Peanut soy sauce is commonly used as a dressing in South East Asian cuisine, as well as Chinese and African cuisine. It combines ingredients such as peanuts or peanut butter along with dark soy sauce, garlic, and sugar, as well as lime juice, water, and spices such as coriander, pepper, and chili. There are many variations in recipes, some of which also include coconut milk and sesame oil. The dressing is very quick and easy-to-make and is popularly used along with chicken satay skewers, a dish originating from Java, an island of Indonesia. The peanut sauce is also great for serving as a dip, along with fresh vegetables and spring rolls, at parties and social gatherings.
To make peanut soy sauce, all ingredients need to be combined in a food processor or blender until a smooth paste is formed. Depending on individual taste, more coconut milk can be added, or some water if a runnier peanut soy sauce is preferred and the amount of soy sauce can also be adjusted to make the dressing more or less salty. Further, by adding lime juice and sugar to the sauce, the saltiness of the soy sauce can be adjusted, achieving the right balance of sweet, sour, and salty flavors. When all ingredients are combined and adjusted according to taste, the peanut soy sauce should then be heated in a saucepan over a medium heat, and served warm with the dish of choice.
The sauce is popularly used when making chicken satay skewers, a dish that is made by marinating chicken pieces with ingredients such as onions, garlic, and lemongrass, as well as coriander, chili, and ginger. There are many different ways of making a marinade for chicken satay, however, once the chicken has soaked in the combined ingredients for approximately one hour, it should be skewered and grilled. When the chicken is cooked through, the skewers are then served along with the warm peanut soy sauce for added flavor.
An alternative way of using peanut soy sauce in cuisine is as a dip along with finger foods such as freshly-chopped vegetables or spring rolls. There are many different ways of making spring rolls; however, the appetizer is essentially made by wrapping cooked and seasoned ingredients such as garlic and onion, as well as cabbage, carrots, and noodles, in spring roll wrappers. Once wrapped, the rolls are then cooked in a wok in hot oil for approximately four minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Serving the rolls with peanut soy sauce enhances the flavor of the spring rolls and adds another dimension to the dish.