If you love the creamy richness of nut butter, you’ll be excited to discover how easily it can be woven into traditional and fusion Thai recipes. Here are five unexpected, flavorful ways to bring nut butter—peanut, almond, cashew, and more—into your Thai cooking repertoire, along with recommendations for which nut butters to use for the best results.
1. Nut Butter Tom Yum Soup
Best Nut Butters: Peanut butter or cashew butter.
Why? Both add a subtle richness without overpowering the soup’s signature hot-and-sour flavors.
2. Thai Nut Butter “Satay” Dressing
Best Nut Butters: Peanut, almond, or cashew butter.
Why? Peanut butter is classic, but almond offers a slightly sweeter, milder profile, and cashew brings creaminess and a delicate taste.
3. Creamy Nut Butter Green Curry
Best Nut Butters: Cashew butter or almond butter.
Why? These blend smoothly into the curry, boosting creaminess and complementing the herbal notes of green curry paste.
4. Nut Butter Sticky Rice Dessert
Best Nut Butters: Cashew buttera.
Why? Cashew butter’s soft sweetness pairs beautifully with mango and coconut, while coconut butter heightens the traditional flavor.
5. Nut Butter Som Tum (Papaya Salad)
Best Nut Butters: Peanut butter or almond butter.
Why? Peanut is traditional and nutty, but almond adds a silky texture and a light nut flavor that works well with spicy dressings.
Final Tip
Nut butters like peanut, cashew, almond, and coconut are all versatile in Thai cooking—each brings unique flavor and texture to both sweet and savory dishes. Feel free to experiment to find your perfect combination!