This hoisin peanut sauce is rich, creamy and packed with savoury-sweet flavour. It brings together the deep umami of hoisin sauce, the nuttiness of peanut butter, the aroma of sesame oil and a gentle tang from rice vinegar. The result is a quick dipping sauce that works beautifully with Vietnamese spring rolls, dumplings, fried tofu, lettuce wraps, noodle bowls and more.
This Vietnamese-style peanut sauce is surprisingly simple to make. You only need a few pantry ingredients, and the sauce comes together in about 10 minutes on the stovetop. A short simmer helps the peanut butter melt smoothly into the hoisin sauce, creating a glossy texture that clings perfectly to rolls and snacks.
The best part is how easy it is to adjust. Add a little more water for a thinner drizzle, a splash of lime juice or rice vinegar for brightness, or sriracha for heat. Whether you use it as a hoisin peanut dipping sauce or spoon it over rice noodles, this is a practical sauce you will want to make again.
Serve the hoisin and peanut butter sauce with fresh spring rolls, crispy appetisers, vegetables or any Asian-inspired meal that needs a creamy, savoury finish.
In this post:
- Why you’ll love hoisin peanut sauce
- What is hoisin peanut sauce?
- Ingredients and substitutes
- How to make hoisin peanut sauce
- Serving suggestions
- Frequently asked questions
- Hoisin peanut sauce recipe card
Why you’ll love hoisin peanut sauce
Vietnamese peanut dipping sauce is one of those easy condiments that can transform a simple meal. It is creamy, bold, slightly sweet and deeply savoury, making it a natural partner for rice paper rolls, crispy spring rolls, dumplings and stir-fried vegetables.
There is plenty to love about this homemade peanut hoisin sauce:
- Quick and easy: You can make this flavourful sauce in about 10 minutes.
- Versatile: Use it as a dipping sauce, noodle sauce, salad dressing, stir-fry sauce or marinade.
- Savoury and sweet: Hoisin sauce and peanut butter create a balanced sauce with rich umami flavour.
- Plant-based: The sauce is vegan when made with soy sauce instead of fish sauce.
- Customizable: Adjust the texture and flavour with water, rice vinegar, lime juice, sriracha or a pinch of salt.
What is hoisin peanut sauce?
Hoisin peanut sauce is an Asian-style dipping sauce made with hoisin sauce, peanut butter and a few savoury seasonings. It has a creamy texture and a sweet, salty and nutty flavour. It is especially popular as a dipping sauce for gỏi cuốn, also known as Vietnamese spring rolls or fresh rice paper rolls.
This version uses smooth peanut butter for convenience and hoisin sauce for instant depth. Soy sauce adds saltiness, sesame oil increases the nutty aroma, and rice vinegar balances the sweetness. If you enjoy spice, a spoonful of sriracha or chilli garlic sauce adds a gentle kick.
You can also add crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, grated ginger or fresh chillies if you want extra texture and flavour. The sauce should be thick enough to coat food when dipped, but loose enough to drizzle over noodles or vegetables.
Hoisin peanut sauce ingredients and substitutes
This easy peanut butter hoisin sauce uses a short list of everyday ingredients. Each one adds something important to the final flavour and texture.
- Neutral cooking oil: Canola oil works well, but vegetable oil, sunflower oil or avocado oil are also suitable.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic gives the sauce a warm, aromatic base. For a slightly sharper flavour, you can add a little grated fresh ginger.
- Hoisin sauce: This thick, sweet and savoury sauce is the main flavour base. It gives the peanut sauce depth, sweetness and a glossy finish.
- Natural peanut butter: Smooth peanut butter creates a silky sauce. If you prefer texture, use chunky peanut butter or stir in crushed peanuts at the end.
- Sesame oil: Toasted sesame oil adds a deep nutty aroma that pairs beautifully with peanut butter.
- Soy sauce or fish sauce: Soy sauce keeps the sauce plant-based. Fish sauce can be used for extra umami, but the sauce will no longer be vegan.
- Water: Water loosens the sauce and helps the peanut butter blend smoothly. Add it gradually until the sauce reaches your preferred consistency.
- Rice vinegar: This adds mild acidity and balances the sweetness. Fresh lime juice or white wine vinegar can also work.
- Sriracha sauce: Optional, but ideal if you want a spicy hoisin peanut sauce.
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How to make hoisin peanut sauce
This peanut butter hoisin sauce is quick, forgiving and easy to adjust. The key is to gently cook the garlic first, then simmer the sauce just long enough for the peanut butter to melt into the hoisin mixture.
The sauce should look smooth and glossy. If it becomes too thick, whisk in warm water one tablespoon at a time. Taste before serving and adjust with more vinegar, sriracha or salt if needed.
Step 1: Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant and lightly golden. Do not let the garlic burn, as it can make the sauce taste bitter.
Step 2: Add the hoisin sauce, smooth peanut butter, sesame oil, soy sauce or fish sauce, and water. Whisk until the peanut butter melts and the sauce starts to look smooth.
Step 3: Simmer gently over low heat for about 2 minutes, stirring often. Add more water, one tablespoon at a time, until the sauce is glossy and pourable but still thick enough for dipping.
Step 4: Remove from the heat and whisk in the rice vinegar and sriracha, if using. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Add crushed peanuts if you prefer a chunkier sauce.
Refrigerate the peanut hoisin sauce in an airtight container for up to five days. It will thicken as it cools, so whisk in a tablespoon of hot water to loosen it before serving. Let it come to room temperature for the best texture.
Hoisin peanut sauce is not only a dipping sauce for spring rolls. It is also delicious as a noodle sauce, a creamy dressing for slaw, or a quick stir-fry sauce for vegetables and tofu.
Serving suggestions
This easy hoisin peanut dipping sauce is a useful recipe to keep in your Asian-inspired cooking routine. It takes only a few minutes to prepare, but it adds richness, flavour and a creamy finish to many dishes.
Serve this peanut hoisin sauce with:
- Vietnamese rice paper rolls,
- fresh spring rolls,
- crispy spring rolls,
- dumplings,
- fried wontons,
- fried tofu,
- sweet potato fries,
- steamed buns, or
- your favourite savoury snacks.
You can also thin the sauce with a little warm water and drizzle it over noodle bowls, rice bowls, salads or Asian slaws. For a richer noodle sauce, combine it with coconut milk and toss it through cooked noodles or vegetables.
Homemade hoisin peanut sauce has a fresher, more balanced flavour than many ready-made peanut sauces, and you can control the sweetness, saltiness and spice level yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Vietnamese peanut sauce is often made with peanuts or peanut butter, garlic, sugar, fish sauce or soy sauce, lime juice or vinegar, and water. This version uses hoisin sauce and smooth peanut butter for a quick, flavourful shortcut.
Hoisin sauce is a thick, sweet and savoury condiment commonly made with fermented soybeans, garlic, sugar, vinegar and spices. It adds depth, sweetness and umami to dipping sauces, marinades and stir-fries.
No, hoisin sauce does not usually contain peanuts. However, it pairs very well with peanut butter, which is why it works so well in this creamy hoisin peanut sauce.
Hoisin sauce is useful in stir-fries, marinades, dressings and dipping sauces. It is also delicious with dumplings, rolls, noodles, tofu and roasted vegetables. Mixed with peanut butter, it becomes a rich and nutty dipping sauce.
Try more Asian sauce recipes
- Korean bibimbap sauce
- Japanese sukiyaki sauce
- Homemade okonomiyaki sauce
- All-purpose miso sauce
- Japanese white sauce (yum yum sauce)
Hoisin Peanut Sauce
Equipment
-
Small saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce , or fish sauce for extra umami
- ¼ cup water , plus more as needed
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce (optional)
Instructions
-
Place the cooking oil and minced garlic in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant and golden but not brown.
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Add the hoisin sauce, peanut butter, sesame oil, soy sauce or fish sauce, and ¼ cup water. Whisk well until combined.
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Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring often.
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Whisk in extra water, one tablespoon at a time, until the sauce is glossy and slightly runny. It should be thick enough for dipping but loose enough to drizzle.
-
Remove from the heat and whisk in the rice vinegar and sriracha, if using. Taste and adjust with salt, vinegar or extra sriracha as needed.
Notes
- Refrigerate the sauce in an airtight container for up to 5 days. It will thicken as it cools, so whisk in a little hot water before serving if needed.
- For a chunkier texture, stir in 2 tablespoons of crushed peanuts after cooking.
- Serve with spring rolls, summer rolls, dumplings, fried tofu, noodles or vegetables.
Nutrition Information
Try more Asian-inspired recipes:
- Roasted pink oyster mushrooms
- Easy avocado sushi rolls
- Spicy Korean gochujang noodles
- Korean braised tofu (dubu jorim)
- Chinese tomato egg stir fry