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    Home » Vegan

    Thai Cashew Dressing (peanut sauce substitute)

    Published: May 24, 2022 · Modified: May 25, 2022 by Rachael · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    This creamy Thai cashew dressing is a savory peanut sauce substitute. Since peanuts are a common allergen, I use freshly roasted cashews that have a rich nutty flavor that is super similar to peanuts.

    The dressing is also vegan, gluten free, dairy free, sesame free and refined sugar free. Perfect for salads, spring rolls, noodle dishes and marinades!

    Try it with my Thai sweet potato glass noodle salad!! Yaaaas.

    Thai cashew dressing being poured into ramekin.

    Inspired by my obsession with peanut satay dipping sauces and an asian cashew dressing recipe I made while studying at the Food Future Institute. nom nom nom nom nom.

    Jump to:
    • Which kitchen tools are needed?
    • What to put this dressing on
    • Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQs
    • Leftover cashews? Try these recipes
    • Thai Cashew Dressing (peanut sauce substitute)

    Which kitchen tools are needed?

    • Blender
    • Oven
    • Sheet pan or baking dish

    What to put this dressing on

    • Thai sweet potato glass noodle salad - this Thai cashew dressing is the key ingredient to this savory & refreshing salad with sweet potato glass noodles, crisp veggies and fresh herbs
    • Use it as a marinade
    • Dip for your favorite vegetables or spring rolls
    • Stir fry sauce
    • Spread it on a sandwiches or lettuce wraps
    Thai cashew dressing being poured onto Thai noodle salad.
    Thai glass noodle salad - sweet potato glass noodles, bell peppers, purple cabbage, carrots, basil, mint, cilantro & Thai cashew dressing!

    Ingredient Substitutions & Variations

    • Cashew substitutes: Cashews can be substituted with roasted peanuts or substitute both the cashews and water for 2 cups of cashew butter or peanut butter. Cashew butter will not be as flavorful since the cashews are not freshly roasted.
    • Tamari substitute: Tamari can be substituted with the same amount of soy sauce. Some people like to substitute soy sauce & tamari with coconut aminos but it doesn't have the same saltiness and depth of flavor so I don't recommend it.
    • Spicy lover or spice sensitive? The amount of sriracha in the recipe can be increased if you want the dressing to be spicy or omitted completely if you are sensitive to spice. The amount of sriracha in the recipe isn't intended to make the dressing spicy, it adds a depth a flavor to compliment the sweet and tangy flavors.
    cold thai noodle salad with all the ingredients combined in a bowl and topped with fresh green herbs.

    Expert Tips

    • It's important to buy raw unsalted cashews and roast them yourself or else the amazing nutty flavor will not be as deep and "peanuty".
    • If you spray a little cooking oil into a measuring cup sticky ingredients like honey won't stick!
    • Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides of the blender so that you don't leave any dressing behind.

    FAQs

    How long does homemade cashew dressing last in the fridge?

    3-5 days when stored properly in air-tight container. The dressing will thicken over time so you may need to add a bit of water before serving.

    How do you make peanut sauce without peanut butter?

    You can make a peanut sauce substitute with cashews by swapping peanut butter with freshly roasted cashews blended with water!

    Leftover cashews? Try these recipes

    • Non Dairy Caesar Salad Dressing (using miso & cashew)
    • Dairy Free Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls (Air Fryer or Pan Fry)
    • Healthy Chicken Enchiladas (dairy free + gluten free)

    I hope you love this creamy Thai cashew dressing! If you make it I’d love if you could leave a rating & connect with me on Instagram @passthesprouts!

    Print
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    Thai cashew dressing being poured into ramekin.

    Thai Cashew Dressing (peanut sauce substitute)


    5 from 1 reviews

    • Author: Rachael
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 2.5 cups 1x
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    This creamy Thai cashew dressing is a savory peanut sauce substitute. Since peanuts are a common allergen, I use freshly roasted cashews that have a rich nutty flavor that is super similar to peanuts.

    Try it with my Thai sweet potato glass noodle salad!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1.5 cups raw unsalted cashews (200 grams)
    • 1 cup water (225 grams)
    • ½ cup reduced sodium tamari (110 grams)
    • 6 tablespoons lime juice (96 grams)
    • 2 teaspoons sriracha (16 grams) (add more if you want it spicy)
    • 2 tablespoons raw honey (50 grams)
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt (6 grams)

    Instructions

    1. Roast Cashews: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the cashews out in an even layer in any oven safe baking dish or sheet pan. Bake the cashews until they are golden brown ~10-15 minutes. Be sure to move the cashews around every 5 minutes so they cook evenly.
    2. Blend: Add the freshly roasted cashews to a blender with all other ingredients and blend until smooth. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Freshly roast raw unsalted cashews - It's important to buy raw unsalted cashews and roast them yourself or else the amazing nutty flavor will not be as deep and "peanuty".
    • Cashews substitutes -  same amount of roasted peanuts or substitute both the cashews and water for 2 cups of cashew butter or peanut butter. Cashew butter will not be as flavorful since the cashews are not freshly roasted.
    • Tamari substitute -  same amount of soy sauce 
    • Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides of the blender so that you don't leave any dressing behind. 
    • Prep Time: 5
    • Cook Time: 15
    • Category: Dressing
    • Method: Blended
    • Cuisine: Thai

    Keywords: Thai Cashew Dressing, Peanut Sauce Substitute, Thai cashew sauce

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag me on Instagram @passthesprouts and leave a review below!

    « Thai Sweet Potato Glass Noodles Salad

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sara Annis says

      May 25, 2022 at 10:14 am

      Love this sauce! It’s delicious and tastes just like peanut sauce. I had this with pad thai and it complimented it so well. Clean ingredients too! I can’t wait to make this all summer!






      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Rachael! I'm a recovering veggie skeptic determined to make food truly healthy, delicious and approachable. I live in Boston, Massachusetts and I'm a graduate of Matthew Kenney's Food Future Institute. Some of my favorite things include hosting cozy dinner parties, creating simplicity out of chaos and all things holistic wellness.

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