This flavor-packed, umami vegan stir-fry sauce will elevate any stir-fry! All you need is 5 minutes and a few pantry ingredients to make this versatile seasoning.
We love making staple condiments at home. They are not only healthier, but friendlier on your wallet! Some of our other go-tos include tofu sour cream, vegan teriyaki sauce, and vegan marinara sauce.
Growing up in a Chinese household, stir-fries are rarely made with bottled sauces; instead, they are seasoned with pantry seasonings, including aromatics (like ginger and garlic), soy sauce, and oyster sauce.
However, gathering and prepping ingredients can be troublesome. This vegetarian stir-fry sauce solves the problem, and I can use it for stir-fries, marinating vegan steaks, or dipping tofu dumplings and vegan wontons!
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💚Why you will love vegetarian stir-fry sauce
- Bold and packed with Asian flavors
- Simple, easy, and ready in 5 minutes
- Versatile - Use it for noodles, vegetables, proteins (like tofu, tempeh, or Instant Pot seitan), or even as a dipping sauce
- A meal prep staple that can be frozen
🧂What you will need
- Vegetable broth - Or substitute with a teaspoon of stock powder/ bouillon.
- Soy sauce - Or tamari/shoyu. Use a gluten-free soy sauce to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Brown sugar - Any other sweetener (including maple syrup, cane sugar, or coconut sugar) will work.
- Red pepper flakes - Optional; omit to keep the sauce spice-free.
- Sesame oil (not pictured) - Another optional ingredient that gives the sauce a delicious nutty flavor!
💡Tip - Customize your stir-fry sauce
Customize the sauce to your liking by adjusting the proportion of ingredients.
If you like, add other seasonings. Use Shaoxing wine, rice vinegar, or Chinese black vinegar for added depth and some tang. For more heat, add a spoonful of sriracha.
You can also make it creamier by adding 2-3 tablespoons of tahini, peanut butter, or cashew butter.
🔪How to make vegan stir-fry sauce
Step 1: Combine broth, soy sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, sugar, and red pepper flakes in a jar.
Step 2: Heat some oil in a pan and saute garlic and ginger until fragrant.
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Step 3: Add broth-seasoning mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the sauce thickens and turns glossy.
Step 4: Use it immediately or refrigerate for later use.
🥕Using stir-fry sauce
Vegetable stir-fry - Choose any combination of veggies you have or use store-bought stir-fry mix or frozen vegetables for convenience.
Some that we commonly use include broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, Chinese greens, and mushrooms. Add sauce only in the last few minutes of cooking.
Noodles - Toss into cooked noodles of choice, including soba, udon, ramen, or rice noodles. It's also a great sauce for our tofu noodle stir-fry or fried rice vermicelli.
As a dipping sauce - We especially love serving it with cucumber maki, avocado maki, or vegan lumpia.
To marinate proteins - Use it to marinate tofu, tempeh, or homemade seitan chicken.
❄️Storing and meal prep suggestions
Fridge - Vegan stir-fry sauce can be refrigerated in a glass jar for a week.
Freezer - Sauce can be frozen for 3 months. I recommend portioning out using silicone ice cube trays or small containers. Allow to thaw completely before use.
❔Commonly asked questions
This vegan stir-fry sauce can be made gluten-free using a certified gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.
This sauce is already thickened with cornstarch, but you can add more cornstarch if you prefer a thicker sauce. Combine 2 teaspoons of cornstarch with an equal amount of water and gradually add it to the sauce to reach the desired thickness.
📖 Recipe
5-minute Vegan Stir Fry Sauce
Ingredients
- ¾ cup vegetable broth
- ¼ cup soy sauce or tamari/shoyu (use gluten-free if needed)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon sugar (any granulated sweetener will work)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes optional
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons minced ginger
Instructions
- Mix vegetable broth, soy sauce, cornstarch, sugar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes in a mason jar or bowl.¾ cup vegetable broth , ¼ cup soy sauce , 1 tablespoon cornstarch , 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- Heat ½ tablespoon of oil in a non-stick skillet, and saute garlic and ginger until fragrant.3 cloves garlic, 2 teaspoons minced ginger
- Add in the wet mixture. Bring the sauce to a boil, and lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until sauce is thick and glossy.
- Let it cool to room temperature. Use vegan stir-fry sauce immediately, or transfer it to a mason jar for storage.
Notes
- Customize the recipe - The stir-fry sauce is very forgiving, so you don't have to follow the recipe exactly. Make sure to use soy sauce or tamari, some type of vinegar for tanginess, a sweetener of choice, and aromatics like ginger and garlic.
- Make a larger batch - It is a convenient condiment to have on hand that goes well with almost anything! A jar in the fridge will save you tons of time in the kitchen.
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Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
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