• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Organize Yourself Skinny
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Meal Prep
  • Freezer Cooking
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Meal Prep
  • Freezer Cooking
  • Shop
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Meal Prep
    • Freezer Cooking
    • Shop
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Healthy Salad Recipes & Dressings » Thai Peanut Salad Dressing

    Thai Peanut Salad Dressing

    Published: Jan 25, 2022 · Modified: Jun 5, 2022 by Tammy Overhoff

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Thai Peanut Salad Dressing is easy to make, delicious, and versatile. You can use it as a salad dressing, dipping sauce, stir-fry sauce, satay, or drizzle over your favorite rice or noodle bowls. It’s gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free and healthier than any bottled sauce you’ll find in the grocery stores. Make it ahead to add spicy, nutty Asian flavor to your meals all week.

    Thai peanut dressing in a mason jar.

    This post contains affiliate links. I am an affiliate for Amazon Associates and other brands and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. You’re by no means obligated to use my links but, if you do, thank you for supporting Organize Yourself Skinny.

    One of my favorite salad dressings is the Thai Peanut dressing you get with the Panera Thai Chicken Salad. I love the nutty, tangy flavors! However, since being diagnosed with a gluten allergy, I haven’t enjoyed that delicious salad. So, I decided to make a gluten-free version!

    This Thai Peanut Dressing is absolutely delicious, and you’ll want to drink it straight from the jar! It’s gluten-free, but nobody can tell the difference.

    Trust me; you’ll want to put this on everything – I recommend starting with my Thai Peanut Salad. 

    Grab Your FREE Freezer to Flourish Cheat Sheets!

    Learn the power of freezer prep and start making your life easier and healthier today!

    Reasons you’ll love this recipe

    • Pantry ingredients. If you like Asian-inspired foods, then you likely have everything in your kitchen right now to make this.
    • Easy to prepare. Whisk everything together and enjoy – this Thai salad dressing comes together in less than 5 minutes.
    • Use this dressing on everything! I use it mainly as a salad dressing, but it doubles as a Thai peanut sauce that you can drizzle on everything from stir-fries to rice bowls.
    • Make-ahead. I like making a jar of Thai peanut sauce to add flavor to a recipe all week.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients to make a Thai Peanut Salad Dressing.
    • Tamari is a gluten-free soy sauce. I don’t recommend coconut amino acids because it’s to sweet of a flavor that throws the rest of the ingredients off. San-J is my favorite Tamari brand.
    • Rice vinegar gives the Thai dressing a layer of vinegar flavor.
    • Sesame oil is one of my favorite Asian ingredients; it gives the recipe that nutty, rich flavor.
    • I discovered chili oil a few years ago, and it’s my go-to ingredient when I want to give an Asian-inspired recipe a spicy kick.
    • Ginger and garlic give the dressing a fresh component, and I prefer to use fresh ginger and garlic when making this dressing.
    • Creamy peanut butter is star of this dressing and sauce. To keep this salad dressing clean, I recommend using organic natural peanut butter. You don’t want to use anything with hydrogenated oil or artificial ingredients.
    • Honey is essential to use a sweetener to balance out the other flavors. Honey is often my go-to when making homemade salad dressing, and I feel it adds a touch of sweetness without overpowering the other ingredients. You can also use maple syrup or coconut sugar. Brown sugar can work but I prefer to leave the refined sugar out.
    • Fresh lime juice gives a burst of fresh flavor to the Thai dressing.
    • Unsweetened coconut milk thins out the sauce to make it a salad dressing. Use the coconut milk in the carton; you can save the rest to use in smoothies. 

    Faqs

    Is Thai Peanut Sauce healthy?

    This homemade version uses healthier, cleaner ingredients, so it’s better for you than most store-bought versions. However, even though it includes good fats from peanut butter and oils, it’s still higher in fat and calories than other salad dressing options.

    So, it can still be part of a healthy, clean eating diet, but you should pay close attention to the amount you use.

    Should Thai Peanut Sauce be refrigerated?

    Yes, this homemade version uses coconut milk, is best refrigerated, and will stay fresh for up to a week.

    Cooking Tips

    • If you want to thicken this Thai salad dressing up to use as a sauce, leave out the coconut milk or start with a smaller amount until you get the consistency you’re looking for.
    • The chili oil gives this Thai peanut sauce a nice amount of spice. If you want it spicy, add more oil, sprinkle in some crushed red pepper flakes, or stir in sriracha sauce. To make it mild, then leave it out.
    • Stir in a tablespoon or so of cilantro or sliced green onions for extra fresh flavor.
    • If your peanut butter is thick and challenging to whisk, then microwave it for a few seconds to thin it out – same with the honey.
    • You can quickly whisk the Thai Dressing ingredients together in a bowl, but you can also throw everything into a blender or food processor. If you do this, you won’t need to microwave thicker peanut butter or honey.
    Thai peanut sauce in a mason jar with the lid on

    Supplies

    • Small Bowl
    • Whisk
    • Mason jars and lids

    Serving suggestions

    You can enjoy this Thai Peanut Salad Dressing recipe in many different ways.

    • Toss it with your favorite Asian-inspired salad. I also love filling a large bowl with shredded red cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, bell pepper, and shredded rotisserie chicken then drizzling the Thai dressing on top. So good!
    • Use it in stir-fries; it would be delicious in this shrimp-fried rice, quinoa-fried rice, or tossed with veggies.
    • As a dipping sauce for grilled chicken, pork, or beef.
    • Drizzle on rice or noodle bowls. I love to spoon some over shredded chicken breast broccoli, red bell peppers, and brown rice to make a quick, healthy dinner.

    How to Make Thai Peanut Salad Dressing

    step by step collage showing how to make Thai peanut sauce dressing.
    • If you need to, warm up the peanut butter and honey on the stove or microwave until both are easy to whisk. 
    • Place all ingredients into a medium-size mixing bowl and whisk together until blended. Give the dressing a taste for salt or other seasonings.
    • Pour the salad dressing into a mason jar and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

    Storage

    Pour the Thai salad dressing in a mason jar or other glass container with a tight fighting lid and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. If the dressing thickens in the fridge, let it sit out for a few minutes on the counter and then give it a couple of shakes before using it. You can also use extra coconut milk or water to thin the dressing until you get the desired consistency.

    Thai Peanut Salad Dressing

    Thai Peanut Salad Dressing

    This Thai Peanut Salad Dressing is easy to make, delicious, and versatile. You can use it as a salad dressing, dipping sauce, stir-fry sauce, satay, or drizzle over your favorite rice or noodle bowls. It's gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free and healthier than any bottled sauce you'll find in the grocery stores. Make it ahead to add spicy, nutty Asian flavor to your meals all week.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: dinner, dressing, Lunch, Main Course, Salad dressings
    Cuisine: American, Asian
    Keyword: thai peanut dressing, Thai peanut salad dressing, thai peanut salad dressing recipe, thai peanut sauce
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 16 people
    Calories: 97kcal
    Author: Tammy Overhoff

    Equipment

    • microplane grater for the ginger and garlic
    • citrus juicer for the lime
    • small bowl
    • Whisk
    • air tight containers I like using mason jars.

    Ingredients

    • 1/4 cup tamari
    • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
    • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
    • 1 teaspoon chili oil
    • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
    • 1 teaspoon grated garlic cloves
    • 1/2 cup creamy natural organic peanut butter softened or melted
    • 2 tablespoons melted honey
    • juice of 1 lime
    • 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk in the carton

    Instructions

    • If you need to, warm up the peanut butter and honey on the stove or microwave until both are easy to whisk. 
    • Place all of the ingredients into a medium-size mixing bowl and whisk together until blended.
    • Give the dressing a taste for salt or other seasonings.
    • Pour the salad dressing into a mason jar and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

    Notes

    ** This Thai Salad Dressing recipe makes a little less than2 cups of dressing. Serving size is 2 tablespoons per person.
    Storage
    Pour the Thai salad dressing in a mason jar or other glass container with a tight fighting lid and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. If the dressing thickens in the fridge, let it sit out for a few minutes on the counter and then give it a couple of shakes before using it. You can also use extra coconut milk or water to thin the dressing until you get the desired consistency.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 235mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g

    Did you make this recipe?

    Have you tried this Thai Peanut Salad Dressing recipe? If so, I’d love for you to rate this recipe and leave a comment below. We all learn from each other’s experiences. Also, it would be awesome if you could share a picture on Instagram and tag it #organizeyourselfskinny. I can’t wait to see it!

    Sharing is caring!

    219 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Healthy Salad Recipes & Dressings, Recipes

    About Tammy Overhoff

    Hi, I’m Tammy Overhoff, a busy mom, wife, and entrepreneur. I am the owner, author, and recipe developer here at Organize Yourself Skinny. Since 2011 Organize Yourself Skinny has become a trusted resource for clean eating recipes to meal prep, reviews, and lifestyle hacks to help you fit healthy habits and routines into your busy schedule. Check out my online shop Reset & Flourish for all of my eBooks, Guides, and Bundles!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tara says

      March 05, 2023 at 8:17 pm

      Will coconut milk from a can not work?

      Reply
      • Tammy Overhoff says

        March 06, 2023 at 6:22 am

        I’ve only used the coconut milk in a carton so I’m not sure. You can give it a try, I’m thinking it will be thicker.

        Reply
    2. Stacey says

      June 08, 2022 at 9:11 am

      You mention a specific chili oil that you use but the link doesn’t seem to be there and there’s no mention of the name….can you let me know what it is please?

      Reply
      • Tammy Overhoff says

        June 09, 2022 at 10:53 am

        Hey there. The chili oil I have right now is Asian Gourmet Chili oil. You can find the chili oil brands next to the soy sauce in the grocery store. Hope that helps.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I’m Tammy Overhoff, a busy mom, wife, and entrepreneur. I am the owner, author, and recipe developer here at Organize Yourself Skinny. Since 2011 Organize Yourself Skinny has become a trusted resource for clean eating meal prep recipes, reviews, and lifestyle hacks to help you fit healthy habits and routines into your busy schedule. Check out my online shop Reset & Flourish for all of my eBooks, Guides, and Bundles!

    More about me →

    Soup Recipes

    • overhead picture of pasta fagioli
      Pasta Fagioli
    • Healthy zuppa toscana soup in a bowl.
      Healthy Zuppa Toscana
    • healthy potato soup recipe
      Healthy Potato Soup
    • healthy stuffed pepper soup
      Stuffed Pepper Soup

    Helpful Reviews

    • Tammy Overhoff with her box from Thrive Market
      Thrive Market Review 2023: The Best Thrive Market Products!
    • Tammy Overhoff holding a package of butcher box chicken things and butcher box bacon for her butcher box review
      Honest Butcher Box Review 2023: The Best Butcher Box Meats!
    • Tammy overhoff holding her daily harvest box for her review
      Daily Harvest Review 2023: The Best Daily Harvest Meals!
    • Tammy Overhoff holding her green chef box that she will review
      Green Chef Review 2022: My Honest Opinion
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • FAQS

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Copyright © 2022 Organize Yourself Skinny

    219 shares