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    Simple peanut sauce (for spring rolls, satay & noodles)

    Published: Mar 17, 2022 · Modified: Apr 30, 2022 by Cadry Nelson
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Text overlay: Simple peanut sauce for spring rolls, satay, and bowls. Spoon dripping sauce into jar.

    Use this delicious peanut sauce for spring rolls or satay. Drizzle it on bowls or toss it with noodles. It’s amazing that just 7 ingredients can add so much flavor to a dish!

    This is an easy, pantry-friendly, no cook sauce. It uses peanut butter straight from the jar. Plus, it is made without coconut milk or added sugar. Vegan and gluten free.

    Close-up peanut sauce garnished with cilantro and peanuts.

    Peanut sauce makes everything better. It’s nutty, tangy, and a little spicy.

    It can be used as a dipping sauce with satay or summer rolls. It can be drizzled over rice bowls or roasted broccoli.

    It’s delicious tossed with hot or cold noodles. You can even thin it out, and use it as a salad dressing.

    One thing is a guarantee. When peanut sauce is involved, leftovers won’t be a problem.

    What’s perhaps even better is how simple this sauce is to make! This peanut sauce recipe uses just 7 ingredients.

    No food processor or blender is required. Just a bit of stirring.

    How can something so tasty be this effortless?

    Ingredients

    Labeled ingredients for peanut sauce.

    Here’s what you’ll need for this mouthwatering sauce.

    Peanut butter: Either crunchy or creamy. I recommend a natural peanut butter with two ingredients – peanuts and salt.

    Some peanut butter brands add all sorts of ingredients like palm oil & sugar. It’s just not necessary.

    Peanut butter has enough oil and flavor all on its own without adding a bunch of other stuff.

    Plus, when you grab peanut butter with other miscellaneous ingredients, it throws off the balance of the sauce.

    Tamari: This Japanese soy sauce adds salt and umami. It can be found in the center aisles of the grocery store next to other soy sauces.

    Remember to grab gluten free tamari to keep this dish gluten free.

    Rice vinegar: Rice vinegar adds tang and balances the tamari.

    Look for it next to other types of vinegar in the grocery store aisles. Or it’s sometimes by the soy sauces.

    Sriracha: This chili pepper sauce adds a bit of heat and garlic. Use any type of sriracha you enjoy.

    If you don’t like spicy food, use less or omit it.

    Water

    Garlic: Finely grated or minced garlic adds bite. I recommend using a Microplane zester to get the garlic almost paste-like, which makes it easy to intertwine with the sauce.

    If you’d prefer it can be replaced with about ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.

    Ginger powder: Ginger powder adds a peppery, flowery, lightly sweet edge.

    If you’d prefer, ginger powder can be replaced with 2 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger.

    Step by step instructions

    Peanut sauce being stirred in bowl.

    Put the following into a medium sized bowl:

    • Peanut butter (crunchy or creamy)
    • Tamari
    • Rice vinegar
    • Sriracha
    • Water

    Use a fork or whisk to get out any lumps & fully combine.

    Once the sauce is completely smooth, add:

    • Finely grated or minced garlic
    • Ginger powder

    Tofu satay being dipped into peanut sauce.

    Make it your own

    Tweak the ingredients or preparation method to make this easy peanut sauce your own.

    • The sauce can be made in a food processor or blender instead of stirring by hand.
    • If your sauce is too thick, add more water.
    • If your sauce is too thin, add more peanut butter.
    • Replace the sriracha with sambal oelek or any brand/style of hot sauce you enjoy.
    • If you aren’t into spicy food, add less sriracha or none.
    • Replace rice vinegar with lime juice.
    • Add maple syrup or agave syrup for sweetness.
    • Add a drizzle of sesame oil for nuttiness. (A little goes a long way!)
    • Replace fresh garlic with garlic powder.
    • Replace ginger powder with freshly grated ginger.

    Serving ideas

    Tortilla wrap being dipped into bowl of peanut sauce.

    This delicious sauce is perfect for dipping, drizzling, and dunking.

    Use peanut sauce for spring rolls or with any of these recipes:

    • Spring roll tortilla wraps (as a dipping sauce)
    • Tofu satay (as a dipping sauce)
    • Baked tofu bowls (instead of tahini dressing)
    • Cold peanut noodles (instead of peanut sauce in recipe)
    • Green salad with peanut dressing (thinned out to replace salad dressing in recipe)

    Hand holding tofu skewer dripping with peanut sauce.

    Storage

    Store peanut sauce in an airtight covered container in the refrigerator. It will keep for about a week.

    The sauce will thicken over time. When you’re ready to use it, add a splash of water & stir to thin it out.

    Peanut sauce also freezes well. Put it in a freezer bag or storage container. It can freeze up to 3 months.

    Move it to the refrigerator to thaw when you’re ready to use it. Add a splash of water to thin it out, as needed.

    Spoon being pulled out of peanut sauce.

    Peanut sauce dripping down spoon into jar.

    Simple peanut sauce

    This easy peanut sauce makes any dish more delicious! Use it as a dipping sauce for spring rolls or satay. Drizzle it on rice bowls. Or toss it with noodles.
    It's especially nice with a garnish of cilantro and chopped peanuts.
    Makes about 1 cup of peanut sauce.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Sauce
    Cuisine: Asian, Vegan
    Keyword: dipping sauce, thai peanut sauce
    Prep Time: 3 minutes
    Cook Time: 2 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 8 people
    Calories: 98kcal
    Author: Cadry Nelson

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup peanut butter crunchy or creamy, plus more if needed
    • 2 teaspoons tamari
    • 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
    • 4 teaspoons sriracha
    • ½ cup water
    • 2 small garlic cloves minced or grated
    • 1 teaspoon ginger powder

    Instructions

    • In a medium sized bowl, use a fork or whisk to combine peanut butter, tamari, rice vinegar, sriracha, and water until it is fully combined and has the texture of a thick but pourable sauce. For the optimum texture & creaminess, be sure to get out any lumps.
      Thickness of peanut butter varies by brand and jar. So if your sauce is too thick and pasty, add another teaspoon of water. If it's too thin, add another 1 to 2 teaspoons of peanut butter.
    • Add the grated garlic and ginger powder and fully combine.
    • Serve right away. Or put it in a covered container in the refrigerator.

    Notes

    If you'd prefer, you can blend the peanut sauce in a food processor or blender instead of using a fork or whisk.
    I recommend using a Microplane zester on the garlic. It makes it very fine, which blends well with the sauce.
    Ground ginger can be replaced with 2 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger.
    Fresh garlic can be replaced with ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
    To modify the sauce, add a small drizzle of sesame oil for nuttiness or maple syrup for sweetness. (Remember, a little sesame oil goes a long way.)
    Store leftover sauce in a covered container in the refrigerator. It will thicken as it cools. Add a teaspoon of water to thin it out, if needed, after refrigeration.
    It will keep for about a week in the refrigerator.
    It can also be frozen for up to 3 months in a freezer bag or airtight storage container. Thaw in the refrigerator when you're ready to use it.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 98kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 212mg | Potassium: 117mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Tag @cadryskitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #cadryskitchen!
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    Hi, I'm Cadry!

    I’m a longtime vegan. (15 years!) But I grew up eating a Standard American Diet. I know that all of us crave foods that are familiar, comforting, and delicious.

    That’s why it’s my passion to share mouthwatering plant-based recipes that taste like home.

    More about me →

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    Summer cookout

    • Tofu satay with peanut sauce (air fryer, baked, or grilled)
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