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    Home » Vegan

    Thai Cashew Dressing (peanut sauce substitute)

    Published: May 24, 2022 · Modified: Dec 30, 2022 by Rachael · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print 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:
    • What to put this dressing on
    • Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQs
    • Leftover cashews? Try these recipes
    • Recipe

    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!

    Recipe

    Thai cashew dressing being poured into ramekin.

    Thai Cashew Dressing (peanut sauce substitute)

    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 the Thai sweet potato glass noodle salad!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dressing
    Cuisine: Thai
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 6 .5 cups
    Calories: 215kcal
    Author: Rachael

    Equipment

    • Blender
    • Oven
    • Sheet pan or baking dish

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 cups raw unsalted cashews
    • 1 cup water
    • ½ cup tamari reduced sodium
    • 6 tablespoons lime juice
    • 2 teaspoons sriracha add more if you want it spicy
    • 2 tablespoons raw honey
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • 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.
    • Blend: Add the freshly roasted cashews to a blender with all other ingredients and blend until smooth. Enjoy!

    Recipe 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. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 1509mg | Potassium: 277mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe? Tag me on Instagram!Mention @passthesprouts & leave a review!
    « Thai Sweet Potato Glass Noodles Salad
    Hibiscus Tea Vodka Cocktail »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sara Annis says

      May 25, 2022 at 10:14 am

      5 stars
      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
    2. Nora says

      November 23, 2022 at 6:01 am

      5 stars
      What a great idea! And ideal for allergy sufferers! I also love that you added honey, it really adds to the flavor!

      Reply
    3. Gloria says

      November 23, 2022 at 9:25 am

      5 stars
      We love Thai food. This dressing sounds wonderful. Great for salads, spring rolls and more. You can eat it off the spoon too lol.

      Reply
    4. Keri Bevan says

      November 23, 2022 at 5:40 pm

      5 stars
      My daughter is allergic to peanuts, so this is an ideal recipe for us. Looks super simple and tasty. I had no idea you could sub cashews for peanuts.

      Reply
    5. Debra says

      November 23, 2022 at 8:07 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this dressing...it was easy to make and so flavorful. We used it as a dip for our spring rolls.

      Reply
    6. Kim Curtis says

      January 30, 2023 at 9:16 pm

      How long does this last in the frig?

      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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