Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce – plant-based on a budget

The BEST Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce for spring rolls and all your dipping, drizzling and dressing needs. It’s creamy, hearty, flavorful, garlicky, inexpensive, versatile and ready in just 5 minutes!

Super versatile spicy 5 minute peanut butter sauce

Inexpensive, super versatile, delicious condiments are a must-have for any low-budget kitchen, especially when they’re as delicious and easy to make as Avocado Basil Pesto, Creamy Vegan Garlic Sauce, and this Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce!

This easy peanut sauce is ultra-creamy, salty, garlicky, tangy, has a tangy kick and even a little bit of sweetness as an option – a super satisfying treat for your taste buds that can be easily customized to suit your taste buds! It’s also naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan. Plus, it’s made from simple, inexpensive staples and is easy to throw together in just 5 minutes, no cooking required!

Whether you’re looking for the perfect peanut sauce for spring rolls, over pasta and rice, for marinating tofu, buddha bowls and more, this peanut butter dipping sauce has you covered and will take your dish to the next level. Plus, leftovers keep for a few weeks in the fridge (3 months in the freezer)!

The ingredients

All you need are 6 inexpensive, easy pantry ingredients to make this flavorful and diet-friendly easy flavorful peanut sauce recipe.

• Peanut butter: We’ve found that creamy peanut butter works best for peanut dip. You can use smooth or chunky peanut butter, but look for options with minimal ingredients and no additives.
• Sesame oil: This adds a lot of flavor to the tangy peanut sauce, but if you don’t have any, use a flavorless oil like vegetable oil, avocado oil, etc.
• soy sauce: Use regular or reduced sodium. If you’re gluten-free, use coconut aminos or tamari instead.
• Garlic: It’s best to use fresh garlic whenever possible, but garlic powder works in a pinch (to taste).
• lemon juice: We prefer fresh lemon (or lime) juice, but bottles work, too. Alternatively, a small amount of rice vinegar would work well.
• Hot sauce: We use sriracha, but any chili sauce (or chili paste) will work. Adjust the amount depending on how spicy you want the peanut butter sauce.
• Water: Use warm water to dilute to desired consistency. You can use it as a dip, drizzle, sauce, spicy peanut salad dressing, etc.

What else could I add to Chili Peanut Sauce?

• Sweetener: A small amount of sweetener can help balance out the sour and tangy flavor of this easy peanut dipping sauce. You can use maple syrup, agave, coconut sugar, brown sugar, etc. If necessary, use a sugar alternative.
• coconut milk: For a creamier, flavorful Thai peanut sauce, use coconut milk instead of water to thin the sauce.
• Ginger: This adds aromatic spiciness to the peanut dipping sauce.
• Hoisin sauce: It’s difficult to describe the flavor of hoisin, but it’s very salty and slightly sweet, full of umami flavor, and can be added to this peanut sauce for extra depth. Start with a teaspoon and increase to taste.
• red pepper flakes: To add more spice.

Adding a combination of coconut milk, ginger and a small amount of sweetener (we recommend coconut sugar) makes this one Thai spicy peanut sauce. Take it even further with a small amount of vegan red Thai curry paste.

How do you make spicy peanut sauce?

This flavorful peanut dipping sauce only takes two steps to make.

• 1) Combine all ingredients (except the water) in a standard sized bowl and mix well with a fork or spoon. If you want it thinner, add water one spoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.

• 2) Flavor the spicy peanut sauce and adjust the ingredients as you like – have fun!

Alternatively, you can throw everything in one mini food processor and have it ready in 30 seconds.

frequently asked Questions

recipe notes

• If the peanut butter is thick: Microwave heating for 10-20 seconds can make mixing easier.
• Gradually add the water: Add just one tablespoon at a time and mix well until it reaches your desired consistency.
• Start with less soy sauce: Since this is the main “salty” element of the peanut dipping sauce, we recommend only adding it gradually to your desired flavor to avoid getting it too salty.
• Adjust sharpness: You can omit it entirely or increase the amount as you like.
• Adjust the ingredients to taste: Like the spicy element, each ingredient in this Spicy Peanut Sauce recipe is customizable to suit your taste buds.

Storage Instructions

Store leftover peanut butter sauce in an airtight container fridge for 1-2 weeks. It can separate while sitting, so stir it between each use. Give it a try too and freshen it up with a little more lemon juice/garlic/hot sauce if needed.

You can also freeze the sauce for 2-3 monthsthen let it thaw in the fridge or at room temperature before using.

Microwave it for 10-20 seconds to make it smooth and creamy again if needed.

serving suggestions

This flavorful peanut sauce is very versatile. Here are just a few ways to enjoy this creamy condiment.

What’s your favorite way to enjoy this peanut butter sauce? Let us know in the comments below.

More Sauce Recipes You’ll Love:

Photos from Alfonso Revilla