Skip to main content

Spicy Peanut Sauce

A rich and versatile sauce that can be used to make many delightful suppers. Triple the recipe so you’ll have leftovers.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    yields 3/4 cup

Ingredients

1/3 cup peanut butter, smooth or chunky
1/3 cup warm water or apple juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Chinese chili paste or Tabasco or other hot pepper sauce (optional)
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil (optional)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a small bowl, whisk or stir all of the ingredients until smooth.

  2. Variations: Pineapple Peanut Sauce

    Step 2

    In a saucepan, bring to a simmer a cup of canned crushed pineapple and stir in the Spicy Peanut Sauce ingredients, omitting the water (yields about 1 1/2 cups).

  3. African Peanut Sauce

    Step 3

    In a saucepan, bring a cup of canned diced tomatoes to a simmer and stir in the Spicy Peanut Sauce ingredients, omitting the water and sesame oil (yields about 1 1/2 cups).

  4. Southeast Asian Peanut Sauce

    Step 4

    Use coconut milk instead of water.

  5. Serving & menu ideas

    Step 5

    Here are a few ideas to inspire you:

  6. Step 6

    Serve baked fish or tofu on rice with steamed vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, zucchini, sweet potatoes, cabbage, or snow peas, topped with Spicy Peanut Sauce.

  7. Step 7

    Top a bed of rice with steamed spinach or cabbage, shredded raw carrots, and Spicy Peanut Sauce.

  8. Step 8

    Drizzle warm Spicy Peanut Sauce on a salad of spinach or spring mix topped with cucumbers, celery, and tomatoes.

  9. Step 9

    Dress coleslaw with Pineapple Peanut Sauce for an unusual and delicious side dish.

  10. Step 10

    Stir African Peanut Sauce into white beans, black-eyed peas, or field peas and chopped cooked collards or other greens for a delicious one-pot meal.

  11. Step 11

    Pour Southeast Asian Peanut Sauce over rice noodles or linguine topped with mung bean sprouts and/or cucumber slices. Great with Easy Baked Tofu.

Cover of the cookbook Moosewood Simple Suppers with a red floral motif.
From Moosewood Restaurant Simple Suppers: Fresh Ideas for the Weeknight Table. Copyright © 2017 by Moosewood Collective. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC. Buy the full book from ThriftBooks or Amazon.
Read More
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Put that half-full tub to use with recipes that go beyond the Italian American classics.
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
This easy, one-skillet chicken stroganoff features tender chicken breasts, savory mushrooms, and a creamy Dijon-crème fraîche sauce—perfect for weeknights.
Like Sri Lankan cashew curry and vegan stuffed shells.
Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.