Peanut Sauce

Silky smooth peanut sauce is effortlessly versatile and will turn any meal into something special. It’s amazing on noodles, over rice, or used to dress up a simple stir fry.

Peanut Sauce Recipe

Peanut butter has always been a friend, either in sweets, on toast, dolloped on bananas or apples, or folded into a luscious, gingery peanut sauce. I’ve been making this simple and satisfying peanut sauce for years now, and it’s withstood the test of time. I love it on gluten-free spaghetti noodles, rice noodles, brown rice, or if

This peanut sauce is so versatile: I like it best on noodles but it could also be incorporated into a curry or stirred into a tofu stir-fry. Most ingredients should be readily available from your pantry and definitely at the local grocery store. Even more important, it’s super flavorful, the perfect blend of peanuts, salt, and kicky ginger. I do have to occasionally stop myself from spooning up half the jar as a snack. Make this recipe for tonight’s dinner or tuck it into the fridge for the night after next.

Why You’ll Love This Peanut Sauce Recipe

Here’s why I love this recipe for homemade peanut sauce:

• It’s super easy. It really does come together in 5 minutes or less. And sometimes I only have 15 minutes or less to prep dinner. So this quick yet amazingly flavorful recipe comes in handy.
• Naturally gluten-free. I use tamari, which is a gluten-free soy sauce, in this recipe to make the peanut sauce gluten-free. The rest of the ingredients are naturally gluten-free as well, so you won’t have to worry about gluten if you make this sauce.
• So savory and delicious. I’ll admit I save a small spoonful of sauce to sip on when the meal’s done – this sauce is just that good. It’s the perfect blend of savory-sweet with a hint of spice from the ginger and garlic, and so unbelievably smooth from the blended peanut butter.

Ingredients Needed

Check the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts.

• Peanut Butter: I get freshly ground peanut butter from our local grocery store but any smooth natural, unsweetened peanut butter will work.
• Tamari Sauce: If you don’t need to keep gluten-free, you can use soy sauce.
• Water: To help bring the sauce together.
• Fresh Ginger: For a hit of spice.
• Garlic: Garlic is always essential!
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Or rice vinegar.
• Sesame Oil: Toasted sesame oil gives the best flavor but you could use sesame oil or olive oil in a pinch.
• Maple Syrup: For a touch of sweetness.

How to Make Peanut Sauce

• Purée dressing ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth, about 2 minutes.

Storage Options

Store peanut sauce in a glass jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Gently rewarm in the microwave or stove before serving.

Serving Suggestions

As mentioned, rice and noodles are solid options. Here’s what I like to do with homemade peanut sauce:

• Make peanut noodles. Rice noodles are lovely coated with peanut sauce, but I also love to make gluten-free spaghetti (Jovial brand is my absolute favorite gluten-free pasta brand. Technically these are also (brown) rice noodles but they are produced differently from the more traditional “rice noodles”.) If you don’t need to be gluten-free, try whole grain spaghetti or regular spaghetti noodles.
• Add hot sauce. My husband insists on doing this, and wants me to share that it really “makes it”. (I do NOT add hot sauce, let it be noted.)
• In a vegetable stir fry. So I love throwing a few vegetables together to make a quick stir fry. My go to’s are sauteed red bell pepper, asparagus, and broccoli. If I’m feeling fancy I do – and should always – add chopped garlic. Sometimes spinach. Then I sprinkle in some coconut aminos and serve it over short grain brown rice or quinoa with lots of peanut sauce.