Vietnamese Peanut Sauce (tương đậu phộng)

By: MeganPosted: 07/06/2022 Updated: 13/10/2024
Prep 5 minutes
Cook 5 minutes
Total 10 minutes

This creamy umami-flavored Vietnamese peanut dipping sauce recipe is savory, filled with garlic, and finger-licking good.

Vietnamese Peanut Sauce (tương đậu phộng)

Vietnamese peanut dipping sauce is one of my all-time favorite sauces and is incredibly versatile. This creamy, savory, umami-flavored peanut sauce pairs wonderfully with goi cuon (Vietnamese spring rolls), nem nuong (grilled pork spring rolls), chicken satay, chicken wings, or if thinned out as a salad dressing!

What is Vietnamese Peanut Sauce?

This Vietnamese peanut sauce recipe is made with creamy peanut butter, freshly sauteed garlic, hoisin sauce, and nuoc cham (Vietnamese dipping sauce). The combined ingredients give this sauce a creamy, savory, and umami-packed flavor. Most commonly this sauce is used as a dipping sauce for Vietnamese spring rolls.

Someone dipping a goi cuon spring roll into a peanut sauce.

Ingredients

You can find all of these ingredients for this Vietnamese peanut sauce recipe at your local grocery store, Asian grocery store, or online.

  • Peanut Butter: Creamy peanut butter works best for this recipe to yield a rich, creamy velvety texture. But you can see below for substitutions.
  • Garlic: make sure to use freshly minced garlic and not store prepared minced garlic for the richest flavor.
  • Hoisin Sauce: hoisin sauce is made of fermented soybean, five-spice garlic, red chili peppers, and sugar. It has a delicious umami flavor that pairs wonderfully with peanut butter. You can find hoisin sauce online or at your local Asian grocery store.
  • Cornstarch: cornstarch thickens up the sauce so that it is less runny. This is entirely optional if you prefer a runnier sauce.
  • Vietnamese Dipping Sauce (nuoc cham): a staple Vietnamese dipping sauce that is made up of freshly minced garlic, fish sauce, water, sugar, chili sauce, and lime juice. You can find my recipe for Vietnamese dipping sauce here.
  • Crushed Peanuts: used as a garnish and an additional crunch.
All the ingredients to make Vietnamese peanut sauce.

Additions and Substitutions

  • Nut Butter: for an alternative to creamy peanut butter, you can always use chunky peanut butter or almond butter.
  • Red Thai Chili Peppers: for an additional spicy kick, you can add minced red Thai chili peppers to the peanut sauce.

How to Make Vietnamese Peanut Sauce

You can make this Vietnamese peanut sauce recipe very easily with only a few simple steps!

  1. Sauté garlic. Add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to a small saucepan and sauté the minced garlic on medium-high heat until browned and fragrant.
  2. Mix the sauces. Next, mix in the peanut butter, hoisin sauce, hot water, and Vietnamese dipping sauce (nuoc cham) until thoroughly combined.
  3. Add cornstarch slurry. In a small bowl, mix together 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water until combined. Then add the cornstarch slurry into the sauce and stir to combine. Continue cooking until the sauce is combined and thickened. Top with crushed peanuts and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Completely mixed and ready to eat Vietnamese peanut sauce.

Expert Tips

  • Make the Vietnamese fish sauce (nuoc cham) in advance. Nuoc cham uses fresh minced garlic which will seep into the sauce and taste better over time. But you can always use freshly made Vietnamese dipping sauce as well.
  • Use a cornstarch slurry to thicken up the sauce. When we add the fish sauce into the mixture, it will thin out the peanut butter, cooking the cornstarch slurry into the sauce will thicken the Vietnamese peanut sauce back up.

Storage Instructions

You can store this Vietnamese peanut dipping sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

FAQ

What is peanut sauce made of?

Peanut sauce or tương đậu phộng is traditionally made with creamy peanut butter, hoisin sauce, garlic, hot chili peppers, fish sauce, and water.

Is peanut sauce healthy?

Vietnamese peanut dipping sauce contains nutrient-packed ingredients such as peanuts, fish sauce, and lime but they also contain high calories and fat making them healthy in moderation.

What do you serve peanut sauce with?

This Vietnamese peanut dipping sauce pairs with Vietnamese spring rolls or grilled pork spring rolls.

Did you make this Vietnamese Peanut Sauce?

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Vietnamese Peanut Sauce Recipe

Up close of a small jar of Vietnamese peanut sauce.

Vietnamese Peanut Sauce (tương đậu phộng)

5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Vietnamese peanut sauce is the perfect pairing for Vietnamese spring rolls, chicken satay, or even as a salad dressing. The creamy umami flavored Vietnamese peanut sauce recipe is savory, filled with garlic and is finger-licking good.
Servings: 6 servings
Print Recipe

Ingredients

Cornstarch Slurry

  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon water

Garnish

  • 1 tablespoon peanuts crushed

Instructions

  • Sauté garlic. Add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a small saucepan and sauté the minced garlic on medium-high heat until browned and fragrant.
  • Mix the sauces. Next, add the peanut butter, hoisin sauce, water, and Vietnamese dipping sauce (nuoc cham) and mix until thoroughly combined.
  • Add cornstarch slurry. In a small bowl, mix together 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water until combined. Then add the cornstarch slurry into the sauce and stir to combine. Continue cooking until the sauce is combined and thickened. Top with crushed peanuts and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Make the Vietnamese fish sauce (nuoc cham) in advance. Nuoc cham uses fresh minced garlic which will seep into the sauce and taste better over time. But you can always use freshly made Vietnamese dipping sauce as well.
  • Use a cornstarch slurry to thicken up the sauce. When we add the fish sauce into the mixture, it will thin out the peanut butter, cooking the cornstarch slurry into the sauce will thicken the Vietnamese peanut sauce back up.

Nutrition:

Calories: 120kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 2652mg | Potassium: 189mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg

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