Make a simple Vegan Stir Fry Sauce in under 5 minutes that is way better than store-bought! Just whisk together a few basic ingredients for a tasty, soy sauce-based sauce with a mix of sweet, savory, and spicy notes. Perfect over noodles or veggies!
Made from common pantry staples, this customizable stir-fry sauce takes just 5 minutes to prepare, enhancing the flavor of your go-to stir-fry recipes.
It pairs well with tofu, tempeh, and veggies and can be served with rice or noodles.
Prepping this vegan sauce in advance will make your evenings easier, ensuring a stress-free and flavorful dinner.
So thankful for RAVE reviews I've gotten over this recipe! It was originally created June 2022 but I thought it deserved more love and new pictures. The recipe is exactly the same.
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Ingredients
Simply combine a few essential ingredients including tamari, maple syrup, rice vinegar, and cornstarch to create a flavorful soy-based sauce with a delicious blend of sweet, savory, and spicy elements.
Ideal for mixing into veggies and tofu then served over noodles or rice!
Ginger and Garlic: These aromatic ingredients add depth and complexity to your stir fry sauce. Fresh is definitely best in this case.
Low-Sodium Tamari: You can use tamari or soy sauce but I would recommend low-sodium.
Maple Syrup: Adds sweetness and balances the salty soy sauce and acidic vinegar.
Rice Vinegar: Rice vinegar adds a tangy and slightly sweet dimension to a stir-fry sauce, enhancing overall flavor balance.
Red Chili Flakes: Adds spice. You can add more or less depending on your preference.
Sesame Oil: Toasted sesame oil contributes a rich, and nutty flavor profile and should be stirred into the stir-fry after simmering.
Cornstarch: This helps thicken the sauce.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make This Recipe
Whip up a quick vegan stir fry sauce by whisking together soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, fresh garlic, ginger, and maple syrup.
Simmer the mixture on the stovetop for less than 5 minutes until it thickens, creating a simple and delicious sauce.
It's that easy!
The full written recipe can be found in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Whisk together the water, low-sodium tamari, maple syrup, rice vinegar, red chili flakes and cornstarch until smooth and no cornstarch lumps remain. Set aside.
Step 2: Heat a small frying pan on medium heat and add a small splash of olive oil and fry the minced ginger and garlic until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
Step 3: Pour the sauce in to the pan with the ginger and garlic and bring to a slight boil then reduce to a simmer over medium-low heat. Simmer until thickened, about 3 minutes.
Step 4: Take off the heat and stir in the toasted sesame oil.
Stir in additional red chili flakes, sesame seeds, and green onion!
Note: No need to worry if you're missing an ingredient– it's incredibly forgiving. Crafting a well-balanced sauce is easy with soy sauce, an acidic component, a sweet element, and a thickening agent like cornstarch.
Substitutions & Variations
Customize this homemade stir-fry sauce recipe to suit your taste!
The versatility of this all-purpose sauce makes it forgiving and difficult to go wrong.
Cornstarch: Arrowroot starch will make the sauce stretchy. You must use cornstarch for the right consistency.
Make it gluten-free: Use a certified gluten-free tamari to make this stir-fry sauce.
Make it soy-free: Substitute the soy sauce with coconut aminos.
Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup can be substituted with agave syrup or light brown sugar if you're not a fan of the maple flavor.
Ginger and Garlic: In this recipe, I find that fresh ginger and garlic impart a richer taste and flavor, but in a pinch, ground ginger and garlic powder can be substituted. Begin with ½ teaspoon of each and adjust to taste as needed.
Rice Vinegar: If you don't have rice vinegar, you can use apple cider vinegar or substitute it with lime juice.
Add Citrus: For a citrus flavor, add a squeeze of fresh lime, lemon juice, or even orange juice!
Make it Spicy: Add more red chili flakes or add a teaspoon or two of sriracha or chili garlic sauce.
Make it Creamy: Add a scoop of peanut butter or tahini to make a creamy sauce!
Serving Ideas
This sweet and salty sauce was designed to be used in a stir-fry!
I love using mixed bell peppers, broccoli, snow peas, thinly sliced carrots, sweet onion, and green beans for a veggie-heavy stir fry!
I often add Air Fryer Tempeh or Air Fryer Tofu to add some extra protein.
But this easy stir-fry sauce recipe isn't just for stir-fries. It's also great to use as a dipping sauce!
Use as a sauce for vegetable dumplings or potstickers. This would also work for vegan tempura, vegetable sushi, and more!
Storage
This easy all-purpose stir fry sauce was designed to make meal time quick and convenient.
Store: Let the sauce cool completely before transferring it to an airtight jar. Store the jar in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Reheat: Reheat stir-fry sauce by either warming it on the stovetop in a saucepan or by adding it directly to the pan over some stir-fried vegetables or tofu. If needed, adjust the sauce's consistency by adding water during the reheating process to thin it out.
Freeze: Allow to cool completely and freeze for up to 2 months.
Tips & Tricks
No need to worry if you're missing an ingredient– it's incredibly forgiving. Crafting a well-balanced sauce is easy with soy sauce, an acidic component, a sweet element, and a thickening agent like cornstarch.
Use fresh aromatics: Elevate this simple sauce by using freshly minced garlic and ginger. These aromatic ingredients add depth and complexity to your stir fry sauce.
Consistency matters: Use a thickening agent like cornstarch or arrowroot powder to achieve the desired consistency. Mix it completely in before heating the sauce.
Consider preparing the sauce ahead of time and storing it in the fridge. This not only saves time on busy days but also allows the flavors to meld and intensify.
Always taste your sauce before adding it to the stir fry. This allows you to make any last-minute adjustments to suit your preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, use a gluten-free tamari instead of soy sauce.
Not always but the main ingredients of a stir-fry sauce are usually soy sauce, rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil which are vegan. However, it's crucial to check individual recipes or store-bought options, as some might contain non-vegan ingredients such as fish sauce, oyster sauce, or honey.
Simply toss quick cooking veggies in a large pan or wok and cook until soft but still have a bite. If you'd like to add a protein, tofu is a great option! Then, stir in some of the sauce and enjoy!
More Saucy Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
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Recipe
5-Minute Vegan Stir Fry Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup Water
- ⅓ cup Low-Sodium Tamari or soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons Maple Syrup or agave
- 2 tablespoons Rice Vinegar
- ½ teaspoon Red Chili Flakes more to taste
- 2 teaspoons Cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon Olive Oil or other oil
- 2 Garlic Cloves minced
- 1 Knob of Ginger minced
- 1 teaspoon Toasted Sesame Oil finishing oil
- Sprinkle of Sesame Seeds optional
- 1 Green Onion thinly sliced
Instructions
- Whisk together the water, low-sodium tamari, maple syrup, rice vinegar, red chili flakes and cornstarch until smooth and no cornstarch lumps remain. Set aside.
- Heat a small frying pan on medium heat and add a small splash of olive oil and fry the minced ginger and garlic until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
- Pour the sauce in to the pan with the ginger and garlic and bring to a slight boil then reduce to a simmer over medium-low heat. Simmer until thickened, about 3 minutes.
- Take off the heat and stir in the toasted sesame oil.
- Stir in additional red chili flakes, sesame seeds, and green onion.
- Use immediately in a stir fry or allow to cool completely and store in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Notes
Disclosure: This page contains some affiliate links. Please know that I may receive a percentage or commission from a link included on this page, at no extra cost to you. I will only ever recommend a product that I have used and believe has substantial value to my readers.
Sara says
Perfect sauce for my stir fry. I only used 1/4 tsp of chili flakes and that was spicy enough for us. Thanks for this delicious recipe!
Liv says
Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Sita Packer says
This was delicious. We used the whole sauce recipe for two. Next time I will double it!!
Liv says
Thank for making this recipe and leaving this kind review! Glad you enjoyed!
Deirdre says
This was exactly what I was looking for in a stir fry sauce. It is so amazingly good!
Liv says
So happy you enjoyed it!! Thank you for leaving a review. It means so much 🙂
Sam says
This was a super easy, super delicious stir fry sauce! With the corn starch it thickened up really nicely and the flavor was just spot on. I’ll definitely make it again.
Liv says
Glad you enjoyed it, Sam! 🙂