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This Thai Peanut Dressing has the perfect blend of savory and sweet flavors with a dash of tangy lime juice, maple syrup, and fresh ginger.
You can thank my local Thai restaurant for this recipe. They make some of the best noodle dishes, curries, and salads on planet Earth and all of the ingredients are super fresh. No matter my order, I always ask for an extra side of their peanut sauce.
In this post, I’m sharing my homemade version so you can make it at home and have it on hand for an addictive salad dressing or dipping sauce.
Simple Thai Peanut Dressing
I can’t think of a better gift for a fellow peanut butter lover than this Thai peanut dressing recipe. The peanut butter flavor shines through and is further enhanced with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and chili paste.
It’s a delicious combination that has the power to make you crave something fresh and crunchy, just so you can drizzle it over the top.
I love a good salad and so I like to make sure that my peanut sauce can double as a peanut dressing for things like my Thai pasta salad.
Ingredients
Peanut sauce is a salty and savory sauce made from peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and just the right amount of spice. It’s most commonly found served with Thai recipes, and really brings out the flavors of cilantro and lime, which are staples in many Thai dishes.
- creamy peanut butter: creates a smooth consistency, you can however swap It for crunchy, which will have more texture
- maple syrup or honey: adds a sweet note
- fresh lime juice: brightens the flavor
- soy sauce: brings out the savory flavors. If you need a soy sauce recipe, use coconut aminos
- fresh garlic and ginger: the aromatics for this recipe
- chili paste: to add a little heat, but it’s totally optional if you like to keep things mild
- hot water: to help thin out the peanut butter and create a smooth dressing
How to Make Thai Peanut Dressing
I prefer to make this dressing in a large bowl with a whisk, just so I know everything is well combined and cohesive. However, if you want to toss everything in a blender or food processor, that works too!
- Combine
In a medium to large bowl, combine the peanut butter, maple syrup or honey, lime juice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and chili paste. - Add water
Add 1 tablespoon hot water, and using a whisk or fork, stir the ingredients until a smooth sauce forms. - Tweak
If you prefer a thinner dressing, add additional hot, a tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is achieved. - Transfer
Using a large spoon or scraping spatula, transfer the dressing from the bowl to a lidded jar or airtight container. Make sure to scrape the sides to get every last drop.
How to Serve Thai Peanut Dressing
It won’t take too long for this Thia peanut dressing to disappear and before long you’ll be planning dinners and lunches around it. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Thai Peanut Lettuce Cups
- Chicken & Broccoli Stir-fry
- As a dip for Pan-Seared Chicken
- As a sauce for Thai Chicken Bowls
- Drizzle over Thai Chicken Pasta Salad
Just as I show you how to prepare this sauce and provide recipes to use with it throughout the week, I’ve got even more ideas just like this in my Meal Prep’d eBook.
Not only will you find healthy and satisfying meals for lunch and dinner, but I also show you how to prep them ahead so they stay fresh and ready to be assembled.
How to Store this Peanut Butter Salad Dressing
Thai peanut butter salad dressing can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 4 days – if it’s not devoured before then.
As the dressing sits, you may notice it getting slightly darker, but this is to be expected and can be fixed by giving it a quick whisk before serving to reincorporate the ingredients.
Ridiculously good dressings just like this one can be found on page 31 of The Taco Tuesday Cookbook.
Thai Peanut Dressing
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
- 1 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- 2 teaspoons grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon chili paste, sriracha
- 1 – 2 tablespoons hot water
Instructions
- In a medium to large bowl, combine the peanut butter, maple syrup or honey, lime juice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and chili paste. Add 1 tablespoon water and whisk to combine.
- For a thinner sauce, add additional water, a tablespoon at a time, and whisk until the desired consistency is reached.
veenaazmanov says
Need to definitely get going with this super delicious and flavorful Thai Dressing recipe. Unique and perfect for my next party salad.
kerri says
This dressing was so good and pretty easy to make!
Gianne says
The recipe was simple to follow and the dressing had the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. It’s now a staple in my kitchen. Highly recommended!
Anjali says
I actually used this dressing on a Thai noodle salad and it turned out amazingly well! It was super flavorful, light, and coated the noodles perfectly!
Naelle Yoshimura says
I’m always looking for sauce recipes! We have a GF household and I never trust the flavorings in store bought. This is easy to make, safe for our allergies, and super delicious!
Angela says
I love how easy this is to make and it’s so full of flavour. Great recipe!
Carrie Robinson says
I am loving the flavors happening in this salad dressing! Can’t wait to make this soon. 🙂
Gianne says
It’s incredibly flavorful and so simple to make. The combination of peanut butter, soy sauce, and lime juice creates the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and tangy. Definitely a must-try!
Laura Fuentes says
Thank you for sharing that you enjoyed this recipe!
Vicky says
This Thai Peanut Dressing is full of flavor! It’s like having a taste of your favorite Thai restaurant at home.
Diana says
This sauce was realllly good.