• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Pups with Chopsticks logo

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Ingredients
  • How-To
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Asian Ingredients Guide
  • How-To
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Asian Ingredients Guide
    • How-To
    • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Sauces/Rubs/Salsas/Dips

    Easy Thai Peanut Satay Sauce

    Jan 19, 2022 • Author: Joyce • 11 Comments • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    5 from 11 votes

    This flavorful quick and easy homemade Thai Peanut Satay Sauce recipe is made with coconut milk, peanut butter, and red curry paste and requires no cooking. It is great with chicken satay, appetizers, salads, or noodles!

    A bowl of Thai peanut sauce served with crushed peanuts on top and drizzled with chili oil
    Table of Contents
    • Ingredients and Substitutions
    • How to Make Satay Sauce
    • If You Want To Make It From Scratch
    • How Long Can I Keep It?
    • How to Use This Sauce
    • FAQs
    • Looking for More Sauce Recipes? Try These
    • Recipe Card

    If you have never had Thai peanut satay sauce before, it's creamy, flavored with peanuts, and has a balance of sweet, savory, and sourness elements

    This easy 5-minute Thai peanut sauce recipe uses peanut butter and coconut milk to make the sauce creamier; red curry paste, soy sauce (or fish sauce) for the spice and savoriness; honey to sweeten it; and rice vinegar (or lime juice) for the tart element.

    It can be used as a salad dressing, dipping sauce, drizzled on noodles, a dipping sauce for appetizers such as spring rolls, and it is definitely a must-have for any type of Thai chicken satay or grilled skewered meat.

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    • Peanut Butter - I use unsweetened natural peanut butter for this recipe. You use honey (or sugar) in this recipe to control the amount of sugar to balance the sweet and savory flavors.
    • Coconut Cream - I like to use coconut cream for this recipe because it has a lot more flavor. Alternatively, you can also use coconut milk as well but try to find thick coconut milk that has a high-fat content if possible.
    • Red Thai Curry Paste - Curry paste is a very important part of flavoring this sauce. There is no substitution and you should not omit it. Red curry paste will make this sauce mildly spicy. You can also use yellow curry paste as well which is less spicy.
    • Honey - I use honey as the sweetener for this sauce because I find it mixes into the sauce more easily but you can use sugar or maple syrup as well. If you use maple syrup, you will need to add a bit more than what is called in the recipe.
    • Fish Sauce - We will be using fish sauce to give the sauce umami and savoriness, if you have soy sauce you can use that instead.
    • Rice Vinegar - I like to use rice vinegar to balance out the flavors of this sauce but you can also use lime juice as well.
    • Water - Depending on how thin you like your peanut sauce, we will be using water to thin it out. Add it 1 tablespoon at a time to get it to the consistency you like.
    • Optional Ingredients (Crushed Roasted Peanuts, Sesame Oil, Chili Oil) - These ingredients add a bit more flavor and texture but are completely optional to use.

    How to Make Satay Sauce

    1. Mix the peanut butter and the red Thai curry paste until they are combined.
    2. Add in the honey, fish sauce (or soy sauce), and rice vinegar (or lime juice) and mix well.
    3. Add the coconut cream (or coconut milk) and mix well until everything is smooth.
    4. Add water until it's the consistency you like
    5. Do a taste test. If you like it more sour, sweet, or salty, adjust it with rice vinegar, honey, or fish sauce.
    6. Enjoy!
    Two Thai Chicken Satays dipped in peanut sauce in a plate and small green bowl.

    If You Want To Make It From Scratch

    If you are up for a challenge, I also have a Thai peanut sauce made from scratch as well. That recipe roasts your own peanuts to make fresh 'peanut butter', and uses aromatics like lemongrass, shallots, garlic, galangal, and tamarind to flavor it.

    It's definitely a lot more work, but if you want to take your time with it is definitely an option.

    Keep in mind, peanut sauce from scratch will be slightly chunkier because of all the aromatics in it, so if you are looking for a smoother peanut sauce, then stick with this one.

    How Long Can I Keep It?

    If you have extra sauce or if you are making this ahead of time, it should be refrigerated and stored in a well-sealed container. This peanut sauce will last for about 1 week.

    How to Use This Sauce

    The most popular way we use Thai peanut satay sauce is on grilled chicken. It pairs wonderfully with our Thai Chicken Satay and Grilled Thai Coconut Chicken Skewers.

    If you want to use it with lighter meals, I like to thin it out with coconut milk or water and drizzle it on salad as a salad dressing.

    This peanut satay sauce also is amazing mixed in with noodles as well, especially if you mix in a bit of chili oil with it.

    You can also use this easy Thai peanut satay sauce recipe as a dipping sauce for appetizers like fresh-cut vegetables, Thai meatballs, or spring rolls. I also like dipping it with our Grilled Coconut Curry Chicken Wings as well.

    Thai chicken satay skewer on a plate dipped in peanut sauce

    FAQs

    My peanut sauce turned out too thick, can I fix this?

    Yes, you can add water to it 1 tablespoon at a time until you get it to the consistency you like.

    How do you make this a spicy peanut sauce?

    This simple peanut sauce uses red Thai curry paste which gives the sauce a mild spiciness already. If you want to make it even spicier, you can add sriracha to it as well.

    How long can I keep this peanut sauce?

    You can keep it in the fridge for up to 1 week. To use it again, let it warm up on the counter at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour.

    Can I use this as a peanut dressing in salads and noodles?

    Absolutely! To make this into a peanut dressing, thin it out a bit more with water. You may need to add a bit more fish sauce, so do a taste test before adding it to your salads or noodles.

    Can I use creamed coconut blocks?

    Yup. You will need to melt it before you can use it. Once it is melted, mix it with a bit of hot milk or hot water before adding it to the peanut butter. This will keep it at a liquid consistency once it has cooled.

    Looking for More Sauce Recipes? Try These

    • Thai Peanut Sauce (From Scratch)
    • Ginger Scallion Sauce
    • Miso Garlic Chili Oil
    • Spicy Sriracha Mayo Recipe
    • Creamy Coconut Dip
    • Creamy Honey Sesame Dip
    • Vietnamese Fish Sauce Dipping Sauce (Nuoc Cham / Nuoc Mam)
    Grilled Chicken Skewers served with a peanut sauce

    I'd love to see it! Tag me (@pupswithchopsticks) on Instagram!

    If you like my recipes and want to be updated on when new ones come out, please consider subscribing to my newsletter (we don't spam) and follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for all of my latest recipes!

    Recipe Card

    A small bowl of thai peanut sauce with a side of chili oil

    Easy Thai Satay Peanut Sauce

    This flavorful quick and easy homemade Thai Peanut Satay Sauce recipe is made with coconut milk, peanut butter, and red curry paste and requires no cooking. It is great with chicken satay, appetizers, salads, or noodles!
    Print Pin Rate Save Recipe Saved!
    Course: Sauce
    Cuisine: Thai
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    1 cup
    5 from 11 votes

    Recipe Notes

    • If you are adding crushed peanuts to the sauce, make sure you toast them in a dry frying pan until it is golden brown before you use them to get more flavor from them.
    • I highly recommend using coconut cream over coconut milk because it has more of a coconut flavor. If you are going to use coconut milk, make sure to find a high-fat one. I like to shake the can to test how much fat the coconut milk will have - the thicker the milk the fattier and more flavorful it will be.
    • For extra flavor, I like to drizzle some chili oil on top of the peanut sauce and gently swirl it in. My favorite chili oil to use is Lao Gan Ma Chilli Crisp, (I'm not sponsored by them, I just really love their chili oil.) 
    • My peanut sauce turned out too thick, can I fix this? Yes, you can add water to it 1 tablespoon at a time until you get it to the consistency you like.
    • How do you make this a spicy peanut sauce? This simple peanut sauce uses red Thai curry paste which gives the sauce a mild spiciness already. If you want to make it even spicier, you can add sriracha to it as well.
    • How long can I keep this peanut sauce? You can keep it in the fridge for up to 1 week. To use it again, let it warm up on the counter at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour.
    • Can I use this as a peanut dressing in salads and noodles? Absolutely! To make this into a peanut dressing, thin it out a bit more with water. You may need to add a bit more fish sauce, so do a taste test before adding it to your salads or noodles.
    • Can I use creamed coconut blocks? Yup. You will need to melt it in the microwave first, and then mix it with a bit of milk or water to keep it at a liquid consistency before mixing it with the peanut butter.

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 tablespoons coconut cream (or coconut milk)
    • ¼ cup natural peanut butter (unsweetened)
    • 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon Thai red curry paste
    • 2 teaspoons honey (or maple syrup)
    • 2 teaspoons fish sauce (or soy sauce)
    • 2-3 tablespoons water or enough to thin it out the the consistency you like

    Optional Ingredients

    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
    • 1 teaspoon chili oil (optional)
    • 2 teaspoons Sriracha chili sauce (to make it spicier)
    • crushed peanuts (optional, sprinkled on top)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Mix the peanut butter and the red Thai curry until they are combined.
    • Add in the honey, fish sauce (or soy sauce), and rice vinegar (or lime juice) and mix well.
    • Add the coconut cream (or coconut milk) and mix well until everything is smooth.
    • Add 2-3 tablespoons of water and mix well. If it's too thick, add more water, 1 teaspoon at a time until you get the consistency you like.
    • Do a taste test. If you like it more sour, sweet, or salty, adjust it with rice vinegar, honey, or fish sauce.
    • Add in any optional garnishes
    • Serve it with chicken, salad, noodles, or appetizers!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 604kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Sodium: 559mg | Potassium: 553mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 800IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 2mg

    *Nutritional information is calculated using online tools and is an estimate*

    Did you try this recipe?I'd love to hear from you! Let me know how it was and consider giving it a rating! Tag me on Instagram with @pupswithchopsticks to show me!
    Made with ♡ by Joyce Lee

    Disclaimer: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. While I appreciate the support – please try to buy your items locally if possible to support your local shops (chances are they are cheaper locally as well!)

    More Sauces/Rubs/Salsas/Dips

    • Miso Butter
    • Vietnamese Fish Sauce Dipping Sauce (Nuoc Cham / Nuoc Mam)
    • Ginger Scallion Sauce
    • Homemade Furikake Seasoning

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joshua Vigar says

      January 02, 2023 at 7:42 pm

      5 stars
      Hello I am a first time maker. The sauce turned out amazing, but I would like to make some in freezer. Can it be frozen?

      Reply
      • Joyce Lee says

        January 03, 2023 at 2:24 pm

        Hi Joshua!
        I'm so happy you liked it! I have not tried freezing this, but I see why you can't freeze it. Just make sure you defrost it in the fridge before using it since coconut milk can solidify when it is very cold. If it comes out too thick, you can always add some water to thin it out.
        Hope this helps!

        Reply
    2. Josie says

      January 26, 2022 at 11:23 am

      5 stars
      I love Thai food because the food mixes with different unique spicy powders, has very intense flavour, yummy and tasty. This Thai food recipe you make out is so easy and quick, providing simple ingredients. I would make it to satisfy my Thai food desires.
      Thanks.

      Reply
      • Joyce Lee says

        February 22, 2022 at 10:34 am

        Hi Josie!
        I'm so happy you liked it! The sweet, sour, and savory balance of this recipe also satisfy my Thai food cravings too!

        Reply
    3. Angela says

      January 25, 2022 at 1:15 pm

      5 stars
      My mouth was watering as I was reading through the post and the recipe did not disappoint! Delicious and so easy to make.

      Reply
    4. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

      January 25, 2022 at 12:59 pm

      5 stars
      Love how easy this recipe is. Can’t wait to try it this weekend.thank you for the recipe!

      Reply
    5. Andrea says

      January 25, 2022 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      Had no idea it was this easy to make Thai peanut sauce. I'm putting this deliciousness on everything!

      Reply
    6. Gina says

      January 25, 2022 at 11:53 am

      5 stars
      Can't get enough of this sauce! Delicious on chicken but equally so with a bowl of noodles too!

      Reply
      • Joyce Lee says

        January 25, 2022 at 4:15 pm

        Hi Gina!
        So happy you liked it! I love using the leftover sauce on noodles too! 😀

        Reply
    7. Beth says

      January 25, 2022 at 11:39 am

      5 stars
      I know this is supposed to be a sauce your pour over a dish but I'm tempted to grab a straw and just drink it from the bowl! Delish! This will be perfect with my favorite Thai noodles!

      Reply
      • Joyce Lee says

        January 25, 2022 at 4:17 pm

        Hi Beth!
        haha you are too funny Beth!
        Hope you enjoy this!

        Reply

    Leave a Comment & Rating Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Pups with Chopsticks!

    Hi I’m Joyce Lee and Welcome to Pups with Chopsticks! Good eats and cooking is my passion! Join me in my kitchen as I create, test and share traditional and Asian fusion recipes with step-by-step tutorials. Read More…

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter

    Subscribe to my Newsletter and stay up to date on my latest recipes!

    Welcome to the family! Don't forget to check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription to fully be subscribed to the newsletter!

    Popular Recipes

    Super crispy beef tossed with a sweet and sticky sauce

    Sweet and Sticky Crispy Beef

    Grilled Chicken Skewers served with a peanut sauce

    Grilled Thai Coconut Chicken Skewers

    Korean japchae served in a wooden bowl

    Easy Japchae (Korean Glass Noodles Stir Fry)

    A large bowl of Spicy Korean Pork Bulgogi (Jeyuk Bokkeum) with a plate of lettuce with some rice and pork in it for wrapping

    Spicy Korean Pork Bulgogi

    Bowl of Spicy Bun Bo Hue (Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup)

    Bun Bo Hue (Spicy Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup)

    A plate of oven roasted peking chicken with a side of ginger scallion sauce on a wooden table

    Oven Roasted Five Spice Peking Chicken

    Footer

    AS FEATURED ON

    ↑ back to top

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
    Thank you for visiting and supporting our little blog

    Privacy Policy Â· Terms & Conditions
    Copyright © 2021 Pups with Chopsticks · All Rights Reserved

    671 shares