This Peanut Sauce (Tương Chấm Gỏi Cuốn) is a recipe I learned from a lunch lady in Saigon, who has been serving delicious Gỏi Cuốn (Vietnamese Spring Rolls) and Bò Bía (Chinese sausage spring rolls) for 30 years. It’s incredibly tasty!
Vietnamese Peanut Dipping Sauce
In Vietnamese cooking, dipping sauces are a big deal—sometimes even as important as the main dish. A tasty dipping sauce can bring out the best flavors and make the whole meal unforgettable.
In Vietnam, Nước Chấm encompasses a variety of dipping sauces, but outside the country, it commonly refers to the sweet and tangy fish sauce dip. I even wrote a post to explain the difference between Nước Chấm and Nước Mắm (fish sauce) for those who are really into Vietnamese cuisine.
This versatile condiment pairs perfectly with a range of Vietnamese dishes, from crispy fried spring rolls and egg rolls to refreshing rice noodle salads like Bún Bò Xào and Bún Thịt Nướng.
The second most popular dipping sauce is definitely Peanut Sauce, the perfect match for Gỏi Cuốn (Vietnamese spring rolls). It also goes wonderfully with Bò Bía, Chicken Spring Rolls, Nem Nướng Spring Rolls, or any rice paper rolls you love.
Related Recipes | Some Popular “Nước Chấm” in Vietnam
Ingredients
In Vietnam, the peanut dipping sauce is more about hoisin than peanuts. Hoisin sauce (“tương đen” in Vietnamese) is dark, sweet, and salty, giving the sauce a deep color. While it might not be the prettiest, its rich and authentic flavor is absolutely delicious.
Hoisin sauce, which comes from Cantonese cuisine, is a favorite in Vietnamese cooking, especially with Phở.
Many Vietnamese people use soybean sauce (“tương hột” in Vietnamese) instead of hoisin for this dipping sauce. Just make sure to mix it well and adjust the flavor, since soybean sauce is saltier and not as sweet as hoisin.
Coconut milk is the secret tip from a lunch lady in Saigon for the creamy texture. Some locals even blend in pureed banana or Chè Đậu Trắng (white bean dessert soup)—and yes, you read that right!
To make this dipping sauce even better, we like to top it with Đồ Chua (pickled carrots and daikon) and add a drizzle of Vietnamese lemongrass chili oil.
I have two recipes for you: the traditional hoisin-peanut sauce takes a little cooking, while the shortcut version only needs a quick mix.
| Traditional Version | Quick Version |
|---|---|
| Hoisin sauce | Hoisin sauce |
| Peanut butter | Peanut butter |
| Coconut milk | – |
| Soy sauce | Soy sauce |
| Rice vinegar | Rice vinegar |
| Sugar | Sugar |
| Minced garlic | Garlic powder |
| Cooking oil | – |
Helpful Tips
- If you prepare this for dipping your Gỏi Cuốn, you can use the water previously boiled with shrimps and pork to make Gỏi Cuốn. It will elevate the flavor of the sauce.
- If your sauce is too thick, thin it out with some water.
- If your sauce is too thin and already salty enough to your taste, use a cornstarch slurry to thicken it. Avoid overcooking as it may become too salty.
Fall in love with more authentic Vietnamese Recipes
Vietnamese Peanut Sauce for Spring Rolls (from Saigon)
Ingredients
Traditional recipe:
- 3 tbsp Hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp Peanut butter
- 3 tbsp Coconut milk
- 3 tbsp Water
- ½ tbsp Soy sauce (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp Rice vinegar (adjust to taste)
- 1 tbsp Minced garlic
- 1 tbsp Cooking oil
- ½ tbsp Vietnamese chilli oil (adjust to taste)
Lazy recipe:
- 3 tbsp Hoisin sauce
- ½ tbsp Peanut butter
- 4 tbsp Water
- ½ tbsp Soy Sauce (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp Rice vinegar (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp Garlic powder
Instructions
Traditional version
- Heat some cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté minced garlic until golden and fragrant.
- Mix hoisin sauce, peanut butter, coconut milk, and water. Stir until well combined. Simmer for a few minutes to achieve your desired dipping sauce thickness.
- Add sugar, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Mix everything well and taste to adjust the flavor.
- To give the sauce an extra burst of flavor, drizzle Vietnamese chili oil on top.
- Serve it as a dip for fresh spring rolls, Vietnamese grilled meats, or any vegetables you prefer.
Lazy version
- Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer over low heat until they blend together. Taste and adjust the flavor according to your preference.
- Don't forget to drizzle some Vietnamese chili oil on the sauce before serving.
