Name: How to Make Peanut Dipping Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 0.75 cup smooth natural peanut butter; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 1 tablespoon fish sauce; 2 teaspoons soy sauce; 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil; 0.5 lime, juiced; 1 teaspoon chile-garlic sauce (such as Sriracha), or to taste; 1 (5.6 ounce) can coconut milk; 2 teaspoons chopped red bell pepper, or to taste; 2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro, or to taste; 2 teaspoons chopped peanuts, or to taste

Cook Time: 5 minutes

This creamy and flavorful peanut sauce makes an excellent dip, dressing, or accompaniment to a variety of dishes. Follow the simple steps below to create a delicious sauce perfect for your next meal.

Ingredients

cup smooth natural peanut butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon fish sauce
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
lime, juiced
1 teaspoon Sriracha (or to taste)
1 (5.6 ounce) can coconut milk
2 teaspoons chopped red bell pepper (or to taste)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro (or to taste)
2 teaspoons chopped peanuts (or to taste)

Directions

Place the peanut butter into a mixing bowl. Add the minced garlic, brown sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Whisk everything together until smooth and well combined.
Stir in the lime juice and Sriracha, adjusting the amount of heat to your preference.
In a small saucepan, bring the coconut milk to a simmer over medium heat.
Once the coconut milk is simmering, carefully pour it over the peanut butter mixture. Whisk until the sauce is smooth and fully incorporated.
Transfer the peanut sauce to a serving bowl.
Garnish with chopped red bell pepper, fresh cilantro, and chopped peanuts for added texture and flavor.

Recipe Tips

If you are using a brand-name peanut butter, you may need to adjust the amount of sugar to suit your taste.
The peanut sauce can be made ahead of time. If it thickens too much, simply thin it with a little hot water before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 serving (1/12 of the recipe)

Nutrient	Amount	% Daily Value*
Calories	126
Total Fat	10g	13%
Saturated Fat	2g	9%
Sodium	208mg	9%
Total Carbohydrate	7g	2%
Dietary Fiber	1g	5%
Total Sugars	4g
Protein	4g	9%
Vitamin C	2mg	2%
Calcium	14mg	1%
Iron	1mg	3%
Potassium	135mg	3%

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

Comments

Amanda Rivera

08/07/2024 03:05:50 PM

This recipe is almost identical to the dishes served at my favorite Thai restaurant. I omitted the fish sauce, as they don't use it there. I found smaller cans of coconut milk at my local Asian market, but I decided to buy two just in case I wanted a lighter consistency. I ended up using some of the second can. To enhance the flavors, I added a touch of freshly grated ginger for a subtle floral aroma. I also sautéed the garlic and ginger in the warm coconut milk to infuse the dish with more depth. Since I skipped the fish sauce, I found myself needing a little more soy sauce to adjust the seasoning, but overall, this dish turned out fantastic!

Donna Davis

01/23/2024 07:45:01 PM

I recently made the decision to cut out gluten, dairy, and cane sugar from my diet, so I was excited to come across this recipe. I only had to make a few substitutions to align with my new eating habits – I swapped coconut sugar for brown sugar and will need to find a sugar-free alternative for the sriracha sauce. Despite these adjustments, the dish turned out AMAZING! My entire family enjoyed it. I paired the sauce with chicken satay, rice noodles, and green beans, and topped it with cilantro and diced green peppers as suggested. I would have added peanuts if I had them on hand, as I believe it would enhance the dish even more. I used the sauce to flavor everything on my plate, and having it prepped in advance would definitely make for a quick post-work meal. I wish I could give this recipe more than five stars – it's that good! One tip: the recipe calls for a small can of coconut milk (5.6 oz), but I used about half a standard can and it turned out perfectly. This recipe has earned a spot among my all-time favorites. Thank you!!

Maria Brown

12/31/2024 12:22:38 PM

I absolutely loved how this sauce turned out! It reminded me of the delicious dipping sauce from Thai restaurants. I used Trader Joe's smooth peanut butter, but found the sauce too thick when following the original recipe—it was almost as thick as Nutella! To fix this, I slowly added warm coconut milk until it reached the perfect consistency, using a whole 13.5 oz can in the process. I also added extra chili for some heat, along with fish sauce and soy sauce to balance the flavors. The end result was fantastic, and everyone who tried it loved it too. This recipe is definitely a keeper!

James Edwards

11/23/2023 08:51:35 AM

I found this dish to be lacking in flavor. I ended up having to enhance it with extra sri racha, soy sauce, and brown sugar. For my next attempt, I plan to reduce the amount of peanut butter by using only half a cup, in order to achieve a better balance with the other ingredients.

Patrick Davis

10/27/2022 10:43:42 AM

Great! I had a similar situation where my guests couldn't get enough of the spring rolls dipping sauce. To accommodate a peanut allergy, I switched to cashew butter and it was even more amazing. Thank you for sharing this fantastic recipe!

Ryan Carter

05/20/2024 03:59:16 PM

I have made this recipe 5 or 6 times, and it has become a family favorite. I first tried a similar dish at my favorite Thai restaurant, where they serve chopped raw red cabbage with a delectable peanut sauce. Now, with this recipe, I can easily recreate this delicious salad at home. I plan to experiment with using this flavorful sauce in other dishes in the future. I like to add 4 teaspoons of Garlic Chili Sauce instead of the recommended 2 teaspoons, and I find that the lime juice is an essential ingredient that adds a necessary zing to the dish.

Brian Torres

03/08/2024 03:41:31 AM

If it's a recipe from Chef John, you know it's going to be fantastic. I also tried his Beef Satay recipe to pair with it - what a perfect combination!

Margaret Phillips

05/22/2023 01:45:26 PM

Currently marinating my beef. I prepared the peanut sauce and realized afterwards that I was supposed to use a 5.6 oz can of coconut milk, but unintentionally used a full 13.5 oz can (Ampawa brand is fantastic!). I inquired at my major chain supermarket, but they do not carry the smaller size. I often shop at my local Asian grocery store, and despite having a selection of 8 or 9 different brands, I cannot recall seeing one of that smaller size.

David Lopez

01/03/2023 02:01:56 PM

Great accompaniment to the beef satay! Just be cautious of the quantity of coconut milk as it comes in a larger than usual can size.

Christine Rivera

08/02/2023 03:58:27 AM

I transformed it into a flavorful Thai peanut sauce by adding extra spices, sesame oil, and fish sauce. I then poured this sauce along with a raspberry jam reduction over crispy chicken wings, and wow, it was absolutely delightful!