Rich and creamy and oozing with peanut flavor, the dipping sauce that accompanies Thai chicken satay is so good that youll want to use it on everything! This peanut sauce is made with coconut milk and peanut butter to ensure maximum creaminess.
Satay sauce is a slightly spicy peanut sauce. While it’s popularly associated with Thai cuisine, it’s enjoyed throughout Southeast Asia and has Indonesian roots. It’s best known as the sauce for satay, a tasty appetizer of marinated meat (often chicken, pork, or beef) grilled on a skewer.
What is Nam Jim Sate?
The peanut sauce that accompanies Thai chicken satay is known as “nam jim sate”. In Thai, “nam jim” translates to dipping sauce, and “sate” is, well, satay. This phrase therefore translates directly to “satay dipping sauce”. It is a sauce that is specifically used for satay, and is not normally served with any other Thai dishes.
In Thailand, this dipping sauce is made by cooking red curry paste with coconut milk, then adding crushed roasted peanuts, tamarind paste, fish sauce, and palm sugar to taste. It does not contain hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, or other ingredients that may be found in peanut dipping sauces from other cuisines.
The recipe below is our “easy” version of Thai peanut sauce with coconut milk. It utilizes ingredients that may already be in your pantry (vinegar instead of tamarind paste, white sugar instead of palm sugar, and peanut butter instead of roasted peanuts). This recipe also uses roasted chili paste rather than red curry paste. This results in a peanut sauce that is not very spicy, making it perfect for kids.
Our easy version of Thai peanut sauce contains the following:
- Coconut milk: I use canned coconut milk for this recipe instead of fresh. Be sure to shake the can before use so that youre not using just the cream at the top.
- Roasted chili paste: Known as “nam prik pao” in Thai, this chili paste is a savory, sweet, slightly spicy paste made from roasted chilis, garlic, shallots, and dried shrimp.
- Peanut butter: Crunchy natural peanut butter is best, as it most closely represents the roasted peanuts that are in the traditional recipe.
- Sugar: White granulated sugar works well. If you have palm sugar and feel so inclined, you can substitute it.
- Fish sauce: Fish sauce provides the saltiness for this recipe.
- White vinegar: Vinegar is used for a bit of tang, to cut the creamy coconut milk and peanut butter. White vinegar, not rice vinegar or cider vinegar, works best.
This recipe for Thai peanut sauce comes together within a matter of minutes. You can easily cook it while your satay is on the grill.
Start by cooking the coconut milk and roasted chili paste in a small saucepan.
Add the rest of the ingredients and allow to simmer until slightly thick.
Transfer to serving dish and top with chopped, roasted peanuts.
Serve with Thai chicken satay and ajaad cucumber relish. Enjoy!
We prefer this easy version of Thai peanut sauce to be made with roasted chili paste, known as nam prik pao in Thai. It has a nice round flavor with a hint of spice. Red curry paste is bolder, and definitely more spicy. If you prefer a more robust spice to your peanut sauce, you can definitely substitute the roasted chili paste with red curry paste. This is, after all, how the sauce is usually made in Thailand.
You can store Thai peanut sauce in the refrigerator for several days. When youre ready to eat it, just heat it up in a saucepan on the stove or in the microwave. You may need to add a bit of water to re-establish the right consistency.
How to Make the Best Thai Peanut Sauce | Allrecipes.com
FAQ
Is peanut satay sauce the same as Thai peanut sauce?
What is peanut sauce called?
How do you say peanut sauce in Thai?
What is another name for satay sauce?
What is thai peanut sauce?
Thai Peanut Sauce, also sometimes called satay sauce, is a nutty, salty, spice-filled sauce with just a hint of sweetness and umami flavor.
What does thai peanut sauce taste like?
Thai peanut sauce has a creamy and slightly sweet taste with a hint of spiciness. The combination of peanut butter, coconut milk, and soy sauce creates a rich and savory flavor that complements the spiciness of the chili peppers.
What makes thai peanut sauce different from Indonesian peanut sauce?
While Indonesia is known for its peanut sauces, the Thais, over time, added their flavors. Thai Peanut Sauce is an excellent example of cultural fusion. It evolved by blending traditional Indonesian elements with Thai ingredients like tamarind, coconut milk, and Thai chili peppers.
What is Thai dipping sauce?
It is a sauce that is specifically used for satay, and is not normally served with any other Thai dishes. In Thailand, this dipping sauce is made by cooking red curry paste with coconut milk, then adding crushed roasted peanuts, tamarind paste, fish sauce, and palm sugar to taste.