This peanut sauce is timeless – in the summer, try it on this Baked Tofu Quinoa Salad Bowl. In the cooler months, I like it on this classic Indonesian style-dish Gado Gado – steamed vegetables on rice with peanut sauce. Peanut butter is a great source of protein and monounsaturated fats, and a whole bunch of vitamins and minerals including Vitamin E, Vitamin B3, as well as iron, magnesium, potassium, copper and calcium. Best of all, it is a blood-sugar stabilizing food, thanks to the healthy fats and protein.
Ingredients for peanut sauce: peanut butter, honey, curry powder, mustard, stock (or water), onion and garlic
Ingredients for Indonesian Gado Gado served with peanut sauce: brown rice, eggs, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots
Variations
Peanut Sauce For Spring Rolls
I love using this recipe for dipping spring rolls, salad rolls or for adding to lettuce wraps. For a dipping sauce you will want it to be a thinner consistency, so add an additional 1/4 cup of water.
Thai Peanut Sauce
This recipe is a great base for multiple peanut sauce recipes. To create a Thai-inspired sauce out of it, follow the directions below and once the peanut sauce is finished add 1 tablespoon of fish sauce (or soy sauce for vegetarians) and the juice of 1 lime.
Chinese Peanut Sauce
A Chinese inspired sauce is great for dipping dumplings in or drizzled over some stir-fried vegetables. To make a Chinese version of this sauce, omit the curry powder and add 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and an additional 1/4 cup of water.
Vietnamese Peanut Sauce
A Vietnamese inspired sauce goes great with fresh salad rolls. To turn this sauce recipe into a Vietnamese inspired version, add 1/4 cup of hoisin sauce, 1 to 2 tsp of chilli-garlic sauce (or Sriracha), and optional juice of 1/2 lime.
Cook the onion and garlic in a saucepan. Add the remaining ingredients for the peanut sauce and heat through. Stir until well combined and desired consistency is achieved.
Recipe Notes
Peanut Butter Alternatives
As with most peanut butter recipes you can substitute in another nut butter, such as almond butter or cashew butter. They all have similar nutritional benefits and all offer their own unique, nutty taste. I love making an almond butter sauce with this recipe as a base and adding in 1/2 cup of coconut milk.
Making It Vegan
Swap out the honey for maple syrup. If you do not want the flavour of maple syrup in your peanut sauce, try using coconut sugar instead.
Making A Gluten-Free Peanut Sauce
This recipe is naturally gluten-free, though some vegetable stocks do contain gluten so be sure to purchase a certified gluten-free vegetable stock if you are serving this to anyone with celiac disease.
Making It Nut-Free
This peanut sauce can be made using tahini in place of peanut butter. Tahini is made with roasted sesame seeds and has a more subtle but earthy flavour.
Serving
Try some of these serving options:
- Have it with steamed vegetables and boiled eggs on top of brown rice for an Indonesian-inspired dish.
- Add an additional 1/4 cup of water and have it as a dipping sauce for spring rolls, salad rolls or dumplings.
- Reduce the amount of water by 1/4 and use it as a sauce for a peanut-satay tofu sandwich or wrap.
- Drizzle this sauce on your next stir-fry.
- Use up any leftover sauce as a dip for cut-up raw carrots, cucumbers and cauliflower.
More Peanut Butter Recipes
- Seedy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
- No-Bake 100 Calorie Peanut Butter Energy Balls
- High Protein Steel Cut Oats with Peanut Butter
- Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Sami's Easy Peanut Sauce | 6 Ingredients
Ingredients
For the Peanut Sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup peanut butter natural
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 tbsp curry powder
- 1 tsp seeded mustard
- 1 cup organic vegetable stock or water
- salt and pepper to taste to taste
To Serve for Indonesian Gado Gado
- 4 eggs free-range
- 1 small head cauliflower
- 1 small head broccoli
- 2 medium carrots
- steamed rice optional
- crushed peanuts optional
Instructions
- To make the peanut sauce, heat the oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring regularly. Add the garlic and curry powder and let fry for about 30 seconds.
- Add the 3/4 cup of vegetable stock or water, peanut butter, honey and seeded mustard and stir to combine. Once the mixture has boiled and is well combined, assess the consistency of the sauce. If you would prefer a more runny sauce add the remaining vegetable stock or water. Depending on your peanut butter, you may need to use a whisk to get the peanut sauce to a smooth consistency. Season to taste. Now the sauce is ready to use as you like!
- If you want to make Gado Gado, start by putting the eggs on to boil. My method for hard boil eggs is to first place the eggs in a saucepan and cover with tap water. Place on medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Let boil for about 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the eggs sit in the boiled water, covered, for a further 5 minutes for a medium-boiled egg. Drain the water and run the eggs under cool water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
- Next prepare the vegetables by washing them and cutting them up into bite-sized pieces. Place in a steamer and let steam for about 5 minutes or until just tender.
- Shell the boiled eggs and slice each egg into 4 sections. Divide the steamed rice if using into 4 bowls, top with vegetables, peanut sauce and one boiled egg per bowl. Optional to sprinkled with crushed peanuts.
Notes
Peanut Butter Alternatives
As with most peanut butter recipes you can substitute in another nut butter, such as almond butter or cashew butter.How Long Will It Last In The Fridge?
This recipe will stay good in the fridge for at least 4 days if stored in a sealed container.Vegan Peanut Sauce
Swap out the honey for maple syrup. If you do not want the flavour of maple syrup in your peanut sauce, try using coconut sugar instead.Gluten-Free Peanut Sauce
Purchase a certified gluten-free vegetable stock if you are serving this to anyone with celiac disease.Making It Nut-Free
This peanut sauce can be made using tahini in place of peanut butter.Serving Options
This peanut sauce is so versatile and you can adjust the consistency with the amount of water you add. Try some of these serving options:- Have it with steamed vegetables and boiled eggs on top of brown rice for an Indonesian-inspired dish.
- Add an additional 1/4 cup of water and have it as a dipping sauce for spring rolls, salad rolls, or dumplings.
- Reduce the amount of water by 1/4 and use it as a sauce for a peanut-satay tofu sandwich or wrap.
- Drizzle this peanut sauce on your next stir-fry.
- Use up any leftover peanut sauce as a dip for cut-up raw carrots, cucumbers, and cauliflower.
View Comments (8)
I've never heard of Gado Gado before, but this looks delicious and I love peanut sauce so I am in.
Hi Katie! Yeah Gado Gado is the best! Such a good way to make steamed veggies more interesting :)
Oh my gosh, I love gado gado. So glad you shared this recipe because it's so delicious!
Hey Genevieve! Glad to hear from another fellow Gado Gado lover! Hope this recipe is a good representation!!
I've never had Gado Gado but this looks great! Such a well rounded plate. PS- what is ABC butter?
Hey! Yeah Gado Gado aka Peanut Satay is an Indonesian staple. ABC butter is almond, brazil nut, cashew butter! All mixed together into a delicious spread. It's hard to find, and is more common in Australia, YUMMM
Wow, that sauce looks to die for. I can't wait to try it out.
Yes so good! I could just eat it with a spoon :)