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    MJ & Hungryman » Recipes » Baby/Kid-Friendly Recipes

    Easy 3 Ingredient Thai Peanut Coconut Sauce

    By Min On January 25, 2022, Updated February 21, 2022

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

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    a close up shot of the sauce in a glass bowl with carrots, zucchini, and toast strips.

    Made with just 3 ingredients, this Thai peanut sauce with curry paste and coconut milk is a great way to introduce spicy flavor to babies and kids. Also enjoy as a dip, salad/pasta dressing, or marinade.

    a close up shot of the sauce in a glass bowl with carrots, zucchini, and toast strips.

    If you enjoy spicy food and your ethnic cuisine incorporates a lot of heat, you probably want to introduce these foods to your baby at some point. I am Korean and spicy foods, like kimchi and red chili paste, are my family's jam!

    But if you're like most parents I've talked to, you may have a lot of questions and reservations. I've covered the top burning questions in the FAQ section below.

    Personally, I LOVE Thai cuisine. So much so that I've taken many cooking classes to learn how to make all of my favorite dishes at home. Thai curry paste is a staple ingredient in my pantry and my kids were exposed to it since they were around 12 months.

    Which Thai Curry Paste to use for this Peanut Sauce?

    Red curry paste

    There are several varieties that you can use for this sauce. But red curry paste is the most versatile, and it's what I always have on hand. It is quite spicy so if you choose to use this one, start with just ½ teaspoon. You can always add more after seeing how your baby handles it.

    Keep in mind that dried Asian chilies, one of the main ingredients in curry paste, are milder than those from other parts of the world, like the Caribbean and Mexico.

    Massaman Curry Paste

    Massaman curry paste is also a great choice. This is a really unique one in that it contains ingredients that are commonly found in Indian and Persian cuisine, such as cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, and nutmeg along with Thai ingredients, like lemongrass and galangal. It's a lovely melding of these two cuisines.

    It tastes slightly smokey, nutty, and mildly spicy.

    Yellow Curry Paste (Kaeng Kari)

    If you really want to avoid the heat but want to introduce your child to the Thai flavors, go with this one. With turmeric as one of its main ingredients, it is mild and slightly sweet tasting. It also contains cinnamon, mace, lemongrass, fenugreek, and coriander.

    Ingredients

    coconut milk, curry paste, and peanut butter laid out on a wooden board

    Curry paste - choose any of the ones suggested above. I like the maesri brand. It is less spicier than others and more flavorful

    Coconut milk - The key ingredient in helping mellow out the spice from the curry paste. It will also help loosen the peanut butter into a velvety consistency. Since there are only three ingredients, you really want to use a good one without any emulsifiers and stabilizers. I've found that Arroy-D and Chaokoh work best.

    Smooth peanut butter - You can use homemade or store-bought. Just make sure the only ingredient is peanuts and nothing else. If it's been refrigerated, be sure to bring to room temperature so it will blend easily with the other ingredients.

    Related: Peanuts and Nuts for Babies

    How to make Peanut Sauce for babies and kids

    a two image collage with the ingredients added to a measuring cup on the left and well combined on the right

    Simply whisk the 3 ingredients together!

    Tips for Success

    • After whisking all the ingredients together, if you desire a thinner consistency, add more coconut milk (one tablespoon at a time) or water if you feel it's plenty coconut-y tasting. Let your taste buds guide you.
    • For a touch of freshness and a burst of flavor, add some cilantro and lime juice.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Should I avoid eating spicy food if I'm breastfeeding?

    You should continue eating what you enjoy! If that means spicy dishes, go for it! I don't know what I'd do without my kimchi! In fact, it will be beneficial since your baby will be exposed to those flavors that frequently grace your table from early on through breast milk. This can help them to accept those foods later on in life.

    Of course if your baby shows any kind of reaction, fussiness, or intolerance, then avoid that food.

    Is spicy food OK for babies?

    If you've been told you have to serve bland foods to your baby, please ignore such misinformed advice! You can absolutely and should introduce your baby to all the incredible herbs and spices from the start.
    They will certainly help pack in lots of flavor and nutrition (hello antioxidants!) without the use of salt and sugar. Train your child's palate to accept a variety of flavors from early on!

    When can I give my baby spicy food?

    While hot spices can be introduced as soon as they're ready to start solids, you want to be careful as you don't want to cause your baby any pain, which can create negative associations with food.

    Therefore, start with the aromatic spices first, like cinnamon, ginger, cumin, coriander, and turmeric. There's no set recommended age for when you can introduce your baby to more fiery ones.

    How to introduce spicy food to babies

    Start slowly! To provide a few examples: rinse kimchi in water, sprinkle a tiny amount of cayenne pepper on yogurt or fruit, or like in this recipe, add some curry paste to a sauce or a larger meal

    What if my child is allergic to peanuts?

    You can try this with tree nuts (e.g. almonds, cashews), tahini, or sunflower/pumpkin seed butter.

    What can I do with leftover coconut milk?

    You can refrigerate and use it to make overnight oats/quinoa, chia puddings, vegan muffins

    How should I store leftover curry paste?

    Since you only need a teaspoon for this recipe, you can freeze the rest. Measure leftovers into 1 teaspoon dollops and place them on a plate or baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure they're not touching so they freeze individually. Freeze until firm.

    Transfer to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. You will be able to easily pull out exactly how much you need at any given time.

    Storage Suggestions

    Store in an air tight container and keep in the fridge for up to 1 week. It will taste better with time as the flavors get a chance to meld. It will thicken up upon refrigeration so stir in a little more water or coconut milk to desired consistency.

    Serving Suggestions

    cooked yellow lentils with the sauce loaded in a baby plate as well as spread onto raw carrots, zucchini, and toast strips.
    • Stir it in with pasta, lentils, oatmeal, quinoa
    • as a salad dressing
    • as a spread for toast, sandwiches, or wraps
    • As a dip for raw or cooked vegetables or spring rolls!
    • As a marinade for chicken, pork, tofu

    Other recipes to try: Vegetable Tortilla Roll Ups, Thai Red Curry Pasta

    Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!

    a close up shot of the sauce in a glass bowl with carrots, zucchini, and toast strips.

    3 Ingredient Thai Peanut Coconut Sauce

    Made with just 3 ingredients, this Thai peanut sauce with curry paste and coconut milk is a great way to introduce spicy flavor to babies and kids.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Author: Min | MJ and Hungryman

    Ingredients

    • â…“ cup peanut butter (about 85g), at room temperature , see note
    • ¼ cup coconut milk (may need more to achieve desired consistency)
    • ½-1 teaspoon curry paste of choice

    Instructions

    • In a 2 cup measuring beaker, add all the ingredients. Whisk until well combined. This will be a great consistency for a dip. If you want to enjoy as a sauce or dressing, add more coconut milk or water (1 tablespoon at a time) to desired consistency

    Notes

    Peanut butter - use homemade or purchase one with peanuts as the only ingredient.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 114mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 66IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg
    Course sauce
    Cuisine Asian
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Tag me @KidFriendly.Meals today!

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    About Min

    Thank you so much for stopping by! I am Min, a Registered Dietitian, a Christ follower, a wife, and a mom to our two miracle babies! Currently, I’m having a ton of fun feeding their tummies and sharing our baby led weaning journey! Follow me on Instagram if interested in seeing daily menu as well as tips and tricks.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Martha Paulche says

      May 22, 2023 at 4:11 pm

      5 stars
      Everything looks so amazing, I would like to try them all.

      Reply
      • Min says

        May 25, 2023 at 8:13 pm

        I hope you do!!

        Reply
    2. Brittany says

      December 16, 2022 at 6:49 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks so much for this recipe! I've been struggling getting my almost one year old to eat veggies and she loved them with this dip! We just substituted cashew butter for the peanut butter, as she has a peanut allergy; but it turned out great! Thanks so much for all your tips and tricks; they have been so helpful learning to feed my first child 😅

      Reply
      • Min says

        December 16, 2022 at 7:19 pm

        I'm SO glad your daughter enjoyed this dip! You are welcome and thank you for being here!

        Reply
    3. Vanessa says

      January 31, 2022 at 2:11 pm

      Hi - how could you use curry powder if that’s what I have on hand? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Min says

        January 31, 2022 at 4:07 pm

        You can start with 1/4-1/2 teaspoon and then gradually increase following your child's lead

        Reply

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    I am MJ, a registered dietitian and a mom of 2. I truly hope you’ll enjoy all the recipes and tips that I share on what and how to feed your child!

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