Trader Joe's Thai Peanut Satay Sauce

Let's talk about the Great Peanut Sauce Trauma of years past. Once upon a time, Trader Joe’s released a different satay sauce that was so aggressively fishy it basically required an apology letter to our taste buds. It was a dark era for our pantry, and we spent a significant amount of time avoiding that specific section of the condiment aisle out of pure fear.

However, time heals all wounds, and we finally decided to give the new-ish Thai Peanut Satay Sauce a fair shot. At $2.29 for an 8.1-ounce jar actually imported from Thailand, the price was low enough to gamble on, even if our expectations were safely tucked away in the basement.

The good news is that the overpowering fish sauce has been officially banished from the recipe. This new version is built on a much friendlier foundation of coconut milk and coconut sugar, which already makes it a thousand times more approachable than its predecessor.

It boasts a complex flavor profile that actually makes sense, featuring a blend of peanuts, curry, garlic, shallots, lemongrass, red chili pepper, and cumin. When we first cracked open the jar, the sauce was a little stiff. Honestly, it had the structural integrity of a chilled stick of butter, but a little heat fixed that right up. Once it warmed through, it transformed into a smooth, savory, and aromatic dream.

Since we aren't exactly the type of people who keep wooden skewers lying around for a random Thursday night, Sonia skipped the traditional satay presentation entirely. Instead, she threw together some improvised peanutty chicken noodle bowls using rice noodles and chicken breast we had on hand. We topped the whole thing with pickled julienned carrots and crushed peanuts for that essential hit of acid and crunch. The result was genuinely impressive and very tasty.

We’re happy to report that the redemption arc is complete, and both Sonia and I would definitely buy this product again. If you want to see us actually cook and eat this, please watch our video review. Sonia gives Trader Joe's Thai Peanut Satay Sauce a solid eight out of ten stars. I'll go with a respectable seven and a half.

Bottom line: 7.75 out of 10.