This Savory Peanut Sauce is literally my favorite dipping sauce recipe. I don’t know why or what made me obsessed with this, but I am, and I think you will be too!

Ingredients for Savory Peanut Sauce:

• Creamy peanut butter: Well of course this is the star ingredient here. Nuff said
• Rice Vinegar: Gives the sauce a tangy kick
• Hoisin sauce: This is a sauce mixture of soy sauce, plum sauce, and a whole bunch of other goodness
• Tamari or Soy Sauce: For an extra salty flavor to balance the sweet
• Agave: Adds sweetness to the umani flavor
• Sambal Oelek or Red Pepper flakes: Ok, here me out. I think adding a spicy ingredient takes this sauce to the next level
• Ginger: You can use fresh minced ginger, or the frozen pods (thawed)
• Water: To thin out the sauce
• Lime juice: It adds a nice citrus, fresh flavor to the sauce

What should I pair this with?

Peanut sauce is commonly associated with Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Thai cuisine. So think about dishes from Asian cultures. This sauce can be paired with a Satay, my Fresh Spring Roll recipe, or in a rice vermicelli noodle bowl. You can also use it as a dip for freshly chopped veggies, like carrots, cucumbers, or bell peppers.

Troubleshooting this recipe:

• Why is my sauce thick?: If your sauce is thick, you may not have added enough water to thin it out. Add a tablespoon at a time, and observe how the texture changes.
• What if I can’t find hoisin sauce?: That’s perfectly ok. When I first made this recipe, I used soy sauce, and I adjusted my agave measurements. I would say go for 2 tablespoons of reduced sodium soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons of agave.
• Why use agave? Why not honey?: It’s simple. I wanted to use agave :). You are welcome to use honey instead if you prefer. I make a lot of vegan styled recipes, so I tend to use agave more than honey.
• I can’t handle spice, can I leave out the Sambal Oelek?: Yep, you can. I’m sure the sauce will taste just as good!

Did you make this recipe?