How to Make Peanut Sauce (For Protein, Veggies, & Noodles) (2024)

My love for sauce runs deep and they are a staple for us at mealtime. You might be thinking – peanut butter in a sauce? It might sound strange, but I promise you this peanut sauce will not disappoint! It’s sweet and savory with a touch of spice.

It totally reminds me of something you would get at a Thai restaurant. You can toss it with noodles (my favorite way) or a stir-fry, use it in peanut butter chicken, as a dipping sauce for veggies, or just on top of some grilled meats to up the flavor. However you serve it, you can’t go wrong!

How to Make Peanut Sauce (For Protein, Veggies, & Noodles) (1)

I do believe sauces (and spices) are key when cooking. They can easily change up the flavors of any old meal to keep it interesting and exciting. I made this on a whim one night for dinner with a few pantry staples and it was so good, I knew I had to share it!

Why we love this peanut sauce recipe

  • so flavorful– the perfect combo of a little sweet, savory, and spicy
  • super easy to make!– simply stir or blend together the ingredients
  • can be made ahead of time and is great for meal prep
  • calls for only 6 simple ingredients
  • super versatile
How to Make Peanut Sauce (For Protein, Veggies, & Noodles) (2)

Is peanut butter sauce good for you?

Peanut sauce can be a healthy addition to any diet. Since it is made from peanut butter, it naturally has some protein. Look for ones with not a lot of sodium or added sugar. Better yet, when making it at home, you have full control over the quality of the ingredients. That being said, peanut butter is a calorie-dense food, so if monitoring your calorie intake, be mindful of how much you use.

Ingredients

  • creamy peanut butter –look for peanut butter with just cashews and salt. It needs to be creamy!
  • coconut aminos– a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce that is less salty and sweeter
  • lime juice– for some acid and to balance out the richness of the peanut butter
  • fresh garlic
  • fresh ginger
  • red pepper flakes– for a little spice
  • salt and pepper
How to Make Peanut Sauce (For Protein, Veggies, & Noodles) (3)

How to make peanut sauce

  1. Make the sauce.Add all ingredients to a glass jar. Whisk or use an immersion blender (my personal preference) until smooth. You can also blend it in your blender or food processor. Blending will get the sauce a little more smooth. Adjust according to taste and desired consistency.
  2. Enjoy!Serve over noodles, with chicken or veggies, or however you like!
How to Make Peanut Sauce (For Protein, Veggies, & Noodles) (4)
How to Make Peanut Sauce (For Protein, Veggies, & Noodles) (5)

What is the difference between satay and peanut sauce?

Satay sauce and peanut sauce are similar in flavor and ingredients but are different. Satay sauce, which originated in Indonesia, uses ground or fried peanuts and is commonly used for grilled skewered meat (called satay). Peanut sauce, which is the term commonly used in the United States and associated with Thai cuisine, is a modified traditional satay sauce using peanut butter.

How to use thai peanut sauce

The beauty of this sauce is it’s so versatile. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:

  • on top of any meat– chicken, turkey, or pork
  • seafood– would be great with salmon or shrimp
  • over pasta/noodles– my favorite way to use it! It’s perfect with any kind of pasta, and I love adding some protein and vegetables mixed in for a complete dish. A nice change-up from your typical red sauce. Try theseshrimp noodles!
  • as a stir fry sauce– try this peanut chicken stir fry!
  • as a salad dressing for a salad or grain/power bowl– I suggest thinning out the sauce a little (you can just use a little water) if using it as a dressing.
  • drizzled over top lettuce wraps
  • as a dip– perfect for veggies or spring rolls
How to Make Peanut Sauce (For Protein, Veggies, & Noodles) (6)

Storage

  • fridge/counter– the sauce should last 1-2 weeks in the fridge or on the counter. If stored in the refrigerator, it will thicken as the peanut butter hardens.
  • freezer– you can either freeze it in aglass jar(leaving a little room a the top for it to expand) or ice cube molds orsilicone moldsfor smaller serving sizes. If using molds, let them freeze and then transfer them to areusable bagfor storage. Then just defrost when needed. Once defrosted, you will need to mix up the sauce as freezing might cause some separation. It should last in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Substitutions and additions

  • creamy peanut butter– any nut butter or seed butter will work (almond butter, cashew butter, tahini…), but it will change the flavor some. Tahini will work well as a nut-free option.
  • coconut aminos– low sodium soy sauce or tamari will work instead, it will just change the flavor a bit. Using either one of those will lower the carbs in the recipe. If using soy sauce, the recipe will not be gluten-free. Do not use liquid aminos as they are way too salty.
  • lime juice
  • fresh garlic and ginger– you can use garlic powder or ground ginger instead. Use 1 teaspoon of each.

And here are some additions to change up the flavor:

  • sweetener– add a little honey or maple syrup to make it a little sweeter
  • sriracha or chili garlic sauce (sambal oelek)– this will add even more spice
  • sesame oil–to add more nutty flavor
  • fish sauce– this will add a nice umami flavor

More healthy sauce recipes

  • creamy lemon garlic sauce
  • burger sauce
  • spicy red pepper sauce
  • buffalo sauce
  • enchilada sauce
  • homemade tzatziki sauce

If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREEHow to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!

How to Make Peanut Sauce (For Protein, Veggies, & Noodles) (7)

Peanut Sauce

Author: Kelly Nardo

This delicious Thai-inspired peanut sauce for chicken, shrimp, vegetables, and noodles is about to be your new favorite thing. Made with only 6 ingredients, it couldn't be easier to make and is so tasty! Gluten-free and dairy-free.

Print RecipePin Recipe

Course: Side Dish

Calories: 104kcal

Protein: 3.3g

Carbs: 9g

Fat: 6.4g

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 servings (1 1/4 cup)

equipment

ingredients

  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup coconut aminos
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • salt and pepper, to taste

instructions

  • Make the sauce.Add all ingredients to a glass jar. Whisk or use an immersion blender (my personal preference) until smooth. You can also blend it in your blender or food processor. Blending will get the sauce a little more smooth. Adjust according to taste and desired consistency.

  • Enjoy!Serve over noodles, with chicken or veggies, or however you like!

nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Peanut Sauce

Amount Per Serving (2 tablespoons)

Calories 104Calories from Fat 58

% Daily Value*

Fat 6.4g10%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3g

Monounsaturated Fat 3.4g

Sodium 441mg19%

Potassium 103mg3%

Carbohydrates 9g3%

Fiber 1.2g5%

Sugar 5.6g6%

Protein 3.3g7%

Vitamin A 2IU0%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 11mg1%

Iron 0.2mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe or anything from Eat the Gains, leave a comment and rating to let people know how you liked it! Also, make sure to post it and tag me so I can see all of your creations!! @eatthegains and #eatthegains on Instagram!

How to Make Peanut Sauce (For Protein, Veggies, & Noodles) (2024)

FAQs

What is Chinese peanut sauce made of? ›

Peanut Sauce Recipe Instructions

Add all of the ingredients (garlic, ginger, peanut butter, soy sauce, fish sauce, sesame oil) and any optional add-ins into a small bowl. Add the hot water, and stir to combine until you have a smooth sauce. Alternatively, you can make this in a food processor for a smoother texture.

How much protein is in peanut sauce? ›

Peanut Sauce (1 tablespoon) contains 1.7g total carbs, 1.3g net carbs, 3.6g fat, 1.8g protein, and 43 calories.

How do you thicken peanut sauce? ›

How to thicken peanut sauce. If you accidentally add too much water to your peanut sauce, simply whisk in small amounts of peanut butter to adjust the consistency, You may also need to add other ingredients to maintain the flavor balance. Peanut butter powder also works in place of peanut butter to make this adjustment ...

Why is peanut sauce healthy? ›

Nutritionally, studies have found that eating peanuts or peanut butter has been associated with a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. They're also an inexpensive protein and healthy fat source. This peanut sauce has a nice kick to it with the Sriracha, which is a chili sauce.

What is the difference between peanut satay and peanut sauce? ›

First up, semantics. Sate doesn't actually mean spicy peanut sauce, though we tend to misappropriate the term here, and other dishes have been invented that use this accompanying sauce. Sate refers instead to the skewers of meat, and many variations of it come with a different sauce, and some without any sauce at all.

What is Vietnamese peanut sauce made of? ›

Vietnamese peanut sauce is simply made with peanut butter, hoisin and garlic for a sweet, tangy and rich sauce. How long can I store homemade peanut sauce? Store leftover homemade peanut sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Should you refrigerate peanut sauce? ›

Simply keep it in a cool, dark place. Generally, an unopened bottle of peanut sauce will last about a year if it's stored correctly. While it's a good idea to keep the “use by” date in mind, it's usually just fine for a few months after that date. Once the bottle is opened, you'll need to keep it in the refrigerator.

What tastes good with peanut sauce? ›

Cucumbers: Slice a cucumber into spears or chips, and you'll have an excellent dipping vegetable for peanut sauce. Cucumbers are often featured in Asian cooking because they offer a cool complement to a spicy sauce. Carrots: Carrots are delicious when combined with thick sauces.

Are peanuts inflammatory? ›

Tree nuts and peanuts lower risk factors of cardiometabolic disease, including blood lipids, blood pressure and insulin resistance, among others. Given their strong antioxidant/anti-inflammatory potential, it is plausible that nuts may also exert a favorable effect on inflammation and oxidative stress.

Is peanut sauce good for your heart? ›

Peanuts and peanut butter have mostly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, sometimes called the 'good fats'. When these fats replace saturated fat in the diet, they lower total and “bad” LDL cholesterol as well as triglyceride levels, while keeping “good” HDL cholesterol high.

What ethnicity is peanut sauce? ›

Also just called peanut sauce or satay sauce, this dipping sauce is a flavorful part of Southeast Asian cuisine, especially Indonesian cuisine, where it's called bumbu kacang or sambal kacang.

What are the ingredients in peanut bar china specialty? ›

Ingredients: Peanuts,glucose and sugar.

What is peanut butter sauce made of? ›

Steps to Make It

Combine 1/2 cup smooth no-stir peanut butter, 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, 2 tablespoons corn syrup, and 1/4 cup light brown sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring, until smooth and the ingredients are well incorporated—about 4 minutes.

What does peanut sauce taste like? ›

It's salty, sweet, acidic and bold — a sauce like no other. For the uninitiated, Asian peanut sauce is a puree of peanuts, soy sauce, ginger, sesame, spices and often garlic, lemongrass and lime.

What is Chinese satay made of? ›

This satay is made from minced pork, chicken, fish, beef, or even turtle meat, which is then mixed with grated coconut, thick coconut milk, lemon juice, shallots, and pepper. Wound around bamboo, sugar cane or lemon grass sticks, it is then grilled on charcoal.

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