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Almond butter is such a deliciously creamy + healthy alternative to peanut butter, and totally works in this sauce. I really fell in love with almond butter while recipe testing for my Plant-Based Cleanse, and hope that this sauce can become a staple in your house too. Let’s talk about almond butter benefits, and what makes this sauce a win.
I love a sauce with complex flavors and a slight kick, and this one really ticks off all the boxes.
Table of Contents
Almond butter sauce recipe
Full-fat coconut milk is recommended, to give it the creaminess + healthy fat. Tamari is a gluten-free soy sauce. If soy isn’t your thing, then swap with coconut aminos for a similar flavor. While you can swap in ground ginger for fresh, the fresh ginger has more health benefits… and just tastes better (so don’t swap if you can find fresh!).
Pro tip: Don’t feel like you have to buy the giant ginger claw from the produce section. The grocery store should let you break off a smaller piece. That cuts down on the price and on the amount of ginger you have find recipes for.
I usually add in a healthy amount of chili paste and fresh ginger because, like I said, I like the kick. Yet if you don’t do spice, then omit the chili sauce altogether and add in a little extra almond butter.
Sunbutter is a good swap for those that can’t have almond butter. Make sure to really mix up whatever nut or seed butter you use before adding so that all the oil gets mixed in properly. You can even use an immersion blender right in that nut butter to fluff it up and ensure every bit is mixed together.
Almond butter benefits
Why do I love almond butter? I’m SO glad you asked! First, as someone who likes to eat a lot of plants, I’m always looking for good sources of healthy fat. Our bodies need fat in order to properly break down the food we consume, but not all fat is created equal. This lovely nut butter contains 9.5 grams of fat per 1 tablespoon. Almond butter helps keep cholesterol down (hello healthy heart), and helps control blood sugar.
Since almonds are a nut, when turned into butter they hold onto that great fiber content as well. Fiber is our friend, and something many Americans don’t consume enough of on the daily. I strategically add plants to recipes, just like I did with this almond butter sauce, to easily boost the health benefits I get. And bonus, it tastes great!
How to choose the right brand
As with many packaged condiments, read the ingredients before you buy that fancy new almond butter. I like Barney’s Bare Smooth because it’s just almonds and palm oil. Costco also has a great option that’s solely roasted almonds (and is a great price!). Both work great in this almond butter sauce since they are super creamy.
Thankfully there are dozens of brands and flavors of almond butter on the market today, so find the one that fits your needs. Do you have a current fav? Let me know in the comments. I love trying new kinds!
Easy recipes with nut butter
- Almond butter smoothie– Adding healthy fat to smoothies is a great way to help your body break down the natural fruit sugar. This recipe really does taste like a PB&J!
- Chocolate covered banana bites– The perfect snack for a nutty + sweet treat! Super easy to make, and so good you won’t stop at eating just one.
- Peanut butter chocolate smoothie– Breakfast or dessert? I’ll let you decide, yet which ever you choose, know that this is a great choice!
- Apple ‘donuts’– A fun yet healthy snack that the whole family will love. Turn into a great playdate snack with a fun toppings bar and a few nut/seed butter choices.
- Chocolate protein shake– This smoothie is a great pre-workout shake that will fuel you up right.
- Overnight oats– level up breakfast with these super simple oat recipes. Nut butter adds an extra dose of healthy fat + protein.
FAQs
Yes! Any place you would use a peanut butter spread, you can swap with almond butter. Use it on toast, in a sandwich, sauce, dressing, or as a dip for fruits + veggies.
Yes! The high fat content in almond butter makes it a good swap with butter in many recipes.
Honestly, they are both good options depending on what brand you buy. Always read the ingredient list to ensure your nut butter uses real food. Almond butter is slightly more nutritious, yet has similar amounts of fat and calories. Peanut butter is a bit higher in protein.
Don’t forget to try this quick and easy zoodle recipe with almond butter sauce, then leave a rating + review on how it turned out! It’s a meal straight from my Plant-Based Cleanse, and can fit any vegetarian night in, or be used as a side dish for anyone wanting to eat more plants.
Veggies & Almond Butter Sauce
Ingredients
Sauce
- 2 tbsp coconut milk
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 1 tbsp tamari
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp ginger root finely grated
- 1 tsp sweet chili sauce
- 1 clove garlic cloves finely minced
Sauce Mix Ins
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 2 tbsp green onions sliced diagonally into ½” pieces
- ½ cup broccoli cut into small florets
- ¼ cup red bell pepper sliced
- ½ cup carrot thinly sliced
Serve with
- 1 zucchini spiralized
- red pepper flakes for sprinkling
- sesame seeds for sprinkling
Instructions
- Whisk sauce ingredients together in a medium bowl and set aside.
- Heat oil in large pan. Add the green onions and sauté for 1-2 minutes, then add broccoli, carrots, and red bell pepper. Lower heat, if needed. Cook until vegetables are bright in color, and just barely tender.
- Toss gently to coat the veggies with the sauce. Let simmer to thicken the sauce.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately on top of the spiralized zucchini. Garnish with red pepper flakes and sesame seeds, if desired.
Notes
- The sauce and veggies can be made ahead, and the zucchini can be spiralized ahead. But don’t combine with the “zoodles” until right before serving. Otherwise, the liquid from the zucchini will seep out and make the sauce watery.
I would love to prepare this delicious recipe, however I can’t have coconut milk. Could you please suggest a substitute? I love your book, it’s fabulous and your recipes are healthy.
Jeanette
Hi Jeanette! You could definitely substitute with a different plant-based milk of your choice. It could change up the taste a little but should still work for the recipe!
I love everything almond butter, so this sauce hits the spot!! Thanks for the recipe!
Seriously, one of my favorite sauces to make! Yum!
This was soooo good!! I added a little water to my mixture because it was thicker than I would like but this is definitely something I would like to keep in my menu from now on!
Hey Deanna,
I am so glad that you loved this recipe and that it is being adding to your regular menu. Yay!!!
Can I use soy sauce instead of tamari?
Hi Andrea,
Totally. They’re interchangeable in all of our recipes!
One of my favorite recipes EVER. I prefer to not heat/thicken the sauce and use it on almost any sauteed veggies. Adore!
Hi Genevieve,
Mine too! I make this recipe any chance I get!
What if you can’t tolerate coconut in any form?
Hi Judy,
Coconut not your friend? Don’t worry, swap in water or almond milk. The consistency will be a little thinner, but it will still be yummy!
I like the tip about not adding zoodles until very end .i always end up with a soup broth! My question is do you not heat up the zoodles at all? My process has been to season with salt and pepper – toss with olive oil and sautée a few mins.
Hi Angela,
In this recipe we leave them raw. But you can definitely season and sautee the zoodles before enjoying if that’s your preference!
For those that have made this, I’m imagining it tastes something like Pad Thai… Would you say that is true? Just wondering before I try it.
Hi Ranell,
Definitely!! It was inspired by those flavors!
I am eating this meal right now and I had to see if there was somewhere I could leave a comment. This is so freaking amazing. The sauce is magical. I completely forget that I’m eating healthy food when I’m eating this!
This is one of my favorite recipes from Thrive. I had no idea the sauce ingredients would create such a devine flavor. The combination of veggies makes it a filling dish. The best thing is that it is was so easy to make. I will be making this again and again.
The first time I did Thrive, I skipped this recipe. This second time I was determined to give it a try. Unsure my kids, who prefer no sauce on pasta, would like it, so I didn’t toss it with the veggies. I heated it up and then spooned it on top. But after just one bite, I was hooked. It was very good. Even one of my kids ventured to try and like a bit of it.
Pretty easy to make. Spicy enough.