5-Minute Thai Peanut Sauce Recipe (Vegan)

Jun 2, 2023 by Hannah Sunderani

5-Minute Thai Peanut Sauce Recipe (Vegan)

Bring the flavours of Southeast Asia to your home kitchen tonight with this umami-rich vegan Thai Peanut Sauce Recipe! This 5-minute recipe is made with 7 simple ingredients, and is the perfect creamy consistency to partner with several of my favourite plant-based recipes! Drizzle it over my 30-Minute Thai Noodle Salad or use it as the perfect dipping sauce for Summer Rolls!

This creamy, silky smooth and peanuty sauce is 100% vegan, as opposed to many thai peanut sauce recipes that use fish sauce, oyster sauce or red curry paste. It’s a perfect dip or dressing for vegan bliss bowls and vegetable stir fry’s or delicious dip for spring rolls, veggie pot stickers, and more.

If you’ve tried my Miso Sauce then you know that I’m a fan of having creamy nut-based sauces ready on hand for lunch and dinners. I love sauces like these because they can be meal prepped to use throughout the week whenever you need a creamy sauce for dipping and drizzling.

So, let me tell you exactly how to make this recipe, so that you can enjoy it pronto!

This Peanut Sauce is….

• Naturally vegan
• Made with simple ingredients
• Ready in 5 minutes
• Creamy and silky smooth
• Newbie cook approved
• Flavour-packed
• Perfect for Thai cuisine
• Made for dipping

Ingredient Notes

Many authentic Thai peanut sauce recipes are made with ingredients like fish sauce or red curry paste which are either not vegan-friendly or difficult to find in mainstream grocery stores. In order to keep this recipe as simple and accessible as possible, I’ve put my own twist on it and I think you’ll find the complex flavours are still there, keeping this flavourful sauce as addicting as ever!

Here are the 6 main ingredients you’ll need to make the best creamy sauce:

• Natural peanut butter – ​This isn’t the recipe to use a peanut butter spread like Jif. Instead, use a creamy all-natural peanut butter that’s made with 100% peanuts and salt. 
• Rice vinegar – Adds a tangy, slight sweet flavour to the sauce and helps balance the healthy fats in the peanut butter. I highly recommend using the rice vinegar, but in a pinch, a squeeze of fresh lime juice or apple cider vinegar are the next best option. 
• Tamari – The source of salty, umami-rich flavour that makes this flavourful sauce unbelievably delicious. Trust me – it is so needed! 
• Maple syrup – A bit of sweetness helps balance the healthy fats and savoury flavours. If you’re out of maple syrup, substitute with agave nectar.
• Sesame oil – Helps enhance the creamy texture while adding a lightly nutty undertone. If you have the opportunity to find it, toasted sesame oil is also great!
• Garlic – Fresh garlic over garlic powder is best. Finely chop or mince and stir into the creamy sauce.

How to Make Thai Peanut Sauce

If you’ve felt intimidated by making your own homemade dressings and sauces, I hope to convince you today that it’s so much easier than you might have thought. Simply get out your favourite mixing bowl, place all of the ingredients inside, and whisk until smooth and combined. 

That’s really it! From here, taste, adjust the flavours as needed, then use for dipping or drizzling as desired. You’ll never buy a store bought sauce again, my friends! 

Serving Suggestions

What can’t you serve Thai peanut sauce with?! It’s delicious paired with a number of dishes and instantly helps boost the flavour. Here are a few of my favourite ways to enjoy it, but don’t be afraid to get creative and use it with your own favourite Thai food dishes. 

• Use it as a stir fry sauce – Try swapping out the Homemade Miso Sauce for this Peanut Sauce in my Veggie Stir Fry. Or, use it as the Peanut Sauce in noodle dishes like these Peanut Noodles!
• Drizzle it on a Buddha bowl – I have so many delicious Buddha Bowls on the blog for you to try and this creamy sauce will be luscious and creamy on so many of them. To start, I’d recommend this Quick Veggie Quinoa Bowl, this Rainbow Buddha Bowl, and this Healthy Vegan Buddha Bowl. Or, browse my Top 20 Favourite Vegan Nourish Bowl Recipes and find a new favourite today! 
• Turn it into a dipping sauce – As is, this Thai peanut sauce is thick and creamy enough to be used as a dipping sauce for fresh spring rolls. Try it today with Vegetable Tempeh Spring Rolls, Rainbow Rice Paper Rolls, or these Colourful Rice Paper Rolls. It’s also a delicious dipping sauce for plant-based proteins like Crispy Oven-Baked Tofu!
• Use it as a salad dressing – It’s delicious drizzled over my 30-Minute Thai Noodle Salad and other hearty Thai salads like a Thai cucumber salad, or salads made with ingredients like carrots, bean sprouts, radishes, and more.

Storage Instructions

When stored in an airtight container such as a glass jar or sealable plastic container, this peanut sauce will keep for up to 1 week. I personally haven’t tested freezing it because it simply doesn’t last long enough to make much leftovers, but it would likely freeze well for 1 month. Feel free to give it a try! (and let me know in the comments below how you get on!).

Defrost any frozen peanut sauce in the refrigerator until soft and creamy again, then use as usual! 

Recipe FAQs

What is the difference between satay and peanut sauce?

Satay typically refers to skewered or grilled meat and peanut sauce refers to the dipping sauce traditionally paired with satay. This is why you may see this sauce called peanut satay sauce. Of course satay is typically not vegan friendly, but it can be! Check out this delicious Tofu-Vegetable Satay recipe from The New York Times or this Vegan Satay by my fellow Canadian, The Viet Vegan.

Is this easy Thai peanut sauce gluten-free?

It is naturally gluten-free and vegan. I like to use tamari in place of soy sauce in almost all of my recipes because it’s naturally wheat and gluten-free, it is more flavourful, and it is typically just as easy to find at the grocery store. Coconut aminos is another great gluten-free option for soy sauce, but it is much less salty and is slightly sweet tasting, so you may need additional salt to taste. 

​Can I make this peanut sauce with another nut butter?

I have not tested this sauce with another nut butter, but it should create a similar creamy consistency. I’d recommend trying a creamy, runny almond butter or cashew butter. Or, if you’re allergic to nuts, a sunflower seed butter or tahini is likely the next best option. 

Is this peanut sauce spicy?

This homemade sauce contains a 1/4 teaspoon of chili flakes or red pepper flakes for flavour, but it is not intentionally spicy. If you prefer a spicy peanut sauce, increase the chili flakes to taste, or, add a squeeze of sriracha sauce or chili garlic sauce to taste. 

More Homemade Sauce Recipes You Might Like:

• 20-Minute Homemade Marinara Sauce
• Miso Sauce
• Homemade Enchilada Sauce
• Chimichurri Sauce
• Vegan Alfredo

I hope you love this easy homemade sauce as much as I do! If you do make this recipe, please let me know in the comments below what you think and check out The Two Spoons Cookbook for more wholesome plant-based recipes like this! (You’ll love my Crispy Peanut Tofu Bowl with Roasted Broccolini from the book!). I truly love hearing from you, and I’m always here to answer any questions you might have. 

And of course, tag me on Instagram with your pictures using the hashtag #twospoons. Nothing makes me happier than to see your recreations. 

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• Summer
• Winter
• 1-Bowl
• 10 ingredients or less
• 15 mins or less