Satay sauce is a rich, nutty peanut sauce from South East Asia, traditionally served with satay: skewers of grilled, marinated meat or tofu. It’s savoury, slightly sweet and gently spicy, and is usually made with ground peanuts, chillies, garlic, shallots, sugar and something sour such as tamarind or lime.
Where does satay come from?
“Satay” (also spelled sate) is the name of the dish itself: small pieces of meat or tofu threaded onto skewers and grilled over charcoal. It’s a much-loved street food in Indonesia and Malaysia, and is popular across Singapore, Thailand and beyond. The peanut sauce served alongside for dipping is what most people in the UK now mean when they say “satay sauce”.
What’s in satay sauce?
Recipes vary from country to country and family to family, but most include:
- Peanuts: roasted and ground, for the rich, nutty base.
- Aromatics: shallots, garlic and often lemongrass and galangal.
- Chilli: for gentle warmth.
- Something sweet: usually palm or brown sugar.
- Something sour: tamarind or lime juice to balance the richness.
Many traditional versions also use shrimp paste or fish sauce, so not all satay sauce is vegan.
What does satay sauce taste like?
Nutty and savoury first, then a little sweetness and a tangy finish, with mild chilli warmth rather than real heat. The texture can be smooth or chunky, and it’s thick enough to cling to a skewer.
How to use satay sauce
- Dip: with grilled tofu, vegetable or chicken skewers, spring rolls or prawn crackers.
- Noodles and stir-fries: loosen it with a splash of hot water and toss through noodles or stir-fried veg.
- Marinade: coat tofu, tempeh or vegetables before grilling or roasting.
- Dressing: thin with lime juice and water for a crunchy slaw or noodle salad.
- Gado-gado: spoon over a salad of vegetables, potatoes and tofu, Indonesian-style.
Our Peanut Satay Sauce
Our Janda Peanut Satay Sauce is a rich, chunky Malaysian-style satay made in small batches in Huntingdon. It’s made with 33% peanuts, red chillies, shallots, garlic, galangal, lemongrass, brown sugar, tamarind and lime juice.
- 100% plant based: no fish sauce, shrimp paste, egg or dairy.
- Ready to use: straight from the 200g jar as a dip, or loosened with water as a sauce.
- Allergens: contains peanuts.
You’ll also find it in our Taste of Asia Gift Box, alongside our Korean Barbecue Sauce and Soy, Chilli & Garlic Sauce.
Satay sauce FAQs
Is satay sauce vegan?
Not always. Many traditional recipes use shrimp paste or fish sauce. Ours is 100% plant based.
Is satay sauce spicy?
Usually only mildly. The chilli adds warmth rather than heat.
Is satay sauce the same as peanut butter sauce?
Not quite. Satay sauce gets its depth from aromatics like lemongrass, galangal and tamarind, not just peanuts.
What do you eat satay sauce with?
Grilled skewers, noodles, stir-fries, spring rolls and salads.