Peanut sauce

Peanut sauce, also known by various names such as satay sauce, bumbu kacang, sambal kacang, or pecel, is a delicious and versatile condiment crafted from ground roasted or fried peanuts. This globally cherished sauce enhances the flavors of chicken, meat, and vegetables. It frequently appears in dishes like satays, salads, or simply as a dipping sauce.

The fundamental ingredients for peanut sauce generally include ground roasted peanuts or peanut butter, coconut milk, soy sauce, tamarind, garlic, and spices like coriander seed or cumin. Recipes can differ widely, resulting in a range of flavors and textures. Some versions might incorporate chili peppers, sugar, fried onion, or lemongrass. The sauce's consistency can also vary, depending on the amount of water added, spanning from thin to thick.

In Indonesian cuisine, peanut sauce, referred to as bumbu kacang, is integral to dishes such as satay, gado-gado, and pecel. This variant blends fried peanuts with palm sugar, garlic, shallot, ginger, tamarind, and lemongrass to achieve a harmonious balance of sweet, spicy, and sour flavors. Compared to Thai peanut sauce, the Indonesian version is typically less sweet.

The Dutch, owing to their historical ties to Southeast Asia, have also embraced peanut sauce. In the Netherlands, it is not unusual to see it served with French fries or used in dishes like Patat Oorlog. Numerous other countries, including China, India, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam, have their unique interpretations of peanut sauce, each adding a distinct twist to this beloved condiment.