Skip to main content
Epicurious
Gourmet

Spicy Sichuan Peanut Sauce

3.8

(14)

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes about 2 1/2 cups

Ingredients

1 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Asian sesame oil
3 tablespoons rice vinegar (not seasoned)
2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
2 tablespoons grated peeled fresh gingerroot
1 1/2 teaspoons Asian chili paste* or 1 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes or to taste
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce*, or to taste
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3/4 cup water
*available at Asian markets, some specialty foods shops, and supermarkets

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a blender or food processor blend all ingredients with salt to taste until smooth. Transfer sauce to a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Peanut sauce keeps, covered and chilled, 1 week.

  2. To use peanut sauce:

    Step 2

    Boil 1 pound Asian noodles or spaghetti until al dents and drain in a colander. Rinse noodles under cold water until cool and drain. Toss noodles with about 3/4 cup sauce and finely chopped scallion to taste. Serves 4 to 6.

TagsSauceChineseEast AsianAsianPeanut ButterGingerHerbs & SpicesGarlicRoot VegetableVegetableDairy FreeQuickEasyMake AheadNo-CookBlenderFood ProcessorGourmet
Read More
Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Spaghetti)
Spaghetti is a common variation in modern Thai cooking. It’s so easy to work with and absorbs the garlicky, spicy notes of pad kee mao well.
Black Sesame Tofu “Basque” Cheesecake
There are many things that appeal about a Basque cheesecake—it's crustless (one less job) and is meant to look “rustic” with its wrinkled and jagged sides.
Zaru Soba (Cold Buckwheat Noodles)
Cool off with this easy zaru soba recipe: a Japanese dish of chewy buckwheat noodles served with chilled mentsuyu dipping sauce, daikon, nori, and scallions.
Sofrito Bolognese
An ex-boyfriend’s mom—who emigrated from Colombia—made the best meat sauce—she would fry sofrito for the base and simply add cooked ground beef, sazón, and jarred tomato sauce. My version is a bit more bougie—it calls for caramelized tomato paste and white wine—but the result is just as good.
Fufu
Fufu is a dish that has been passed down through many generations and is seen as a symbol of Ghanaian identity and heritage. Making fufu traditionally is a very laborious task; this recipe mimics some of that hard work but with a few home-cook hacks that make for a far easier time.
Stir-Fried Phở Noodles With Beef
This dish is not only a quick meal option but also a practical way to use leftover phở noodles when you’re out of broth.
Moo Ping (Thai Grilled Pork Skewers)
This version of pork skewers is made in the oven, which tastes just as good, but you could always throw these on the grill for a version closer to the original.
Eggplant Roasted in Satay Sauce
Among the top tier of sauces is Indonesian satay sauce, because it is the embodiment of joy and life. In fact, this sauce is also trustworthy and highly respectful of whatever it comes into contact with—perhaps it is, in fact, the perfect friend?