My Mom’s Vietnamese Peanut Sauce (5 minute recipe!)

Made in just 5 minutes, this simple Vietnamese peanut sauce is the perfect dipping sauce for Vietnamese spring rolls. Included in this blog post is a guide on how to make this sauce at home and how to customize it to your tastes!

Whenever I smell this sauce, I know I am having Vietnamese spring rolls for dinner. It’s a smell that is so nostalgic because I used to get so excited about having spring rolls for dinner. They were one of my favorite things to eat growing up and still is. One of the reasons Vietnamese spring rolls is so good is because of this Vietnamese peanut sauce. So easy to make and only takes 5 minutes!

What is Vietnamese peanut sauce?

Vietnamese peanut sauce is a sauce made with hoisin sauce, garlic, and peanut butter. The hoisin gives the sauce a rich umami flavor which is balanced out by the nuttiness of the peanut butter. It is then mixed with water to make the hoisin sauce flavor a little milder and gives balance to the sauce.

What is Vietnamese peanut sauce used for?

The most common way to use Vietnamese peanut sauce is as a dipping sauce for spring rolls! This sauce is most commonly associated with traditional Vietnamese spring rolls made with pork belly and shrimp.

Ingredients, Substitutes & Adjustments

• Garlic – Adds yummy flavor to the sauce.
• Hoisin sauce – This is the ingredient that gives the sauce its umami flavor and its dark color. I personally prefer Lee Kum Kee hoisin sauce. It’s the best!
• Peanut butter – Adds nuttiness to the sauce. I used creamy peanut butter for my sauce, but you can also use chunky peanut butter.
• Water – Helps make the hoisin flavor more mild. Without water, the sauce is inedible because the hoisin flavor is so strong.
• Corn starch – Helps to thicken up the sauce! Substitute corn starch with tapioca starch.
• Peanuts – This is optional, but it is traditional to top the sauce with some peanuts before serving.

How to make Vietnamese peanut sauce

First, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Next, add hoisin sauce and peanut butter. Saute for another 30 seconds. Add the water and bring it up to a boil. Mix corn starch with 1 tbsp of water and add to the sauce. Simmer until it thickens (1-2 minutes). Pour it into a bowl and set aside to cool for 5 minutes. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools. Top with peanuts right before serving.

How to customize this sauce to your tastes

The best version of this sauce is the one that tastes the best to you. Feel free to change the amount of hoisin sauce, peanut sauce, and even garlic to use. If you would like a stronger hoisin flavor, add more hoisin sauce. If you would like a lighter hoisin flavor, add less hoisin sauce. Same idea with the peanut sauce. Use more or less depending how much you like the peanut flavor.

What do I do if my sauce is too watery?

Everyone has a different preference on how thick or watery the sauce is. My mom likes it more watery, and I personally prefer it a little less watery. If you want a thicker sauce, use less water. If you want a more watery sauce, add more water. Additionally, if you feel like your sauce is too watery after you’ve cooked it, let it simmer for longer to thicken it up.

What do I serve Vietnamese peanut sauce with?

Vietnamese peanut sauce is traditionally used as a dipping sauce for Vietnamese spring rolls like bo bia, nem nuong spring rolls, and salmon spring rolls.

How do I store Vietnamese peanut sauce?

Vietnamese peanut sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Did you make this dish?

If you made this dish, I would love to see!

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