Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this peanut salad dressing recipe.

Peanut butter: You can use either crunchy or creamy peanut butter.

For optimum flavor, choose a natural peanut butter with just two ingredients – peanuts & salt.

(Some brands add all kinds of unnecessary ingredients like sugar & palm oil.)

Toasted sesame oil: This oil adds delicious nuttiness. A little bit goes a long way.

Look for it in the center aisles of the grocery store with other Asian ingredients.

Rice vinegar: This light vinegar lends tang to the dressing.

Sriracha: Vietnamese or Thai chili pepper sauce gives a spicy kick.

Tamari: This Japanese soy sauce gives umami and salt.

Be sure to choose gluten free tamari, if you need it to be GF.

Water: Water is used to thin the dressing to just the right thickness for pourability.

Salt: Depending on the saltiness of your tamari and peanut butter, you may or may not want to add a pinch of salt to taste.

Step by step instructions

Here’s how to make this recipe at a glance. For complete ingredient amounts & instructions, keep scrolling to the recipe card below.

Bowl mixing ingredients for peanut salad dressing.

Put the following ingredients into a bowl:

Peanut butter
Toasted sesame oil
Rice vinegar
Sriracha
Tamari
Water

Use a spoon or whisk to blend until smooth.

Peanut butters vary in viscosity.

If the dressing is too thick, add a splash of water. If it’s too thin, add an additional dab of peanut butter.

Add salt to taste.

Make it your own

You can make this peanut salad dressing recipe your own by varying the ingredients or preparation methods.

Instead of store-bought peanut butter, make your own peanut butter first using whole peanuts.
Replace peanut butter with almond butter, pistachio butter, sunflower seed butter, or cashew butter.
Instead of whisking in a bowl, combine in a blender or food processor.
Replace tamari with Chinese soy sauce, coconut aminos, or Bragg’s liquid aminos.
Replace sriracha with sambal oelek or any hot sauce you enjoy. Add more if you like things super spicy or omit if you don’t.
Replace rice vinegar with white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lime juice.
Add maple syrup or agave syrup for sweetness.
Add grated garlic and/or fresh ginger for bite or floral notes.
For an herbaceous flair, add chopped cilantro.

Serving ideas

Small sauce container with peanut dressing.

This peanut dressing is perfect for light, crunchy salads. It’s especially delicious on a green salad with blood oranges & peanuts.

I usually use peanut sauce for spring rolls and satay. However, this peanut salad dressing can be used in that way as well.

Use it with any of the following dishes.

As a dipping sauce

Drizzled on bowls or tossed with noodles

Baked tofu bowls (instead of tahini dressing)
Cold peanut noodles (instead of listed peanut sauce)

Storage

Store the dressing in a covered container in the refrigerator. It will keep for about a week.

The dressing will thicken further in the refrigerator. To thin it out, add a splash of water, and stir to combine, if necessary.

It can also be frozen for up to 4 months. Store in a freezer bag or airtight storage container. Thaw in the refrigerator when you’re ready to use it.

More salad dressing recipes

Hand holding peanut dressing over salad.

📖 Recipe

Content, recipe, and photos updated April 28, 2022. Originally posted on October 18, 2012 as jack o’ lantern salad with tangy peanut dressing.

Comments