It’s no secret that peanut sauce isn’t exactly my go-to flavor (even though I love peanut butter), but keeping this homemade peanut sauce recipe to myself would be a downright crime. Everyone who’s tried it has been utterly hooked.

Plus, it’s such a fun, fuss-free way to turn simple pantry ingredients into a delicious savory sauce.

Recipe Ingredients

Similar to my other sauces and dips, this recipe for peanut sauce comes together with just a handful of ingredients. Sounds too easy? It really is, but don’t skip the recipe card below for all the details that guarantee perfect results.

• garlic – for a savory base
• ginger – adds warmth and depth
• sambal – for a spicy kick
• coconut milk – use full-fat coconut milk for creaminess
• peanut butter – I used smooth peanut butter to make this peanut sauce. As mentioned, you can use any peanut butter you like, although I would go for peanut butter without peanut chunks. Unless you like that in your sauce, of course! The brand doesn’t matter either, just like the thickness of the peanut butter
• sweet soy sauce – adds sweetness and color

Where Does Peanut Sauce Come From?

Peanut sauce (or satay sauce, as we often call it in the Netherlands) originates from Indonesia, but the recipes we use actually bear little resemblance to the original. For instance, peanut sauce is supposed to be made with fresh peanuts, and we almost always use peanut butter.

To stay close to the original, I prefer using peanut butter made from 100% peanuts, but of course, any type of peanut butter works just fine. Additionally, many more ingredients actually belong in the sauce, such as hot chili peppers, lemongrass, Javanese palm sugar, tamarind water, and shrimp paste.

You can always add these extra ingredients yourself to taste if you want to go for an authentic Indonesian peanut sauce. But as you know, here at Laura’s Bakery, we like to keep recipes simple, so I stuck to a total of six ingredients.

What’s the difference between peanut sauce and satay sauce?

Funnily enough, after doing some research for this recipe, I discovered that in the Netherlands we seem to assume that satay sauce and peanut sauce are the same thing. In Indonesia, satay sauce is simply a sauce for satay; in principle, that could be any type of sauce.

So, peanut sauce is actually the only correct name for this peanut-based sauce, even though most Dutch people probably just call it “satay sauce”.

How To Make This Peanut Sauce

Place a saucepan over medium heat with a little oil. Add the pressed garlic, grated ginger, and sambal, and fry for about a minute until fragrant. Don’t walk away during this step, or you could end up with burnt aromatics.

Lower the heat and deglaze the pan with the coconut milk. Stir well to combine.

Add the peanut butter and sweet soy sauce. Stir continuously until the sauce is smooth and fully combined. Taste to see if you like the seasoning. You can always add more sambal to make it spicier, extra soy sauce for more depth, or another tablespoon of peanut butter for a thicker sauce.

TIP: If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water or more coconut milk until it reaches your desired consistency.

Once the sauce is smooth and heated through, remove it from the heat and serve immediately, or let it cool before storing.

Making peanut sauce from peanuts

Of course, you can also skip the jar of peanut butter and use peanuts. In that case, you grind the peanuts yourself into a peanut butter that you incorporate into the peanut sauce. Just make sure to grind the peanuts a little longer until there are (almost) no chunks left.

Storing Peanut Sauce

You can store cooled peanut sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and it will keep for about 3 days.

Can I freeze peanut sauce?

Yes. Let the sauce cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer bag. The sauce will last up to 3 months. If you take it out of the freezer, let it thaw in the fridge and reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, stirring well before serving.

More Savory Sauce Recipes

I love a good sauce. It’s the easiest way to elevate any dish! And if you’re looking for more ideas, don’t miss these other recipes I’ve shared here on Laura’s Bakery:

• Easy Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
• Homemade mayonnaise recipe
• Fresh cranberry compote recipe

If you love Indonesian cuisine and crave something a little sweeter, make sure to try my thousand layer cake (‘Spekkoek’ in Dutch) which is a typical Indonesian cake made up of many thin layers.