Peanut Butter Dumpling Sauce

This Peanut Butter Dumpling Sauce is creamy, smooth, and bursting with peanut flavor. It has hints of garlic, a touch of heat, and a subtle tanginess that brings it to life. It's an extremely versatile sauce that pairs beautifully with dumplings but can also be used in a variety of other dishes.

Use it as a dipping sauce for Fried Pork Dumplings or Chicken Gyoza.

This Peanut Butter Dumpling Sauce is a pantry staple in my household. Although I use it for dumplings, it's a versatile sauce that can be used in a wide variety of dishes, such as hotpot, dumplings, noodles, and salads. Try it drizzled over crunchy cucumbers for a quick appetizer!

Did I mention it's incredibly simple to make? It only takes 5 minutes. And, if you do any sort of Asian cooking, then you probably already have the ingredients in your pantry. All you have to do is whisk everything together. No cooking required!

Jump to:

• 🥟 What is it?
• Customizations
• 🥜 Ingredients
• 🔪 Instructions
• 💭 Top Tips
• 👩🏻‍🍳 Substitutions
• 👨🏻‍🍳 Variations
• 🥡 Storage & Leftovers
• 📖 Recipe FAQs
• 🍽 Serving Suggestions
• 📋 Recipe

🥟 What is it?

Peanut Sauce is a classic Asian sauce that is served with various dishes like dumplings, hotpots, noodles, and salads. It's used in all parts of the world but is often associated with Southeast Asian cuisine. In Chinese cooking, its primarily used as a sauce for dan dan noodles, marinade for grilled meats, dipping sauce for dumplings, and hotpot.

Traditionally, the main ingredient is ground, roasted peanuts, but nowadays, it's often substituted with peanut butter for a creamier and sweeter taste. It's mixed with various seasonings like soy sauce, garlic, and chilis and then thinned with water to give it a smooth, runny consistency.

Customizations

This dumpling sauce can be easily customized to your liking. You can add additional seasonings like toasted sesame oil or swap out ingredients for similar ones. Check out the Variations and Substitutions section for ideas.

🥜 Ingredients

• Peanut butter - The star ingredient. Crunchy or smooth both work. I like using Jif Creamy Peanut Butter.
• Soy sauce - Adds saltiness and umami. Make sure you use light soy sauce, not dark soy sauce. If it doesn't say dark or double black, then it's most likely light soy sauce.
• Honey - Adds sweetness. You can substitute with white or brown sugar, but honey has a unique depth of flavor and dissolves more readily.
• Rice vinegar - Brightens and enhances all the other flavors.
• Garlic - For that garlicky goodness.
• Chili oil (optional) - It adds a spicy kick, but it's optional. Check out my recipe by clicking the link.
• Water - Required to thin out the sauce. The sauce will thicken when you first add it, but once you add enough, it'll get thinner. More on this below.

🔪 Instructions

Step 1. Combine

In a small mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, chili oil, and water. Whisk until incorporated. You can adjust the amount of water and peanut butter to get your desired consistency, but I like it a bit more runny for dipping in dumplings.

💡 Peanut Butter Science
You'll notice the peanut butter clumping up and thickening when you first mix the peanut sauce. However, as you continue to mix the ingredients, the mixture becomes thinner. Why does the sauce become thicker at first?

Peanut butter comprises many carbohydrate molecules, and when water is added, the molecules attach to the water molecules, forming thick clumps. The peanut sauce thickens as more clumps form. But if you keep adding water, you'll eventually pass the thickening point; enough water in the system will cause the peanut sauce to loosen and thin out.

💭 Top Tips

• Add additional water or peanut butter to adjust the consistency to your liking.
• Use freshly minced or grated garlic for the most aromatic flavor.
• Experiment with different ingredients to get the flavor you like! See the sections below for inspiration.

👩🏻‍🍳 Substitutions

Peanut sauce is extremely versatile, making its ingredients adaptable and flexible. Consider using these substitutions if you don't have my recommended ingredients.

• Acid - Substitute rice vinegar with white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, Chinkiang vinegar, lime juice, or Tamarind puree.
• Sweet - Substitute honey with white sugar, brown sugar, or maple syrup.
• Salt - Substitute soy sauce with tamari, coconut aminos, or regular salt.

👨🏻‍🍳 Variations

There are so many variations of peanut sauce around the world. These are some of my favorites:

• Boiled peanuts - Simmer ¼ cup of peanuts in water for 2-3 hours until they're soft. Then mince them with a knife to add a wonderful texture to the sauce.
• Milk/Coconut milk - Use milk or coconut milk instead of water to give it a creamier and fuller taste.
• Fresh chilis or chili paste - Adds a spicier kick and fresher taste than chili oil. Try fresh Thai chilis, Sambal Oelek, or Sriracha.
• Ginger - Adds pungency, spice, and a peppery flavor. Start with one teaspoon of minced ginger.
• Fish sauce - Add 1 tablespoon of fish sauce for a savory and funky depth.
• Chili Crisps - Add chili crisps from my Salsa Macha recipe to add a crunchy texture!

🥡 Storage & Leftovers

Storing: Store leftover Peanut Butter Dumpling Sauce in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Freezing: Peanut sauce freezes really well. Transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use it, defrost it in the fridge overnight, or melt it in a saucepan with one tablespoon of water over low heat.

📖 Recipe FAQs

🍽 Serving Suggestions

Did you enjoy this recipe? Please leave a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below and consider leaving a comment. I'd love to hear your feedback!

📋 Recipe