Peanut sauce is a versatile condiment that can complement a variety of dishes. With its nutty, savory, and slightly sweet flavor profile, peanut sauce pairs well with meats, vegetables, noodles, and more. In this article, we’ll explore what goes well with peanut sauce and provide recipe ideas to help you get the most out of this tasty sauce.
What is Peanut Sauce?
Peanut sauce originated in Asia and Africa and is now popular worldwide. It’s made from ground peanuts or peanut butter blended with ingredients like soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, chili peppers, lime juice, coconut milk, and sugar or honey. The result is a thick, creamy sauce with a rich peanut flavor and sweet, spicy, and salty notes. Peanut sauce can range from mild to quite spicy depending on the type and amount of chili peppers used.
Meats That Go Well with Peanut Sauce
The nutty sweetness of peanut sauce balances beautifully with savory meats. Here are some excellent meat options to pair with peanut sauce:
Chicken
Chicken has a mild flavor that allows the peanut sauce to shine. You can use boneless chicken breasts, thighs, wings, or drumsticks with a peanut sauce marinade, dipping sauce, topping, or stir fry sauce. Peanut chicken stir fries, skewers, and curries are very popular.
Beef
Slices of beef pair nicely with peanut sauce. Flank steak, sirloin, or even ground beef work well in peanut noodle bowls, stir fries, and wraps accompanied by a peanut sauce.
Pork
The rich flavor of pork makes an excellent match for nutty peanut sauce. Try dishes like pork chops with peanut sauce, peanut pork stir fry, and Thai peanut glazed pork tenderloin.
Shrimp
Sweet, succulent shrimp are fantastic with the creamy nuttiness of peanut sauce. Shrimp pairs well in Thai peanut shrimp skewers, stir fries, noodle bowls, and spring rolls with a peanut dipping sauce.
Tofu
For vegetarian and vegan diners, tofu is a perfect pairing with peanut sauce. Add tofu to peanutty stir fries, rice bowls, sandwiches, and more. The sauce clings nicely to the tofu’s porous texture.
Tempeh
Like tofu, tempeh soaks up peanut sauce beautifully. The fermented soybean cake has a hearty texture that stands up well to spice and bold peanut flavor. Tempeh pairs nicely in stir fries, rice bowls, wraps, and curries with peanut sauce.
Turkey
For a lighter take, try ground turkey or turkey cutlets in dishes featuring peanut sauce. Turkey works well in noodle bowls, lettuce wraps, stir fries, and more accompanied by a tasty peanut sauce.
Vegetables That Go Well with Peanut Sauce
The natural sweetness and crisp texture of many vegetables make them an excellent pairing for rich, nutty peanut sauce. Great veggie options include:
Broccoli
Broccoli florets dipped in peanut sauce make a delicious snack or side. The bright green veggie also shines in peanut noodles, stir fries, and rice bowls.
Cauliflower
Like broccoli, roasted cauliflower pairs perfectly with the nuttiness of peanut sauce. Toss cauliflower florets with peanut sauce as a snack or side, or add cauliflower to Thai peanut dishes.
Carrots
The natural sweetness of carrots balances the strong peanut flavor. Enjoy peanut glazed carrots as a side, or add carrots to peanutty stir fries, noodle dishes, and more.
Bell Peppers
The crisp texture of bell peppers makes a winning match with creamy peanut sauce. Try options like peanut chicken and pepper skewers or stir fries with bell peppers and peanut sauce.
Mushrooms
Meaty mushrooms like shiitakes, buttons, and cremini taste great coated in peanut sauce. Use mushrooms in peanut stir fries, lettuce wraps, noodle bowls, skewers, and more.
Snap Peas
The crisp, sweet snap of fresh snap peas pairs perfectly with peanut sauce. Toss them in a peanut stir fry or noodle dish, or enjoy as a snack dipped in peanut sauce.
Green Beans
For a popular Indonesian dish, blanch green beans and toss them with peanut sauce for gado-gado. Green beans also taste delicious in various peanut stir fries.
Cabbage
Napa cabbage, red cabbage, bok choy, and regular green cabbage all work well in peanut dishes. Try cabbage in peanut coleslaw, noodle bowls, stir fries, and more.
Noodles and Grains for Serving with Peanut Sauce
The rich peanut sauce pairs nicely with starchy noodles and grains that soak up the nutty flavor. Top off these carbohydrates with peanut sauce or mix the sauce right in:
Rice Noodles
In dishes like pad Thai, rice noodles soak up the flavor of the peanut sauce perfectly. Rice noodles also work well in noodle bowls and salads featuring a peanut dressing.
Ramen Noodles
For a quick meal, top instant ramen with a drizzle of peanut sauce. You can also use fresh ramen noodles in peanut noodle bowls and stir fries.
Soba Noodles
The nutty buckwheat flavor of soba noodles complements peanut sauce beautifully. Toss chilled soba noodles with peanut sauce for a refreshing cold salad.
Rice
Fluffy white or brown rice soaks up peanut sauce wonderfully. Top rice with peanut sauce favorites like chicken satay, tofu, veggies and more.
Quinoa
The light texture of quinoa makes a nice base for peanut sauce dishes. Try quinoa bowls topped with peanut chicken, tofu, or veggies.
Couscous
Tiny couscous grains pair well with peanut sauce too. Enjoy couscous topped with peanut stew or stir fried veggies and sauce.
Snacks That Go Well with Peanut Sauce
In addition to entrees, peanut sauce also makes a fantastic dip for various snacks and finger foods. Some tasty pairings include:
Cucumber Slices
For a refreshing appetizer, use strips of cucumber as an edible scoop for peanut sauce.
Carrot Sticks
The sweet crispness of carrot sticks balances the nutty creaminess of peanut sauce.
Bell Pepper Strips
Dip crisp bell pepper strips into a bowl of peanut sauce for a healthy snack or game day appetizer.
Broccoli Florets
Enjoy fresh broccoli florets dunked in a creamy, spicy peanut sauce.
Pita Chips
Pita chips or crackers taste fantastic dipped in peanut sauce for dipping.
Apple Slices
For a sweet and savory contrast, dip fresh apple slices in peanut sauce.
Celery Sticks
Celery sticks pair nicely with peanut sauce too. The crunchy texture provides a nice contrast.
Chicken Satay
Chicken skewers with peanut sauce for dipping make the perfect appetizer or game day food.
Salads That Go Well with Peanut Sauce
A drizzle of peanut sauce over a salad provides a tasty dose of protein, healthy fats, and flavor. Peanut sauce works well tossed with or drizzled over:
Noodle Salad
For an Asian salad, toss chilled noodles with shredded veggies and peanut sauce dressing.
Chicken Salad
Add interest to boring chicken salad by including a spoonful of peanut sauce in the mix.
Vegetable Salad
Turn a plain vegetable salad into a Thai-inspired treat with peanut sauce dressing.
Fruit Salad
Complement fresh, ripe fruit like oranges and mango with a drizzle of peanut sauce.
Grain Salad
Take grain salads to a new level by drizzling bold peanut sauce over quinoa, farro, or rice.
Coleslaw
Spice up traditional coleslaw by tossing the cabbage with a Thai peanut dressing.
Sandwiches and Wraps with Peanut Sauce
A schmear of peanut sauce instantly transforms basic sandwiches and wraps into flavor-packed handheld meals. Try these clever combos:
Chicken Salad Sandwich
Slather peanut sauce on bread before adding chicken salad for extra flavor.
Veggie Wrap
Spread a tortilla with peanut sauce, then fill with roasted veggies, greens, hummus, etc.
Tofu Banh Mi
Use peanut sauce instead of mayo on a tofu banh mi sandwich for a vegan twist.
Sloppy Joe
Add peanut butter to the meat mixture for a Thai-inspired sloppy Joe filling.
Pulled Pork Sandwich
Coat pulled pork with peanut sauce before piling it onto buns or rolls.
Steak Wrap
Include roasted peanuts and peanut sauce in steak fajita or taco wraps for more flavor.
Desserts That Use Peanut Sauce
Peanut sauce’s sweet undertones make it a surprisingly perfect addition to select desserts. Get creative with recipes like:
Peanut Butter Pie
Make an easy no-bake pie with peanut butter, cream cheese, chocolate, and peanut sauce.
Ice Cream Topping
Drizzle velvety peanut sauce over vanilla ice cream for an exotic sweet treat.
Peanut Butter Cookies
Include peanut sauce in the dough for intensely peanutty chocolate chip cookies.
Peanut Butter Cups
When making homemade peanut butter cups, add a bit of peanut sauce to the filling.
Milkshake
Blend peanut butter, chocolate sauce, peanut sauce, and ice cream for a tasty milkshake.
Peanut Butter Truffles
Fold peanut sauce into the peanut butter mixture for truffles with extra flavor.
Other Complementary Sauces and Condiments
Beyond main ingredients and recipes, peanut sauce also blends well with other sauces and condiments that complement its flavor profile. Some delicious sauce pairings include:
Soy Sauce
Salty soy sauce enhances peanut sauce’s savory umami flavor.
Hoisin Sauce
The slight sweetness of hoisin harmonizes with the natural sweetness of peanut sauce.
Sriracha
Mix in tangy, spicy sriracha to make peanut sauce bolder.
Hot Sauce
Similarly, add dashes of hot sauce for extra heat and a vinegar tang.
Fish Sauce
A bit of fish sauce amplifies the savory flavor of peanut sauce.
Teriyaki Sauce
For a sweet Japanese twist, blend teriyaki with peanut sauce.
Sambal Oelek
This chili garlic paste provides a Southeast Asian kick to peanut sauce.
Curry Paste
For intensely spiced Thai dishes, include red or green curry paste in peanut sauce.
Gochujang
The Korean fermented chili paste adds great heat and depth to peanut sauce.
Sesame Oil
A touch of sesame oil boosts peanut sauce’s nutty flavor.
Conclusion
With its creamy texture and versatile flavor profile, peanut sauce pairs deliciously with a wide variety of ingredients and dishes. Add it to noodles, rice bowls, sandwiches, wraps, stir fries, skewered meats, roasted veggies, salads, and more. Peanut sauce also makes a fantastic dipping sauce for snacks and appetizers. Get creative mixing peanut sauce into desserts for a dynamic sweet and salty treat. With so many diverse options, it’s easy to incorporate tasty peanut sauce into meals any time.