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–+ servings
Hot Indonesian Peanut Sauce
Hot Indonesian Peanut Sauce is a creamy, savory sauce inspired by the rich peanut-based sauces found throughout Indonesia, where peanuts are commonly blended with spices, aromatics, and soy sauce to create flavorful accompaniments for grilled meats and vegetables. This vintage adaptation combines peanut butter with garlic, soy sauce, citrus, cumin, ginger, and crushed red pepper for a smooth sauce that's both sweet and spicy. Blended until silky, it's designed as a marinade for chicken or beef before grilling, allowing the bold flavors to penetrate the meat. It also works beautifully as a dipping sauce, drizzle for vegetables, or dressing for noodle salads, making it a versatile addition to everyday cooking.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Marinating time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course sauce
Cuisine Asian
Servings 8
Calories 137 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
  • 2 tbsp peanut oil
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1 ½ tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 ¼ tsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper
  • ¼ tsp ground cumin
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger

Instructions
 

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

  • Peel and roughly chop the garlic.
  • Measure all remaining ingredients.

Step 2: Blend the Sauce

  • Add the garlic, peanut oil, soy sauce, water, lemon juice, peanut butter, brown sugar, cornstarch, crushed red pepper, cumin, and ginger to a blender.
  • Blend until completely smooth.
  • Stop once or twice to scrape down the sides of the blender.

Step 3: Marinate

  • Pour the sauce over chicken or beef.
  • Coat evenly.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour before grilling.

Tips

  • Use natural peanut butter for a richer peanut flavor.
  • Substitute fresh grated ginger for ground ginger.
  • Add a splash of coconut milk for a creamier sauce.
  • Stir in a little sesame oil for additional depth.
  • Increase the crushed red pepper for extra heat.
  • Thin with additional water if using as a dipping sauce.
  • Try it over grilled vegetables or tofu.
  • Use lime juice instead of lemon juice for a brighter citrus flavor.
  • Refrigerate leftovers for up to 5 days.
  • Excellent served with satay skewers or rice bowls.

Nutrition

Calories: 137kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 4gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 289mgPotassium: 136mgFiber: 1.5gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 8IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 0.7mg
Keyword Asian-inspired, Chicken, grilling, Indonesian, Marinade, peanut butter, peanut sauce, Sauce, spicy, vintage recipe