This easy Thai Peanut Sauce is creamy, savory, sweet, and full of flavor! Perfect for spring rolls, noodles, salads, bowls, and dipping.
This Thai Peanut Sauce is one of those sauces you’ll want to drizzle on everything! Creamy, savory, a little sweet, and packed with flavor, it takes just minutes to make and instantly transforms even the simplest meal.
Use it as a dipping sauce for Spring Rolls, toss it with noodles for our Thai Noodle Salad, or drizzle it over Buddha bowls, roasted vegetables, tofu, or chicken. It's an easy little sauce to have in your back pocket.
And there's a secret ingredient that gives it an extra layer of flavor and keeps you coming back for another spoonful. More on that below!
This is my go-to peanut sauce. Made it over a dozen times and never fails to impress! With Thai noodle salad, salad rolls, dip for crispy tofu… the list goes on. Highly recommended!
Why You'll Love this Peanut Sauce!
- Perfectly balanced. Creamy, savory, tangy, and slightly sweet, without being heavy or cloying.
- The secret is fresh orange juice. It adds a bright, fresh sweetness that brings the whole sauce to life and keeps you coming back for more.
- Ready in 5 minutes. Just whisk everything together-no cooking required.
- Light and drizzleable. It's creamy without being overly thick, so it beautifully coats noodles, salads, vegetables, and bowls-and makes a fantastic dipping sauce.
Thai Peanut Sauce Ingredients
- Peanut butter - Use natural, unsweetened peanut butter; creamy or crunchy both work. Substitute almond butter for a peanut-free version.
- Fresh orange juice - The secret ingredient! It lightens the sauce and adds a fresh, subtle sweetness that makes this peanut sauce especially craveable.
- Garlic & ginger - Fresh is best here, adding aromatic warmth and depth.
- Fresh lime juice - Adds bright acidity and balances the richness of the peanut butter.
- Soy sauce - Brings salty, savory umami flavor; use tamari or liquid aminos for gluten-free.
- Toasted sesame oil - Adds nutty, toasty depth and richness.
- Maple syrup or honey - Adds just enough sweetness to balance the salty, tangy flavors; use maple syrup to keep it vegan.
- Cayenne or sriracha - Adds a touch of heat; adjust to your taste.
How to make Peanut Sauce
Peanut Sauce is speedy and easy to make. Simply add the ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth! Adjust salt and heat levels to your liking!
Storing Thai Peanut Sauce
Peanut Sauce can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days, in a sealed glass jar. It can also be frozen for up to 6 months!
Chef's Tips
- Adjust the consistency. Natural peanut butter varies quite a bit in thickness. If the sauce is too thick, whisk in a little water or orange juice until perfectly drizzleable.
- Balance to taste. Peanut sauce is all about balance! Add more lime for tang, soy sauce for saltiness, maple syrup for sweetness, or sriracha for heat.
- Use fresh citrus. Fresh orange and lime juice really make this sauce sing-especially the orange juice, which is the secret to this recipe.
How to Use Thai Peanut Sauce
Use this Thai Peanut Sauce as a dipping sauce for Spring Rolls, toss it with noodles for our Thai Noodle Salad, or drizzle it over Buddha bowls, grain bowls, tofu, chicken, and roasted or raw vegetables.
It's also delicious thinned with a splash of water or lime juice and used as a creamy peanut dressing for salads and slaws. We also have this Thai Peanut Dressing.
Please rate this recipe and share your feedback in the comments below. ❤️ Have a fabulous week.-xo Sylvia
More Sauces You’ll Love!
- For a thicker style, Satay Sauce, I really like Suwanee’s 5-minute Satay Sauce.
- Basil Vinaigrette
- Thai Peanut Dressing
- Sesame Ginger Dressing
- The Best Miso Dressing
- Flavorful Ponzu Sauce
- Green Tahini Sauce
Description
Creamy Thai Peanut Sauce with the perfect balance of savory, sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors. Whip it up in minutes and use it for dipping spring rolls, dressing noodles and salads, or drizzling over bowls, vegetables, tofu, and more. Vegan and gluten-free adaptable.
Ingredients
- 6 thin slices of ginger- cut across the grain, about the size of a quarter. (No need to peel)
- 2 fat cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice (roughly 1 large orange)
- 1/3 cup lime juice ( 2 limes)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce or Gluten-free Braggs Liquid Amino Acids (Note: Tamari will turn this unpleasantly dark)
- 1/3 cup maple syrup, ( or honey, palm sugar or agave,)more to taste
- 1/3 cup toasted sesame oil (6 tablespoons)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened peanut butter (chunky or smooth, or sub almond butter!)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- optional: 1 -2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (or a squirt of sriracha sauce)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender – ginger, garlic, orange juice, lime juice, soy sauce, maple, sesame oil, and peanut butter and salt, and blend until smooth. Taste. Adjust sweetness, salt and cayenne to your liking.
- Note: Unripe limes can make this too tart. Adjust by adding more sweetness. Find your perfect balance.
- Use this on salads, or as a dipping sauce for spring rolls and satays.
Notes
- The Orange Juice makes this… and is a MUST!
- Peanut sauce will last up to 5 days in a sealed jar in the fridge.
- Peanut Sauce can be frozen, just whisk well after thawing.
- For added depth or “umami”, feel free to add a tiny splash of fish sauce. Not necessary though!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 tablespoons
- Calories: 189
- Sugar: 9.1 g
- Sodium: 695.1 mg
- Fat: 14.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 12.2 g
- Fiber: 0.8 g
- Protein: 3.8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
The peanut sauce is so tasty! Fresh and light with a perfect balance of sweet spicy and savory.
Glad you enjoyed Nancy!
Hello- I have made this several times and it is delicious! I’m wonder if you think tahini would be an appropriate sub for the peanut butter? Thanks!
Tahini would be a fun try. I bet it would be delicious! Others have commented success with almond butter. Love to hear if you give it a try!
Can this sauce be left out of the refrigerator and in the pantry?
Thank you
This needs to be refrigerated once made. It also freezes well!
This sauce is amazing! And I confirm that it is just as good with almond butter as with peanut butter. Every time I make it my youngest daughter tells me how much she likes it. Thank you!
So glad you are enjoying! Good to know about the almond butter.
My go-to recipe for a good peanut sauce! Easy, and so flavorful!
Glad you are enjoying!
This is my go to peanut sauce. Made it over a dozen times and never fails to impress! With Thai noodle salad, salad rolls, dip for crispy tofu….the list goes on. Highly recommended!
Great to hear this Georgette, appreciate it!
Wow! Made the peanut sauce for my spring rolls this morning, substituted out the OJ for over ripe apricot purée and it is FABULOUS
Genius Bev! So clever and resourceful- love it.
Soooo good! Delicious and versatile. The complexity of flavor exceeds other peanut sauces. Thank you, Tonia!
Glad you enjoyed this Stephanie! Appreciate the review :).
Delicious and easy. Great peanut sauce.
Glad you enjoyed Martha!
I added more ginger and cut sesame oil by about half. Was delicious!
Perfect!
Great recipe, and very easy to make! Delicious and works as a great dip to so many dishes. Thank you!
I made the following adjustments, which worked well for me:
* Only added 1/4 cup honey, and it was plenty sweet for my taste. Might even try a bit less next time.
* I did not add extra salt as soya sauce and my peanut butter were salty enough
* added 1 more garlic clove and a a couple extra slices of ginger 🙂
Perfect! Helpful to hear and glad you made it to your taste.:)
This is the best peanut sauce I’ve ever made! My husband isn’t a fan of peanut sauce but he LOVES this one!
Awesome, that is high praise!
We discovered feasting at home during covid. Since then I have passed it along to many people. Every single recipe is our favorite! We have made this peanut sauce countless times, we just made her morning glory muffins which are spectacular, all of the tacos are out of this world. This is my favorite recipe website by far.
Thank you Jen, this is such appreciated feed-back!
excellant taste easy to make
Awesome Ursula!