Homemade Satay Sauce

Name: Homemade Satay Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 200g smooth peanut butter; 200ml coconut milk; 2 tbsp light soy sauce; 1 tbsp soft brown sugar; 1 tbsp lime juice; 1 garlic clove, finely grated; 1 tsp finely grated fresh ginger; ½ tsp chilli flakes, or to taste; 100ml warm water, plus extra if needed

A creamy Thai-style peanut satay sauce with coconut, lime, soy and gentle chilli warmth, ready in minutes for dipping, drizzling over noodles or serving with grilled chicken and vegetables.

15 mins Serves 4On the Hob

Ingredients ↓Method ↓

Method

5 mins prep10 mins cook15 mins total

Put the peanut butter, coconut milk, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and chilli flakes in a small saucepan.
Warm over a low heat, whisking continuously, until smooth; avoid a vigorous boil so the sauce does not split.
Add the warm water a little at a time, whisking until the sauce is thick but pourable.
Stir in the lime juice, taste and balance with a little extra lime, sugar or soy sauce if needed.
Serve warm as a dip or spoon over chicken, noodles, tofu or vegetables.

Notes

The sauce thickens as it cools; loosen it with warm water before serving.

Check the peanut butter and soy sauce labels when cooking for someone with allergies or dietary restrictions.

Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days and reheat gently.

About this recipe

This Thai-style satay sauce is smooth, savoury and gently spicy, with coconut milk softening the richness of peanut butter and lime bringing the whole mixture into focus.

It comes together in one saucepan, making it useful for dipping, drizzling over noodles or serving alongside grilled chicken, tofu and vegetables. Add the warm water gradually so you can stop when the sauce is thick but pourable.

Serve it warm, or cool and refrigerate it for a quick midweek accompaniment. The flavour is easy to adjust with extra lime, soy or chilli.