Indonesians call satay sauce sambal kacang which literally means peanut sauce. Although peanuts are relatively new, their popularity has skyrocketed and this peanut sauce recipe has become a standard inclusion in Indonesian cuisine, most frequently being paired with chicken satay. Roasted and chopped into dishes with wonderfully flavorful ingredients like tamarind, lemongrass, chilies and sweet soy, peanuts add a delicate balance to the strong ingredients without taking the spotlight away from them. The recipe below should yield 3 cups of peanut sauce and includes many of the traditional spices that can be found in Bali and throughout Indonesia.
When Dan was in Bali recently, his generous host took the time to teach him how to make peanut sauce with the freshest ingredients. Click play below to watch the video of Dan cooking the peanut sauce while he was in Bali.
You have now successfully made your own peanut sauce. It’s perfect for serving with satay, meat skewers, slices of cucumber, bread, and much more.