No satay chicken is ever complete without a delicious and creamy peanut sauce, and my version is an absolute winner. It needs just seven ingredients and a blender then voila- you have an instant condiment! This peanut sauce recipe has a perfectly balanced salty, sweet, and savory flavor, and you’ll be adding it to anything and everything.
Recipe highlights
Perfect texture. Some peanut sauce recipes are too thick, and others are water-thin. This one, though, is the perfect combination of both. Easy to dip in but hearty enough to be impressive in its own right. Full of flavor. You get the bold flavors of peanut butter and sesame oil and the subtle soy and aromatics. It’s umami-forward, savory, and with just the right amount of sweetness. Super versatile. As mentioned earlier, we LOVE this sauce slathered over chicken satay, but it’s also a fabulous dipping sauce for air fryer sweet potato fries, a ‘glaze’ over some simple protein, to amp up some peanut butter chicken, and even as a sandwich spread- seriously!
Ingredients needed
A mix of pantry staple condiments and aromatics are merged to create this mouthwateringly addictive sauce. Here is what you’ll need:
Peanut butter. I prefer using smooth and creamy peanut butter, but if you like some texture, crunchy peanut butter works too. Regardless of which you use, make sure it is 100% natural with no salt or sugar. This is super important because of the other ingredients we are using. Soy sauce. The second key component of this sauce. It provides the sauce with a distinctive salty savory flavor and also thins it out. Ketchup or chili sauce. Either of the sauces is needed- just choose one based on your spice tolerance. Sesame oil. To add nutty and earthy notes typical of any Asian recipe. Remember, a little goes a very long way. Ginger. Grated. Always use the fresh kind because it really adds a fabulous depth of flavor. Sugar. Granulated white or brown sugar. Coconut milk. To thin out the sauce. If you want to skip the coconut, use water.
How to make an easy peanut sauce
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Step 1- Blend. Combine all the ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Step 2- Adjust. If the sauce is too thick, add some coconut milk or water to thin it out. Step 3- Sit, then serve. Let the sauce rest for 10-20 minutes for it to thicken.
Recipe tips and variations
To thicken the sauce, add it to a saucepan and heat it on low-medium heat. The sauce will thicken as some of the liquid evaporates. To fix any sauce separation, add a few drops of water to the sauce and whisk vigorously until the sauce is smooth again. Add more spices. The flavor of this peanut sauce is quite potent. Don’t be afraid to add more spices to it. Ground coriander, curry powder, chili flakes, cayenne pepper, paprika, and garlic powder are great spices to add to the peanut sauce. Add a splash of lime juice. A tablespoon of freshly squeezed lime juice will add a nice tart acidity to the sauce and a refreshing zing. Thin out the sauce for salads. If you will be using this peanut sauce as a salad dressing, use more coconut milk to thin it out. Use it as a dipping sauce. Summer rolls, shrimp chips, and crispy baked tofu are all fabulous pairings for this sauce.
How to store leftovers
To store. Transfer the sauce to an airtight glass jar and refrigerate it for up to a week. To freeze. You can freeze homemade peanut sauce to extend its shelf life. I like to freeze them in ice cube trays first. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to an airtight bag and use within 2 months.
Frequently asked questions
More Asian sauces to try
Whether you want a fun new dipping sauce or something to jazz up your chicken, here are some other incredible sauces to try.
Eel sauce– No actual eels in this, it’s sweet and savory and perfect over some fried chicken. Katsu sauce– I love to drizzle this over some baked potatoes. Bulgogi sauce– If you love beef bulgogi, you know how good the sauce is on everything else. Tempura sauce– One of the most popular dipping sauces ever. Potsticker sauce– Confession- this makes the best marinade.
