Thai Peanut Dressing

Meggan Hill

• Updated

4.99 from 269 votes

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This easy, delicious Thai Peanut Dressing is made from mostly pantry ingredients and is delicious on salads, grilled chicken, or for dipping your favorite appetizers.

A bowl of Thai peanut dressing.


 

Table of Contents

  1. Thai Peanut Sauce Recipe Ingredients
  2. How to Make Thai Peanut Sauce
  3. Recipe tips and variations
  4. Storage
  5. Peanut Salad Dressing Recipe

Thai Peanut Sauce Recipe Ingredients

Labeled Thai peanut dressing ingredients.

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.

  • Peanut butter: I love Crazy Richard’s brand peanut butter because it is made with only peanuts (no added sugars or palm oil) and they support American peanut farmers, using only 100% US-grown peanuts. If you’re ambitious, you can certainly make homemade peanut butter which might be even better.
  • Rice vinegar: Or substitute apple cider vinegar.
  • Honey: For a vegan version, substitute agave nectar or maple syrup (the flavor will change).

How to Make Thai Peanut Sauce

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, lime juice, ginger, sesame oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
A bowl with ingredients for Thai peanut dressing.
  1. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper). If the dressing is too thick, thin with water, 1 teaspoon at a time.
A bowl of Thai peanut dressing.

Recipe tips and variations

  • Yield: This recipe makes 1 cup dressing, enough for 8 servings (2 tablespoons each). 1 recipe of dressing will dress 8-10 cups salad.
  • Make the dressing your own: Substitute almond butter for the peanut butter, make it creamier with a splash of coconut milk, or dial up the heat with more red chili flakes.
  • Rainbow Thai Salad: This Thai Peanut Dressing is divine on this Rainbow Thai Salad made with colorful vegetables, fresh herbs, sweet mango, and crunchy peanuts.
  • Vietnamese Spring Rolls: Thai Peanut Dressing makes the most delicious dipping sauce for Vietnamese Spring Rolls. These fresh, summery rolls have lettuce, carrots, cucumber, cellophane noodles, tofu, bean sprouts, mint, and cilantro rolled inside paper-thin rice paper.
  • How to make a vegan Thai peanut dressing: For a vegan version, substitute agave nectar or maple syrup for the honey (the flavor will change).
  • Can I use a different nut butter instead of peanut butter: Feel free to substitute almond butter, cashew butter, or any other nut butter as you see fit. Just know the flavor will change.
  • More homemade sauces: For more Asian-inspired sauces, discover my easy homemade Teriyaki glaze, Vietnamese Nuoc Cham, or Ginger Sauce.

Storage

Store covered in the refrigerator and use within 4 days.

Put your dressing to work

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A bowl of Thai peanut dressing.

Peanut Salad Dressing

By Meggan Hill
This easy, delicious Thai Peanut Dressing is made from mostly pantry ingredients and is delicious on salads, grilled chicken, or for dipping your favorite appetizers.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 8 servings (2 tbsp each)
Course Pantry, Salad
Cuisine Asian, Thai
Calories 74
4.99 from 269 votes
ReviewPrint

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, lime juice, ginger, sesame oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper). If the dressing is too thick, thin with water, 1 teaspoon at a time.

Recipe Video

Notes

  1. Peanut butter: I love Crazy Richard’s brand peanut butter because it is made with only peanuts (no added sugars or palm oil) and they support American peanut farmers, using only 100% US-grown peanuts. If you’re ambitious, you can certainly make homemade peanut butter which might be even better.
  2. Rice vinegar: Or substitute apple cider vinegar.
  3. Honey: For a vegan version, substitute agave nectar or maple syrup (the flavor will change).
  4. Yield: This recipe makes 1 cup dressing, enough for 8 servings (2 tablespoons each). 1 recipe of dressing will dress 8-10 cups salad.
  5. Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator and use within 4 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 2 tbspCalories: 74kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 3gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 290mgPotassium: 77mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 20IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 1mg
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4.99 from 269 votes (215 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  2. I LOVE this recipe. My picky family does not care for thai food, with this dressing I get my fix 🙂 Sometimes I pour a bit of coconut milk into it for a different flavour; I also use crunchy peanut butter for bits of peanuts throughout the dressing. I actually look forward to my salad lunches now – thank you!! (I also use it as veggie dip for cucumbers, carrots, etc).5 stars

    Reply

  4. Amazing! I cut the honey in half because I tend to like stuff more tart. Now I’m eating my salad like an animal.

    Reply

  6. Been making different versions of this for awhile, but we I like this one best – perfect for rice & veggies Buddha Bowl type stuff… Also great wing sauce!5 stars

    Reply

  7. Hi, in a pinch how much of a difference would be using a neutral oil and apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice) on the final flavor of the dressing? Or is omitting a better option?

    Reply

    1. Hi Gaby, I don’t think it would have a huge affect, I think the peanut butter flavor is the star here. I think it would be fine, but I haven’t made it to know for sure. Off the top of my head, changing the vinegar doesn’t sound like it would have a huge impact. But, the sesame oil does add a lot of that flavor. So it might change the flavor, but not necessarily in a bad way either. It might be awesome. I’m not sure! I’ll try it when I get a chance so I can update the post. Thanks! -Meggan