Healthy Vegan Peanut Sauce and Dip

This healthy vegan peanut sauce doubles as both a creamy sauce and a dip. It's even amazing as a salad dressing! Imagine the flavors of peanut sauce combined with the creaminess and nutrition of white beans, and you'll start to see all of the many ways you can use this unique vegan dipping sauce.

Whip up a batch in minutes to enjoy on grain bowls, baked tofu, veggies, or pretty much any dish where you want the irresistible flavors of satay sauce. Made without oil, gluten, or coconut.

Why You'll Love It

Many of us are struggling to find enough time and energy to cook these days. So a truly easy sauce like this that's nutritious, versatile, AND delicious is something I am 100% all about!

This dip-sauce hybrid has all the flavors you love in a classic vegan peanut sauce, like garlic, soy sauce, and crushed red pepper, but with the added nutrition of beans. It's the extra creaminess, protein, and fiber from the cannellini beans that make this so much more than just a sauce.

If you enjoy this white bean dip, be sure to try my Black Lentil Dip next!

Ingredient Notes

Nine simple ingredients go into this creamy peanut butter sauce, and there are definitely room for substitutions. So don't be afraid to experiment to accommodate the ingredients you have on hand.

• Cannellini beans - I love the neutral flavor and creaminess of cannellini beans in this recipe, but I suspect chickpeas or pinto beans would also work well.
• Peanut butter - Natural, salted peanut butter is always in our pantry, but any variety you have on hand will work. If using unsalted peanut butter you may decide to add a pinch of salt, or if using a sweetened peanut butter you may want to decrease the maple syrup slightly.
• Maple syrup - sub agave nectar or cane sugar, if needed.
• Rice vinegar and lime juice - these two acids work together to create the best flavor, but if you're short on one or the other, it's not a deal breaker. Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice could also be incorporated.
• Ginger and garlic - fresh ginger and garlic really put the flavor of this sauce over the top!

How to Make White Bean Peanut Sauce

Here's more good news. You'll be pouring and dipping and salivating over this easy peanut sauce in no time. We're talking 10 minutes. Okay, maybe more like 15 minutes tops!

1. Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender, and blend until smooth and creamy.
2. Taste and adjust the flavors as desired. Add more lime or rice vinegar for extra acidity and zip, a splash more soy sauce (or tamari) for depth, and more red pepper flakes for spicy heat.

The garlic and ginger will mellow and mingle as the sauce rests, so if you have time to refrigerate it for an hour or two that's great. But if you're hungry now, go ahead and dig in!

Ways to Use Creamy Peanut Sauce

Use this white bean peanut sauce in all the same ways you would use traditional peanut sauce, like:

• vegetarian satay (try seitan and tofu)
• dipping sauce for spring rolls and dumplings
• sauce for soba or other noodle dishes

Also try these less common uses for peanut sauce, like:

• dressing for green salads, kale salads, and slaw
• hummus-style dip for chips, crackers, and raw vegetables
• sauce for grain bowls
• drizzled on steamed or roasted vegetables
• and as a finishing sauce for veggie pizza (skip the marinara)

I hope you enjoy this healthy vegan peanut sauce. If you give it a try be sure to drop a comment below to let us know your favorite ways to use it!

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