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Home » Recipes » Sauce + Seasoning

Easy Peanut Sauce (Vegan!)

May 26, 2023 by Kaitlin · 8 Comments

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A luscious Thai-style vegan Peanut Sauce recipe with fresh garlic, ginger, and tangy sweetness! It's so easy to prepare with just 6 simple ingredients. Plus incredibly versatile in the ways you can enjoy it! (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free.)

Vegan peanut sauce in a small glass jar with serving spoon

I cannot contain my excitement for this peanut sauce! It's so creamy, luscious, and one of my all-time favorite recipes.

The flavor is amazing with fresh garlic, ginger, and tangy sweetness... all swirled into a rich, peanut butter base.

The best part is it's so easy to make! You need only 6 simple ingredients and less than 10 minutes of your time.

Plus it's so versatile in ways you can enjoy it. Try it as a dipping sauce, salad dressing, on protein, stir-fries, or whatever else sounds good. Let's get to it!

Nut butter, ginger, garlic, lemon, maple syrup, and tamari ingredients laid out on a metal tray

Ingredients for Vegan Peanut Sauce

For this recipe you'll whisk together in a medium bowl:

  • Peanut butter: I use creamy, natural, and organic when possible. (If peanuts are an issue with your diet, I'm guessing you could substitute with a different nut butter or seed butter, but I haven't tested this.)
  • Pure maple syrup: Or you can substitute your own favorite sweetener such as brown sugar or agave nectar.
  • Tamari: This adds some umami saltiness to the sauce. You could also substitute soy sauce or coconut aminos. But I use tamari for gluten-free.
  • Fresh lemon juice: You'll need two tablespoons lemon juice, which is about a half lemon. Lime juice works great too.
  • Garlic cloves: Either use one or two fresh minced garlic cloves depending on your preference. If you don't have fresh, you could try substituting garlic powder instead.
  • Fresh ginger: Use as much or as little as you prefer. I often add a bit extra because I love the flavor.
  • Hot water: This helps thin the sauce to your desired consistency.
Ingredients for peanut sauce in a glass bowl before whisking together

Customizing

Make it spicy: Add some heat with red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, chili sauce, or sriracha sauce to taste.

Make it crunchy: For extra texture, use crunchy peanut butter instead of smooth. Or simply whisk in crushed peanuts to the mixture.

Other flavors: Use rice vinegar instead of lemon juice for acidity, or use coconut milk in place of water to thin.

Garnish: If serving this peanut sauce as a dip, feel free to garnish your bowl with crushed peanuts, thinly sliced green onions, or sesame seeds if desired.

Whisking together vegan peanut sauce in a glass bowl with metal whisk

Ways to Enjoy

Dipping sauce: With fresh veggie spring rolls, Crispy Baked Tofu, sliced cucumbers, carrots, or whatever else sounds good to dip!

Lettuce wraps: Drizzle it on these Cashew Tofu Lettuce Wraps or your own favorite.

Noodle dishes: Toss it on your favorite noodles like these Spring Roll Bowls or Easy Peanut Noodles.

Dressing & condiment: Thin it out with a little more water to create a flavorful salad dressing or condiment. I enjoy it on this Asian Kale & Tofu Salad or Asian-Style Chopped Salad. Or you can simply use it on your favorite lettuce & veggie salad blend.

Grain salads: Toss it with your Buddha bowls, rice bowls (I love this Tofu Rice Bowl), or Thai-Style Quinoa Salad.

On protein: Coat this flavorful Thai-style peanut sauce on your protein of choice like tempeh, vegan chicken, or Easy Baked Tofu.

Stir-fry: Enjoy it as a rich sauce with your stir-fry vegetables.

Storing

Store leftovers in an airtight container or sealed mason jar in the fridge. I find it keeps for about 4-5 days.

Overhead view of vegan peanut sauce in a white bowl topped with peanuts and sliced green onions

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

Vegan peanut sauce in a small glass jar with serving spoon

Easy Peanut Sauce (Vegan!)

Creamy and luscious! This Thai-style peanut sauce is made with fresh garlic, ginger, and tangy sweetness. Great for dipping, drizzling, and more.
4.91 from 11 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Comment
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Author: Kaitlin - The Garden Grazer
Course: Dip, 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
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. tamari
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (or lime)
  • 1-2 cloves garlic
  • 1 tsp. ginger, freshly grated
  • 1/3 cup hot water (more/less)

Instructions

  • Mince garlic and grate ginger. (I use a microplane grater for ginger.)
  • Add all ingredients, except water, to a medium mixing bowl.
  • Heat 1/3 cup water to just under boiling.
  • Add water a couple tablespoons at a time to peanut mixture, whisking well. Continue adding water and whisking until sauce reaches your desired consistency. Use more water if needed.
  • Taste and adjust flavors if desired.

Notes

Yield: Recipe makes about 1 1/3 cups.
Make it spicy: Add red pepper flakes, sriracha, or cayenne pepper to taste.
For salad dressing: Add more water to thin it out to desired consistency.
Recipe originally published April 2018. Updated May 2023. Inspired by The Spruce.

Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

Nutrition Facts
Easy Peanut Sauce (Vegan!)
Amount per Serving
Calories
227
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
17
g
26
%
Saturated Fat
 
3
g
19
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
4
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
8
g
Potassium
 
234
mg
7
%
Carbohydrates
 
15
g
5
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
10
g
11
%
Protein
 
8
g
16
%
Vitamin A
 
2
IU
0
%
Vitamin C
 
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
 
31
mg
3
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Sodium content: This is omitted as I cannot provide an accurate number. I encourage you to calculate your own to provide a much more precise reading based on the exact ingredients, brands, and amounts you're using.

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Comments

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    Recipe Rating:




  1. Abigail V says

    April 10, 2025 at 9:34 pm

    5 stars
    This peanut sauce is out of control delicious!! I made a quinoa bowl with mixed veggies and put this on top and I took a step back in surprise because it was so good. I used 1/3 cup of peanut butter and only 1 TBSP of maple syrup to make it lighter, and chose fresh lemon juice for the citrus. You’ve gotta make this sauce!

    Reply
    • Kaitlin says

      April 11, 2025 at 7:56 am

      That's so awesome, Abigail! Really glad you enjoyed it too (this is still one of my favorite recipes!) and I love the way you fine-tuned it to your liking. Fantastic. Thanks a lot for coming back to leave such a kind and thoughtful review - it's appreciated!

      Reply
  2. Jennifer says

    January 31, 2024 at 6:41 pm

    5 stars
    Oh yeah! 👍 This is a delicious sauce! Made this sauce with your tofu rice bowl…so good! We will definitely make this sauce again…and again…and again. Awesomeness 😁! Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Kaitlin says

      February 01, 2024 at 1:24 pm

      Yay! Fun to hear you share the same enthusiasm for this peanut sauce as I do. I can't tell you how many days I've created some random dinner "on the fly" simply because I was craving this sauce, and then had to build something around it. Ha! Truly hope you continue to enjoy it, Jennifer!

      Reply
  3. Margie says

    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 says

      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
  4. Natasha says

    July 30, 2019 at 3:22 pm

    5 stars
    Love it! Make it all the time now.

    Reply
    • Kaitlin says

      September 16, 2019 at 9:35 am

      So great to hear, Natasha! Thrilled you're enjoying it. Thanks for the kind feedback!

      Reply

Hello, I'm Kaitlin!
I live in Montana and share vegan recipes that are easy and healthy. About Me →

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