This 3-ingredient Cheat Peanut Sauce is a total game-changer! Creamy, nutty, spicy – this is the only shortcut recipe you need for Singapore and Malaysian style satay sauce.
If you’re looking for a quick cheat Peanut Sauce with just THREE ingredients, this is the recipe for you! Peanut sauce is one of the most beloved and versatile condiment. Creamy, nutty, savoury, and a subtle hint of sweetness and spice makes this the perfect sauce for Satays, of course. Its use stretches beyond satays – lob it over your protein of choice, salads, as a dipping sauce, and even over noodles!
I have an authentic peanut sauce recipe from scratch right here. That is one of the best peanut sauce recipes you will find, but I’ll be honest – it can be time-consuming, labour-intensive and comes with a long list of ingredients.
SO FINE, I’m dropping this cheat recipe that simplifies the process without compromising that much on flavour.
Why you will LOVE this recipe
- Quick and Convenient: Our cheat peanut satay sauce is perfect for those busy weeknight dinners when you crave the rich, nutty flavour of satay sauce but don’t have the time for an elaborate cooking process.
- Minimal Ingredients: Just THREE ingredients to amazing peanut sauce!
- Delicious Flavour: Despite the shortcut, this recipe doesn’t skimp on taste. You’ll still get that mouthwatering combination of peanut and savoury spicy flavours that make traditional satay sauce so enjoyable.
Key Ingredients for Cheat Peanut Sauce
To make this cheat peanut satay sauce, you’ll need just these following ingredients:
- Peanut Butter: Peanut butter forms the rich, nutty base of the sauce. Chunky peanut butter is best, to get that pulsed nature of authentic satay sauce! Best to also get an unsalted and no-sugar version of the peanut butter.
- Sambal: This is the main flavouring agent to the peanut sauce. You can use ready-made, store-bought versions of it, though I would always recommend you make a batch and store in the fridge for better control of flavour! I have so many recipes for Sambal here, I suggest you start with this basic one if you’re just starting out on your sambal journey.
- Coconut Milk: This will add richness and a mild sweetness to complement the peanut butter. This might be labelled as coconut cream as well, this will work too.
Other Ingredients (optional)
You can make amazing cheat peanut sauce with just the three ingredients above… but you make need to add these other ingredients based on what you prefer or looking for:
- Water or Stock: This Satay Sauce is thick, but if you prefer a saucier, more liquid consistency, then just add water! You can also add more coconut milk, but that might lean too heavy. If you want even more of a flavour boost, use your stock of choice instead of water.
- Salt: If needed, add salt to season. Sambal may already be seasoned, so always give a taste test before adding salt.
- Sugar: Sugar will help to round off the flavours, if your satay sauce needs it. That said, sambal would already be sweetened enough, and coconut milk can be slightly sweet as well. Palm sugar adds a caramelised sweetness, but it’s not necessary. Regular sugar will work too.
How to Make Cheat Peanut Sauce
1. Heat Peanut Butter in Saucepan
Add peanut butter to a dry saucepan or pot. No oil is needed since peanut butter will have a lot of natural oils in it already.
Turn on the heat, and stir the peanut butter until the oil releases, and it’s a looser consistency.
2. Add Sambal and Coconut Milk
Once the peanut butter is more saucy, add sambal and coconut milk.
Continuously stir to meld the ingredients together until you get a complete sauce.
That’s it!
3. Final Touches (if needed)
If needed, add water or stock, and season with salt and sugar.
Turn off the heat, and serve immediately while hot!
More Recipes Like This
- Versatile, Basic Sambal
- Easy Sambal Belacan (just 3 ingredients!)
- Singapore and Malaysian Chicken Satay
- The BEST, Authentic Satay Peanut Sauce | Kuah Kacang
Cheat Peanut Sauce
4
servings5
minutes10
minutesIngredients
1 cup Peanut Butter, unsalted and unsweetened
2 tbsps Sambal (adjust according to spice tolerance)
1 cup Coconut Milk
- Other ingredients
1/2 cup Water or Stock
1 tsp Sugar, or to taste
1 tsp Salt, or to taste
Directions
- Add peanut butter to a dry saucepan or pot. Turn on the heat, and stir the peanut butter until the oil releases, and it’s a looser consistency.
- Once the peanut butter is more saucy, add sambal and coconut milk. Continuously stir to meld the ingredients together until you get a complete sauce.
- For a saucier consistency, add water or stock, and season with salt and sugar.
- Turn off the heat, and serve immediately!
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