Easy Peanut Sauce Recipe (2024)

Transform leftover peanut butter into an indulgent zero waste dressing or dip with this easy peanut sauce recipe!

Don’t you just hate it when you get to the end of your peanut butter jar, and the last few spoonfuls are so difficult to scrape out? Well, the good news is that you don’t have to!

Next time, use up the dribs and drabs left over in your peanut butter jar for this amazing peanut satay sauce.Best of all, you can make this easy peanut sauce recipe right in the same peanut butter jar. Yum!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Let’s get scrappy! One of my biggest passion projects as a vegan food content creator is discovering new ways to reduce food waste. This easy peanut sauce recipe is a great way to use up leftover peanut butter without any fuss!
• This sauce works amazing as a salad dressing, buddha bowl topping, or a rich dipping sauce. It is super versatile, and you can adjust the texture to your liking!
• This is a zero waste recipe that saves you money and time! The entire process only takes about five minutes, how awesome is that?
• In order to use up leftovers, the sauce is made in the peanut butter jar! This means that there will be less dishes for you to wash. Plus, it will be much easier to wash the jar after this sauce, as opposed to thick, sticky peanut butter.
• The combination of ingredients in this easy peanut sauce recipe is a classic! It combines the best Asian flavors, including punchy ginger, zesty lime juice, and hot sriracha.

What Do We Know About Peanut Butter?

Although peanut butter is considered a cheap and reliable staple in many American homes, it did not actually originate in the US.

Peanuts, scientifically known as Arachis hypogaea, are native to South America, specifically the regions of Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. They have a long history of cultivation and consumption in these areas.

The exact origin of peanut butter is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated in ancient civilizations in South America. The Incas of Peru are known to have ground peanuts into a paste-like substance, which may be considered an early form of peanut butter.

The commercial production of peanut butter began in the late 19th century. In 1884, Marcellus Gilmore Edson, a Canadian chemist, obtained a patent for the process of milling roasted peanuts into a paste. Later, in the early 20th century, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, a physician and inventor, developed improved manufacturing processes for peanut butter, contributing to its widespread popularity.

Nowadays, many households in North America have a jar or two in their pantry at all times, and this recipe is a perfect way to not let any of it go to waste!

How to Make This Recipe

As I mentioned before, this is one of the easiest recipes you’ll ever make, and it requires minimal equipment.

First, prep the ingredients. The most laborious part of the process is grating some ginger and squeezing lime juice. I think we can all agree that it’s not very difficult!

Then, add soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, maple syrup, grated ginger, sriracha sauce, and warm water into the jar with leftover peanut butter.

To mix everything together, you can use a whisk, a fork, or a milk frother. Alternatively, give the jar a mighty shake until you have a smooth consistency.

Hack It!

• Depending on how you use this vegan satay sauce, you can adjust the consistency. For instance, if you are using this easy peanut sauce as a dip, it may be best to keep it quite thick. On the other hand, you could add extra water if you’re making a salad dressing or ramen sauce.
• Although I always advocate using fresh whole-food ingredients where possible, you can still enjoy this easy peanut sauce recipe with bottled lime juice or store-bought minced ginger.
• You can also play around with swapping ingredients, depending on what you have access to. For instance, if you don’t have any rice vinegar on hand, try it with apple cider or strawberry vinegar. Similarly, you can use a different hot sauce or liquid sweetener.
• If you’re not a fan of peanut butter, this recipe actually works similarly with other types of nut and seed butter. Be sure to try it with leftover almond or sunflower butter next time you get a chance!
• Allergic to soy? No problem! Swap soy sauce for liquid aminos (coconut aminos). The flavor is very similar, and it won’t trigger your allergy!
• If you’re gluten-free, it’s best to stick to tamari soy sauce. Unlike most commercial soy sauce, tamari is processed without wheat.

Nutritional Benefits of Easy Peanut Sauce Recipe

• Peanuts are a good source of plant-based protein. They provide all nine essential amino acids, making them a valuable protein source, especially for individuals following vegetarian or vegan diets. Peanuts also contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, including omega-6 fatty acids. These fats are considered healthy and can help promote heart health when consumed in moderation.
• Lime juice is a good source of vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that supports the immune system and helps in the absorption of iron. It also adds acidity and a refreshing flavor to the sauce.
• Maple syrup is a natural sweetener that adds a touch of sweetness to the sauce. It contains some minerals like manganese and zinc, and is a great alternative to refined sugar.
• Ginger has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It can aid digestion and may help reduce nausea. While the sauce may contain a smaller amount of ginger, it can still contribute to its potential health benefits.
• Sriracha not only adds a spicy kick to the sauce, it also contains capsaicin, a compound that may have metabolism-boosting and pain-relieving effects, among other potential health benefits.

Other WFPB Sauce Recipes You’ll Love

• Everything Green Sauce
• Beet Pasta Sauce
• Vegan Green Goddess Dressing
• Vegan Whipped Feta Dip
• Hidden Veggie Plant-Based Nacho Cheese

If you love simple, beginner-friendly recipes like this one, you should get a copy of thePlantYou Cookbook! It has a great collection of WFPB recipes for every occasion. I am a visual learner, so it was very important to me that the book is user-friendly. That’s why each recipe is accompanied by a helpful infographic detailing the ingredients. I truly wish I had a book like this when I became plant-based!

And if you prefer a more dynamic way of cooking, check out thePlantYou Planner! It’s a meal planner app with OVER 600 EASY VEGAN RECIPES. You can drag and drop the recipes into your custom weekly meal plan, or use one of the curated meal plans created by the PlantYou team. Additionally, the planner allows you to toggle the number of servings for each dish. Perfect for a household of any size!