! Thrilled you're enjoying - thanks for the kind feedback.

        Reply
    3. Julie

      March 22, 2019 at 6:40 am

      I am not gluten free but have friends and relatives with celiacs disease...you must be very careful to read the labels of tamari and soy sauce as they are not all gluten free.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin McGinn

        March 22, 2019 at 1:34 pm

        Hi Julie - absolutely. Thank you for sharing.

        Reply
    4. BLD in MT

      April 19, 2018 at 6:54 pm

      Mmmmmmmm, peanut sauce!!! I love how easy it is and how satisfying! I haven't tried it as a salad dressing yet though! Sounds perfect.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        April 24, 2018 at 5:15 pm

        Thanks so much! (PS - just checked out your blog, love your photos! Where in Montana are you located?)

        Reply
      • BLD in MT

        April 24, 2018 at 5:18 pm

        Southcentral MT--in Billings!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Kaitlin!
    I share vegan recipes that are easy & healthy. (Mostly whole food plant-based, oil-free, & gluten-free.) About Me →

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