Add the peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, garlic chili sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, and lime juice to a medium mixing bowl.

At this stage, the mixture will look quite thick and a little difficult to stir. Don't worry—that's exactly how it should look before you add the liquid.

Slowly pour in the warm water or vegetable broth while whisking continuously. Add the liquid a little at a time until the sauce becomes smooth, creamy, and easy to pour.

You're looking for a consistency that will coat noodles and vegetables without being too runny. If the sauce thickens as it sits, simply whisk in a splash of warm water to loosen it up.

Before using the sauce, give it a quick taste test.

If you'd like a saltier flavor, add a little more soy sauce. For extra sweetness, stir in a small amount of maple syrup. Want more heat? Add another spoonful of garlic chili sauce or a pinch of red pepper flakes. If the sauce feels too rich, a squeeze of fresh lime juice can brighten everything up.

This is one of the most important steps because a few small adjustments can make the sauce taste exactly the way you like it.

Cook your vegetables, noodles, chicken, shrimp, beef, or tofu as desired. Once everything is nearly finished cooking, reduce the heat slightly and pour in the peanut sauce.

Toss everything together until the ingredients are evenly coated and the sauce turns glossy. Keep stirring as the sauce heats through, since it will thicken fairly quickly in the pan.

Serve immediately and enjoy while everything is hot and flavorful.