Vegan mee rojak with thick peanut satay sauce
Farah's Foods A vibrant and flavorful Vegan Peanut Satay Sauce & Mee Rojak, Malaysian-inspired flavors with fresh veggies, noodles, and tofu for a delicious plant-based twist.

Vegan Peanut Satay Sauce & Mee Rojak

A rich, roasty peanut satay sauce with the sweet-sour tang of tamarind. Spoon it over mee rojak or serve it as a dip. It keeps well and comes together easily.

Sauce / Condiment / Spread · Malaysian · Vegan
Prep 30 min · Cook 60 min · Rest 0 min
Makes 5 · 655 kcal per serving
Contains Gluten (wheat), Peanuts, Soya Allergen detail ↓
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If you're craving a vibrant and flavorful dish, this Vegan Peanut Satay Sauce & Mee Rojak is the perfect choice. Bursting with bold, aromatic flavors and a delightful mix of textures, this traditional Malaysian dish has been given a plant-based twist that's sure to impress.

The rich and creamy peanut satay sauce is the star of the show, and it’s not just for Mee Rojak, you can also use it as a versatile dip for satay, a dressing for salads, or a delicious accompaniment to other dishes. 

This recipe yields approximately 4–6 portions for Mee Rojak, 8–10 portions as a satay dip, or 6–8 portions as a dressing. Whether you're a fan of tangy tamarind, nutty peanuts, or fresh veggies, this recipe has something for everyone.

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Ingredients

Serves 5 Units

Peanut Satay Sauce

  • 6 shallots
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 inch ginger
  • 3 lemongrass stalks
  • 1 inch galangal
  • 30 g dried chillies
  • 350 g red skin peanuts
  • 1 tsp miso paste
  • 3 tsp tamarind paste
  • 1 tsp sweet soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp palm sugar
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • salt to taste

Rojak Components

  • 250 g noodles
  • 1 cup tofu
  • 1 cup cucumber
  • 1 cup beansprouts
cutting dried chillies into a while bowl
Movement I

For Peanut Satay Sauce

Prepare dried chillies

Cut the dried chilies, and as you do so, the seeds will settle at the bottom of the pan. Discard these seeds. 

Next, boil the chilies until soft. During boiling, the seeds will separate further; remove and discard them again to ensure a smooth sauce.

cutting dried chillies into a while bowl

Roughly chop

Roughly chop the shallots, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, and galangal. 

hand tossing roughly chopped aromatics in a glass bowl

Blend aromatics and chilli

Add aromatics and miso paste into a blender and blend until smooth. Then, add the chilies and give it another blend.

blended aromatics and chilli paste in glass blender

Dry fry peanuts

Dry fry peanuts on medium heat for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. You can also air-fry at 180°C for 10 minutes.

dry drying peanuts in a wok

Blend peanuts

Once golden and fragrant, allow them to cool slightly, then grind into a crumble using a dry blender.

blending peanuts in a dry blender

Cook aromatic and chilli paste

Heat oil and cook the ground aromatic and chilli paste. Simmer on medium heat for about 10 minutes.

aromatics and chilli paste in a pot

Add peanut blend

Add the peanut crumble and stir to combine. Add water as necessary.

peanut blend in a pot

Simmer the sauce

Reduce the heat to low-medium and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the oil separates. 

Oil separation or “pecah minyak” occurs when the oil rises to the surface, forming a distinct layer, indicating that the ingredients have cooked thoroughly and the flavors have fully developed.

sauce on simmer until oil separates

Season

Season with palm sugar, tamarind juice, sweet soy sauce, and salt to taste.

add palm sugar to sauce
a bowl of cooked noodles being poured into a sieve
Movement II

For Rojak

Cook noodles

Boil noodles according to the package instructions.

a bowl of cooked noodles being poured into a sieve

Stir fry tofu

Stir fry tofu until golden and crispy.

frying tofu until golden

Blanch bean sprouts

Blanch bean sprouts quickly in hot water.

blancing bean sprouts in hot water

Julienne cucumber

Chop cucumber into thin slices.

cutting cucumbers into match sticks

Assemble rojak

Assemble rojak and enjoy!

pouring sauce on noodles
Watch the hands

No talking. Just the making.

Recipe video thumbnail

5:25 · Farah's Foods on YouTube

Get to know it

Allergens

The full picture

PeanutsContains Gluten (wheat)Contains Tree nutsFree SesameFree SoyaContains MilkFree EggsFree FishFree CrustaceansFree MolluscsFree CeleryFree MustardFree LupinFree SulphitesFree

Always check your own packets; shared processing varies by brand.

Per serving

Nutrition

An estimate per serving, from the ingredients listed.

Calories655 kcal
Protein26 g
Carbohydrate43 g
Fat46 g
Saturated fat7 g
Trans fat0 g
Cholesterol0 mg
Sodium180 mg
Fibre10 g
Sugars8 g
Serving size1 serving

Percent daily values based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Values vary with the brands you use.

Worth knowing

Notes

  1. Use Plenty of Oil: Peanut sauce requires a generous amount of oil to ensure that the ingredients are properly cooked. While it may seem like too much, don't worry—the excess oil can be discarded later once it separates. This step is essential for developing the full depth of flavor.
  2. Adjust the Texture to Your Liking: Feel free to blend the peanuts to your preferred texture. If you enjoy a chunkier sauce with bits of peanuts, blend it less for a more coarse texture. If you prefer a smoother sauce, blend it longer until it’s fine.
  3. Be Patient for "Pecah Minyak": Peanut sauce takes time to reach the stage where the oil separates (known as "pecah minyak"). If after 30 minutes the oil hasn't separated yet, continue to cook it longer.
  4. Stir Occasionally: Make sure to stir the sauce from time to time to prevent it from burning or sticking to the pan.
Good to know

Questions

How can I use peanut satay sauce?

Vegan satay sauce is versatile and can be used in various ways:

  • As a dipping sauce for grilled vegetable skewers or spring rolls.
  • Drizzled over salads or Buddha bowls.
  • As a sauce for noodles or rice dishes.
How should I store peanut satay sauce?

Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. If it thickens upon chilling, you can thin it with a bit of water or coconut milk when ready to use.

Can I freeze the peanut satay sauce?

Yes, peanut sauce freezes well. Store it in a freezer-safe container. It can last for up to 3 months in the freezer.

Is it spicy?

The spice level varies based on the type of chilies used. I prefer Kashmiri dried chilies, which have a milder heat profile.

Is satay sauce vegetarian?

Traditional satay sauce often contains dried shrimp, making it non-vegetarian. However, in this recipe, miso paste is added for rich umami flavor and depth.

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  1. Siun McFadden

    Thank you so much. This recipe turned out perfect!! Can’t wait for more delicious vegan recipes from you! ????

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