Peanut Sauce for Spring Rolls

Spring rolls would not be complete without a creamy, spicy-sweet Thai peanut sauce to dip them into! And this easy 5-minute recipe is the best! By simply whisking peanut butter together with a few common Asian ingredients, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and Sriracha sauce, you can have this tasty homemade version ready to eat. Plus, you can easily adjust and customize the ingredient amounts to suit your liking!

I always knew I loved spring rolls. But recently I realized that the fresh ingredients are NOTHING without an incredible peanut sauce to dip them in.

So when we were rolling up our own at home one night, I knew they wouldn’t be complete without that sweet and kinda’ spicy sauce.

It took me a while to get the proportions just right, but after a few test rounds what resulted was the BEST peanut sauce I had ever had.

Why this is the Best Peanut Sauce

Besides the fact that you are only 5 minutes and 6 simple ingredients away from making it?

There is also so much room for variation– something you can’t get when you buy a bottle of it at the store or get it from your favorite Thai restaurant.

I look at this “recipe” as more of a base that you can adapt to your taste preferences. Like it spicy? Add in more sriracha. Not a fan of sweet? Keep the sugar out. Since you get to pick and choose how much of each ingredient you add in, you’re really able to make a peanut dipping sauce customized to YOU and your taste preferences!

Ingredients

• Peanut butter. A smooth and creamy peanut butter without any added sugar is best.
• Soy sauce. Gluten-free varieties or Tamari sauce may be used and coconut liquid aminos also work as a soy-free alternative.
• Sugar. Brown sugar will taste the best, but pure maple syrup and agave nectar may be used if you’d like a healthier alternative. If on a low-carb or keto diet, you can also substitute with a non-nutritive sweetener such as stevia.
• Sriracha sauce. Feel free to substitute with another hot sauce of choice.
• Rice vinegar. Rice vinegar is the most common and authentic acidic component to use, but fresh lime juice may also be used.
• Garlic. A clove of fresh garlic is preferred, but ⅛ teaspoon of garlic powder can be substituted for each clove. 

How to Make Thai Peanut Sauce

The basic steps for making Peanut Sauce are simple to follow. Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.

1. Mix all but the water together.

Add all of the ingredients except for the water to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Whisk them together until smooth and well combined.

If the peanut butter is too difficult to whisk at room temperature, it can be warmed for 10-20 seconds in the microwave to soften it up and make it easier to mix with the other ingredients. 

2. Slowly add in the water.

When all the other ingredients are combined, slowly whisk in 1 tablespoon of warm water at a time. This will help to thin out the sauce to the desired consistency – going slightly thicker for a dipping sauce, and slightly thinner for a drizzling sauce or dressing.

By the time the desired amount of water is fully whisked in, the sauce should have returned to a lighter brown color, similar to that of the peanut butter.

Serve the sauce with Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls, and enjoy!

Want a more drizzle-able consistency for a salad? Check out this Peanut Butter Dressing recipe next!

Storage Directions

• To Prep-Ahead: Homemade peanut sauce can be prepared up to 3-4 days in advance, however the sauce will gradually start to lose some of its flavor over time.
• Storing Peanut Sauce: Prepared peanut sauce can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Leftover sauce can be frozen in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 4-6 months.
• To Reheat: Stored peanut sauce may be left out on the counter for an hour before serving, or microwaved in the oven for 10-20 seconds to make it smooth and creamy.

FAQS

Recipes that Use Peanut Sauce

This incredibly versatile sauce makes for the perfect spicy-sweet accompaniment to loads of delicious Asian dishes:

• Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
• Egg Roll in a Bowl
• Ground Chicken Thai Lettuce Wraps
• Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls
• Thai Peanut Sauce Chicken and Veggies
• Peanut Butter Sriracha Brussels Sprouts
• Thai Peanut Quinoa Salad
• Thai Zucchini Noodle Salad
• Easy Pad Thai
• Spring Roll in a Bowl