Authentic Thai peanut sauce recipe, straight from my grandmother’s kitchen. This creamy and sweet dipping sauce is incredibly versatile. Use it as a salad dressing, for peanut noodles, chicken satay, or simply drizzle it over some steaming hot jasmine rice. Yummy!

Authentic Thai peanut sauce

This Thai satay sauce is so creamy and savory, perfected over time by my beloved Thai grandmother. It has been a top-secret family recipe for generations, but now it’s time to let the world in on the deliciousness.

I’ll even let you in on the secret behind making the best Thai peanut sauce. There’s a key ingredient that makes the authentic version of this nutty Thai sauce so delicious, and most people don’t even know about it – it’s massaman curry paste. This unique addition brings authentic flavor and takes this sauce to new heights of deliciousness. It sets this genuine recipe apart from the quick and easy made versions found in Thai restaurants or takeout.

Before we go any further, let me share an important fact. Many people assume that peanut butter is a staple in the Thai-style version of this dip, but that’s not true. For a rich and nutty flavor, and to capture authentic Thai flavors, you must use whole peanuts. It makes a world of difference, trust me.

A versatile sauce

Let’s take a moment to talk about how versatile this accompaniment is. I love a sauce that can be used as a dip or drizzled over just about anything, just like this sweet chili sauce.

You can pair this recipe with many dishes, such as moo ping, spring rolls, shrimp rolls, fresh vegetables such as cucumbers or carrots, lettuce wraps, noodle dishes, and you can even use it as a delightful salad dressing.

Flavor note

I’ve spent most of my life in Belgium, missing Thai cuisine and Thailand every day. So, before I opened my very own Thai restaurant, we would dine out at Thai places all the time! And our go-to starter was always Thai chicken satay with a side of… PEANUT SAUCE!

Now, we’ve come across some crazy situations with this dip; salty, spicy, sour, you name it. Sometimes, we’d even get served a super spicy version of it, which is just all kinds of wrong, my friends. Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE spicy, but Thai peanut sauce isn’t meant to be a chili sauce! However, a subtle hint of spice from the massaman curry may be present.

This sauce recipe is just like heaven; it’s sweet, it’s creamy, and heavenly addictive!

Each ingredient captures the essence of our love for Thai cuisine.

Ingredients

To achieve a perfect balance of Thai flavors, it’s important to use traditional Thai ingredients. You can find these ingredients at Asian grocery stores.

• Massaman curry – A key ingredient for an authentic sauce.

• Roasted ground peanuts – Roast the peanuts yourself right before cooking the sauce. This assures good quality and a fresh sauce.

• Coconut milk – Coconut milk makes the peanut sauce slightly creamy. Just like when cooking Thai curries, always use full-fat coconut milk. A common brand in Southeast Asia is called “Aroy-D”, this is also the brand that we used in our former Thai restaurant.

• Palm sugar – Palm sugar gives a delicious sweet taste, with a mild caramel flavor. It’s a healthier option than white sugar or brown sugar. In Thai cuisine, we use palm sugar on a daily basis.

• Flavor seasoning (RosDee) – Flavor seasoning is a cooking ingredient that’s often used by Thai people. We use it to enhance the taste and aromas of our meals.

• Tamarind paste or tamarind sauce – Tamarind paste/sauce has a sweet and sour taste. Making your own fresh tamarind paste is really easy. Head over to the first step in this recipe if you want to learn more about making this yourself.

• Shallots – One secret ingredient that my grandmother uses in her peanut sauce recipe is shallots. This addition gives the sauce a unique flavor that sets it apart from other recipes you may have tried.

• Garlic – Garlic gives a delightful aroma and extra flavor.

• Salt – Instead of using fish sauce, I opted for salt in my recipe. Fish sauce can have a strong flavor, and I didn’t want it to overpower the other flavors in the sauce.

Step-by-step instructions

Recipe notes

• Use full-fat coconut milk for the best flavor and texture.
• Use palm sugar for a healthier and more authentic Thai taste.
• Shallots are a unique addition that gives the sauce an extra depth of flavor.
• Massaman curry paste is the secret ingredient that takes this sauce to the next level.

How to serve

There are several ways you can enjoy this dipping sauce.

• Use it as a dip for fresh spring rolls, crunchy vegetables, pork skewers, or these Thai marinated chicken wings.
• As a salad dressing, just combine it with fresh vegetables and some protein if you wish.
• It even tastes great when you pour it over some plain white rice.

How to store

You can store this peanut sauce for several days in your refrigerator, just transfer it to an airtight container.

To reheat: Simply let the sauce come to room temperature, or warm up in the microwave or a pan. Stir before serving.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ’s)

More sauce recipes you’ll love

• Nam prik noom (A lovely vegan Thai green chili dip.)
• Nam prik ong (Traditionally prepared and flavored like they make it in Northern Thailand.)
• Thai green chili sauce (The perfect spicy addition for your seafood meals.)

Print Recipe

Authentic Thai Peanut Sauce Recipe

Author: Praew Cooking Method: Cooking Cuisine: Asian cuisines Courses: Sauces Recipe Keys: Egg Free Low Carb

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 10 min Cook Time 10 min Total Time 20 mins

Servings: 4 Calories: 123

Description

This versatile sauce has been perfected for many years, and it has the perfect balance of sweet, creamy, and addictive.

Ingredients

Servings

• 100 grams roasted peanuts
• 100 grams shallots (mixed)
• 1 clove garlic (mixed)
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 25 grams massaman curry paste
• 1 tablespoon flavor seasoning
• 300 milliliters coconut milk
• 50 milliliters tamarind sauce
• 2 tablespoons palm sugar
• 0.5 tablespoons salt

Instructions

1. Dry roast the peanuts and lightly crush them with a mortar and pestle.

2. Use a mixer to mix the garlic and shallots

3. Heat oil in a cooking pot or pan over low to medium heat.

4. When hot, add massaman curry paste, and mixed garlic and shallots. Cook and mix for 2 minutes.

5. Add coconut milk, palm sugar, salt, flavor seasoning and tamarind sauce and stir until palm sugar is fully dissolved.

6. Switch to low heat and add roasted peanuts.

7. Let boil for a few minutes and the sauce will be ready. It will now have a beautiful dark brown color and the desired consistency is a bit thick and creamy.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 8

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Amount Per Serving

Calories 123kcal

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 6.5g10%

Saturated Fat 1.06g6%

Total Carbohydrate 14.31g5%

Dietary Fiber 2.7g11%

Sugars 8.22g

Protein 4g8%

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* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

• Use the nutrition card in this recipe as a guideline.
• Use full-fat coconut milk for the best flavor and texture.
• Make use of palm sugar for a healthier and more authentic Thai taste.
• Shallots are a unique addition that gives the sauce an extra depth of flavor.
• Massaman curry paste is the secret ingredient that takes this sauce to the next level.

Keywords: authentic Thai peanut sauce

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