The BEST Chinese Peanut Sauce - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

What is Chinese peanut sauce made of? ›

In a small bowl, stir together peanut butter, soy sauce, sugar, hot pepper sauce and garlic until well mixed. Gradually stir in water until texture is smooth and creamy.

Sauces can break for any number of reasons including cooking at high heat, adding too much liquid to a hot pan, or even just waiting too long for everything to combine appropriately.

If the oil is separating from the sauce a bit (this can happen from the oil in the coconut milk and the peanut butter, but it's easy to fix!), add water a few drops at a time and whisk until it comes smoothly back together.

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.

Although commonly associated with Thai cuisine, peanut sauce actually originated in Indonesia (source). What Americans know as peanut sauce is more commonly referred to as satay sauce (or bumbu kacang) in Indonesia, because it's most often served with the popular Indonesian dish, satay (skewered, grilled meats).

I suggest doubling or tripling the recipe to have throughout the week with salad rolls, roasted veggies, and salads. How long with the sauce last? The Peanut Sauce will last up to 1 week in a tightly sealed container in the fridge.

If you add all the liquids and a big solid lump of peanut butter, you'll have a tough time getting it all smooth, as stirring the (thin) liquid parts won't affect the (solid) peanut butter lumps, and the lumps (once they're small enough) will just swim around your spoon and not break down further.

First, take a look at it. If you notice any mold, there's a significant change in the color or texture of the sauce, or the sauce has started to separate, it's best to throw it away. Also, take a moment to smell the sauce. If you notice a rancid or “off” smell, the sauce is likely spoiled.

Our top tip is to always make sure you're cooking the sauce you're making at the right temperature. Heat can easily cause a sauce to break, and most sauces don't need to be cooked over a high temperature. Aim for more of a simmer to retain control over the consistency and the speed of cooking.

If your ingredients aren't all the same temperature, your sauce and get lumpy. To prevent this you can gently warm the ingredients in a glass mixing bowl then whisk to combine. How do you thicken peanut sauce? This recipe is thickened by the peanut butter and doesn't need any other thickener.

What is the peanut butter trick? ›

The Trick for Smooth Peanut Butter

By storing it upside down, you're essentially moving the oil from the top of the jar to the bottom and back every time you grab the jar. This is like a slow shaking of the jar that requires no shaking and the peanut butter will stay smooth.

Peanut sauce freezes well, so you can make a double or triple batch and freeze the leftovers! Store in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Incorporate Lemon Juice, Vinegar or Sugar

Many cooks combat a salty dish with a splash of lemon juice or vinegar. You can also try mixing in a sweetener like white sugar, brown sugar, honey or agave syrup. The goal is to dilute the soy sauce and to create a harmonious blend of flavors.

Dip your veggies

Carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, red peppers, and snow peas are just some of the vegetables that taste great when paired with Thai Peanut Sauce. Try a unique twist with your veggies and dip Summer Rolls into the rich, peanut flavor!

Because hoisin sauce has many of the same ingredients I would use in a more involved peanut sauce, it works great here. Hoisin has hints of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, vinegar, and Chile peppers. Some version even have a peanut-esque taste to it, so it's the perfect way to shorten the ingredient list in a peanut sauce.

It has an amazing creamy texture, with a nutty, bright, and spicy flavor from peanut butter, lime, and sriracha.

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.

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.

Peanut sauce typically contains crushed peanuts, garlic, ginger and honey, among other ingredients. It does not usually contain peanut butter. If it contains soy sauce, the soy sauce is a minor ingredient meant to add salt.