Years ago when my kids were wee ones, I discovered peanut sauce. Or maybe it was they discovered peanut butter and then I discovered peanut sauce. I'm not a big fan of peanut butter though I do get cravings now and then, particularly when I'm sick. Go figure. When I'm down and out I like peanut butter spread lightly on toast, (preferably Pepperidge Farm or challah) and then lots of Smucker's strawberry preserves on top. Plus, my sandwich wouldn't be the same without a tall glass of ice cold chocolate Nestle's Quik to drink. Yes, I still keep it on hand for those sick occasions. But generally I'm not a peanut craving kind of person.
So many years ago before satay came and went-well I guess it is still here, but it isn't everywhere- I started making peanut sauce to go over grilled chicken. I served it with coconut rice and microwave pappadums and grilled pineapple at numerous summer dinner parties and most likely made key lime pie for dessert. Now I don't have numerous dinner parties, but back then people probably were getting tired of my peanut sauced chicken. I can tell you they loved it; and they thought it was so gourmet. Whatever that means.
Well, now years later I can't find that recipe and I had to make a new one. It is good. And everyone still loves my peanut sauce, best that I can tell. It is rich and creamy and thick. It doesn't drip, but it does cling. (Boy for a minute I thought we were talking panty hose, but not many wear those anymore.) This sauce has a mellow coconut taste with a follow up of heat. It isn't too sweet but you can adjust that to your liking. Peanut sauce works well with chicken or seafood and is great for dunking veggies like green beans and carrots and cauliflower and peppers and pea pods. Yes, it is a perfect party sauce.
I also make coconut rice to serve with the grilled chicken breasts. I try to marinate the breasts if I have time. After they are cooked, I score them and then slather on the peanut sauce. Even if the peanut sauce is at room temperature, the heat from the chicken warms the peanut sauce and makes it nice and creamy. When cooking the rice I first saute 2 T of onion and then add the rice and saute that a few minutes. Then I add water and ¼ c of coconut milk per 2 cups of liquid and a good pinch of salt to cook the rice. This makes great coconut rice.
A perfectly easy sauce = equals one perfect summer meal!
Recipe
Thai Peanut Sauce or Give Me Some Sauce Tuesday
- Cook Time: 15 Minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Thai
Description
Thai Peanut Sauce is perfect just on a spoon! However it tastes great on chicken or seafood or really...anything!
Ingredients
1 T canola or peanut oil
2 cloves chopped garlic
1 heaping Tablespoon of Thai Kitchen red chili paste
1 can minus ¼ c coconut milk (use the ¼ c in your rice)
½ c peanut butter (I used chunky)
1 T hoisin sauce
1 t red chili garlic sauce
1 T soy sauce
1-2 T brown sugar
Instructions
Heat oil over medium heat and saute the garlic. Stir in red chili paste and let that cook while stirring every few minutes.
Add coconut milk and whisk to remove lumps of chili paste. Stir in peanut butter and whisk that, too.
Add hoisin, soy, red chili garlic sauce and brown sugar to taste. Let cook on low a few minutes to blend the flavors. This will keep at room temperature while you're cooking your meal of choice. Slather on immediately when taking your choice of protein off the grill. This will help the sauce melt in.
Notes
My marinade for Peanut chicken: (this was enough for 4 boneless, skinless breasts)
1 T soy
1 t red chili
1 garlic clove minced
1 T mirin wine
1 T brown sugar
1 t red chili paste
Mix together and let marinate as long as you can!
A Few Others To Try:
Royal Thai Cashew Chicken
Cantonese Steamed Chicken
Pad Thai
Donalyn @ The Creekside Cook says
I love peanut sauce - it is such a versatile sauce, good on SO many things! Yours looks wonderful.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Donalyn. You are absolutely right!
shannon @ a periodic table says
gotta love peanut sauce for making everything more exciting to eat (veggies included!) i'm bookmarking this, because when we go on vacation, we like to make things like this to throw on quick dinners; no time to cook when we're busy relaxing. 🙂
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Shannon. It is quick and perfect for vacations becuse it is not only a sauce but makes a great dip, too!
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You says
"A perfectly easy sauce = equals one perfect summer meal!"-- I so agree with that! Both the sauce and marinate recipes look beyond tempting.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Denise, you are very sweet!
Laura Dembowski says
I crave pb all the time. I have had pb sauce a couple of times and always wanted to make it at home, now I have a recipe to try!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Go for it Laura. It does not disappoint!
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes says
I never made peanut sauce and it has been in my list for years and years! I should just get down to business. This is a spicy good recipe Abbe! What I can´t seem to find is the coconut in the rice directions...
Abbe Odenwalder says
Oh Paula. Glad you caught me. Not chicken broth-1/4 coconut milk goes into the liquid for the rice. And if you can stir in some grated coconut at the end if you want. I will correct!
Biz says
Yum, yum and yum!! Cannot wait to try this one. Never thought to use coconut milk to make a peanut sauce!!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Biz, it adds a whole new dimension!
Natalie G says
This sauce sounds amazing, I have never had a peanut sauce before but now I am excited to try it out.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Natalie, if you haven't had peanut sauce now is the time. It is really, really good! Then again you might not want to make it because you will have to make it again!
Liz Berg says
I'm not a fan of plain peanut butter, either...but I love it in cookies AND peanut sauce.Your chicken looks phenomenal!!!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks, Liz! Peanut butter is a funny thing. The rabbit catcher eats it on everything as his afternoon snack. Then he leaves the knife on the counter where it makes the entire kitchen smell like peanut butter. Anyway, I DO love this sauce!
Angie Schneider says
We love peanut butter and any peanut butter based sauces and dips. So this is a perfect one for us.
Abbe Odenwalder says
If you love peanut butter than you will love this. But you've got to like coconut, too...
Purabi Naha | Cosmopolitan Currymania says
Oh, I loved this peanut sauce. I never made this in Thai style. Wow!
Abbe Odenwalder says
You are right Purabi. It is Thai style. And it is good! Let me know what you think!
ChgoJohn says
I really do enjoy a good peanut sauce, Abbe, and I'm more than happy to give your recipe a try. I once had a recipe for one but it was nothing like this. There's a lot more to your sauce than peanuts! Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Abbe Odenwalder says
It's true John. The coconut milk gives it a richness and a sweetness that can't be duplicated. And the spice - well it all works well in tandem. Thanks!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Shelley, thanks so much! It is a great meal with the pineapple and rice, plus the sauce is a good one. Enjoy!
Two Healthy Kitchens says
Abbe - I can't tell you how thrilled I am that I found this recipe! I LOVE peanut sauce (even when I'm not sick!!!) and every single thing about this recipe sounds fantastic! I truly can't wait to make it for my family! The suggestions for grilled pineapple and coconut rice just knock it out of the park! ~ Shelley at THK
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks so much, Pam. It is always great to have a new reader. And give this sauce a try. I think you will enjoy it!
Kitchen Riffs says
Chunky peanut butter rules. 😉 Although I'll never turn down creamy. Now that you mention it, it's been awhile since I've had anything in a peanut sauce. And years and years since I've made one. No doubt your post is fate telling me it's time again. 😉 Really nice - thanks.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Well, than it is time to add it back! I enjoyed this at least until I can compare it to the one that is missing! And it is you that is very nice, Mr. KR!
Pam says
This sounds great! I've always liked it at restaurants but have never tried it at home. Thanks for the recipe. I like your blog too!