Thai Peanut Dressing
This irresistible peanut dressing pairs well with Thai flavors. It's creamy, bold, nutty and zippy, and easy to make with basic ingredients.
Posted by Kathryne Taylor on May 8, 2025
This peanut dressing is like peanut sauce, but in salad dressing form. It’s creamy, bold and nutty. It makes a statement! This dressing is awesome with Thai flavors like bell pepper, carrots, cabbage, mango and much more—you’ll find a list of suggestions below.
This salad dressing is easy to whisk together with basic ingredients. I bet you have them in your pantry already. You’ll need creamy peanut butter (the creamier, the better), lime juice, tamari or soy sauce, maple syrup or honey, fresh garlic and red pepper flakes (if you like some spice). That’s it!
Peanut Dressing Salad Suggestions
If you like fresh spring rolls, you could make a deconstructed spring roll bowl and top it with this peanut dressing. If you’re in the mood to follow a recipe, check out my Thai Mango Salad with Peanut Dressing or Crunchy Thai Peanut & Quinoa Salad.
Serve this dressing on simple or elaborate salads. Here’s a long list of complementary salad ingredients. You can’t go wrong with any combination:
- Avocado
- Bell pepper
- Cabbage: purple, green or coleslaw mix
- Carrot
- Cilantro or mint
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Green onion
- Lettuce: try mild varieties like Bibb, butter or little gem
- Mango
- Quinoa
- Peanuts
- Snow peas or sugar snap peas
- Soba noodles or rice noodles
More Homemade Salad Dressings
If you enjoy this dressing, try these salad dressings next:
Please let me know how you use your peanut dressing in the comments. I love hearing from you and appreciate your feedback!
Peanut Dressing
This irresistible peanut dressing pairs well with Thai flavors. It’s so creamy and flavorful that a little goes a long way. Recipe yields a scant ⅔ cup—double it if needed.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey, to taste
- 2 medium cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (if you like spice)
- ¼ cup lime juice (about 2 to 3 limes)
Instructions
- To prepare the dressing, combine the peanut butter, tamari, maple syrup, garlic and optional red pepper flakes (everything but the lime juice) in a liquid measuring cup or small bowl. Use a small whisk or fork to stir until blended.
- Whisk in about half of the lime juice until creamy, then whisk in the rest. Continue whisking until the mixture is fully blended and nicely creamy.
- Taste, and if it tastes too tart, add another teaspoon or so of maple syrup. Serve as desired. Leftover dressing will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Notes
Peanut butter note: Use ultra creamy peanut butter for the most luxurious texture. Some natural peanut butters can be gritty, depending on the brand. My homemade peanut butter is so creamy that it would work well.
Make it vegan: Use maple syrup, not honey.
Make it gluten free: Use certified gluten-free tamari, not soy sauce, which contains wheat.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
This dressing is delish!!! I love cooking with you and have given your cookbook to many friends and family!!! My well worn book opens to the granola recipe which I know by heart! It is my go to book!!
Got another one in the works?
Best to you,
Susan
What if you are allergic to peanuts? Would cashews work? Incidentally, I am not allergic.
Hi David, you could substitute almond, cashew, or even sunflower seed butter if you are allergic. The flavor profile will change, but all should taste good.
Thankyou!”
This was easy to make and pretty flavorful. It was thicker than I expected and I ended up adding salt to my dish, so I think I might add slightly more soy sauce.
I’m trying to make more bean salads so I made black beans, brown rice, red pepper and cauliflower.
Any suggestions on beans besides edamame?
A white bean like a great northern or navy bean variety would have a neutral flavor, and I also like adzuki beans — any of those would complement the dressing.
Your recipe is fantastic! We made it to dip fresh rolls into. We followed directions but ended up putting more peanut butter in as maybe the our limes were big. It didn’t last long, we devoured it! Next time we’ll 3x the recipe. It’s now a favorite in hour house. Thank you!
Does this come with any calorie / carb info?
Hi Leah, approximate nutrition information is available following the recipe by clicking the “nutrition” button. The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Why leave a one-star rating when you have a question? Super, rude.
WTF is this boring-ass recipe?
can you make it without lemon. i am sensitive to it. any suggested alterations without lemon?
Hi Laura, as written, the recipe calls for lime juice. If you are sensitive to all citrus, you could try reducing the amount by 2/3 and replacing with white vinegar. It won’t have the exact same flavor, but the acidity will balance the dressing.
Hi Kate , I am absolutely delighted to find your site. Your recipes are simple and easy but also different and burst with flavour.
Pat
Wales
UK.
Pat, I’m so happy you found my website! Thank you for your kind note, and happy cooking.
Just awesome. Can’t wait to try everything.