Peanut sauce is an incredible thing. Its texture is rich and creamy, like something you might expect to come out of Europe. Yet it has that brilliant balance of salty, sweet and sour that makes Southeast Asian cuisine so iconic.
Peanut Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Peanut Butter, smooth or crunchy
- 1 clove Garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp Sambal Oelek
- 3 Tbsp Lime Juice
- 1 tsp Hoisin Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Peanut Oil (or other mild-flavoured vegetable oil)
- 1 tsp Warm Water
- 1 Tbsp Peanuts, crushed
- Cilanto leaves, to garnish
- 1 tsp Palm Sugar
Instructions
- In a small sauce pan, combine all ingredients except water and warm on low heat. Stir until smooth.
- Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Stir in warm water to reach desired consistency.
- Top with crushed peanuts and cilantro, both are optional.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 230Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 549mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 8g
Where does this Peanut Sauce originate?
The general assumption with peanut sauce is that it comes from Thailand, but the sauce actually originated in nearby Indonesia. That said, it has spread throughout many Asian countries over the centuries and is now fairly common across the region and the world.
The sauce varies from region to region in both ingredients and use. This peanut sauce recipe based off of the versions we have tasted throughout Southeast Asia, where you’ll expect a little more tanginess from the fresh lime juice.
Peanut Sauce Ingredients
Traditionally, peanut sauce is made with ground, roasted peanuts, oil, and several other fragrant ingredients. However, in many cases, for simplicity, peanut butter is used in place of the ground peanuts and oil.
To achieve a bit of authenticity in the texture, you can use chunky peanut butter or add a few crushed peanuts as a garnish. Though using smooth peanut butter will still give the right taste — and that’s the important part!
To make peanut sauce, you will need:
- Peanut Butter
- Garlic
- Chili paste, such as Sambal Oelek
- Lime Juice
- Hoisin Sauce
- Soy Sauce
- Palm Sugar
- Peanut or Vegetable Oil
Ingredient Substitutes
There are a few things in this recipe that might be tricky to track down if you don’t have access to an Asian grocer or large supermarket. In that case, here are a few simple substitutions that won’t change the overall outcome too much.
Sambal Oelek – If you can’t find this tasty chili paste, you can use dried chilis or chopped fresh chilis. Just use a little bit less than the recipe calls for, as Sambal is not as spicy as pure chilis.
Hoisin Sauce – This one is really tricky to reproduce without changing the flavour or requiring a bunch of other specialty ingredients. If you don’t have hoisin, you can use a 50/50 mix of soy sauce and sugar in its place.
Palm Sugar – Regular white or brown sugar can be used instead.
How to Make Peanut Sauce
Once you’ve gathered the ingredients, this is an incredibly simple recipe to make. You just need to mix all of the ingredients, except the water, on low heat until everything is combined.
The reason for the heating is to help ease the mixing process as well as to help release the flavours of the ingredients. The sauce can be served warm, but it’s best cooled to room temperature.
Once everything is mixed well, remove from heat and let cool. Before serving, stir in a few drops of warm water at a time until you reach the desired consistency. This last step may or may not be needed, it’s entirely up to you and your sauce preferences.
And don’t be concerned if the oil separates from the sauce. It doesn’t need to be a nice, smooth consistency. Remember, the traditional method is ground nuts mixed with oil!
What to Serve with Peanut Sauce
Peanut sauce is wildly versatile. Use it for dipping Vietnamese spring rolls or as a topping for a noodle bowl. Instead of ranch dressing, try dipping your veggies in peanut sauce; or do as in the Netherlands and serve as a dip for fries with a side of mayo.
If you want to get really creative, you could use it as a spread on a bun or baguette, top it with some pickled veggies and grilled chicken and make a unique take on Banh Mi. You could even mix a bit of peanut sauce in a chicken broth and make a really tasty Southeast Asian flavoured soup!
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