Easy Stir Fry Sauce With Soy-Free Option

Why You’ll Love This Simple Stir Fry Sauce

This easy stir fry sauce is a game-changer for easy weeknight dinners. Here are some reasons why you’ll love this recipe:

• Sweet, salty, and a touch spicy – This sauce hits all the right flavor notes to elevate your veggie stir fry to the next level.
• Versatile – This sauce is perfect for coating a variety of noodles, vegetables, and tofu, making it a great plant-based stir fry sauce option.
• Gluten-free and soy-free options – You can make this stir fry sauce without soy sauce by using coconut aminos instead!

Ingredients

Let’s dive into the simple ingredients you’ll need to make this mouth-watering stir fry sauce. Don’t worry about the quantities, we’ll cover that in the recipe card below.

• Soy sauce or coconut aminos – Both options add depth to the sauce, with soy sauce providing a salty umami flavor, and coconut aminos lending a slightly sweeter, milder taste for those who prefer a soy-free option.
• Brown sugar – This sweetener balances out the salty, tangy flavors in the sauce, and imparts a subtle molasses note that enhances the overall taste.
• Rice vinegar – Rice vinegar’s acidity brightens the flavor profile and compliments the other ingredients, giving the sauce a tangy flavor and kick.
• Minced garlic – A classic ingredient in stir fry sauces, minced garlic adds an aromatic, pungent touch that elevates the sauce’s flavor complexity.
• Minced ginger – Fresh minced ginger lends a zesty, warm, and slightly spicy undertone, enhancing the overall taste of the sauce.
• Chinese 5 spice (optional) – This aromatic blend of spices, typically including cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise, and Sichuan peppercorns, imparts a warm, slightly sweet depth to the sauce.
• Toasted sesame oil – With its distinct, nutty aroma, toasted sesame oil adds a rich, roasted flavor to the sauce, which rounds out the taste.
• Sambal oelek or sriracha – Choose either of these chili-based condiments to bring some heat to your sauce.
• Water or low sodium vegetable broth – This liquid base thins the sauce, reduces the sodium per serving and allows the sauce to evenly coat your stir fry ingredients.
• Cornstarch – This essential ingredient helps thicken the sauce, ensuring it clings to your stir fry ingredients for a rich, flavorful experience with every bite.

Substitutions

If you need to make any substitutions, here are a few suggestions:

• Soy Sauce – You can make this stir fry sauce without soy sauce by using coconut aminos as a gluten-free alternative. You could also sub in vegan oyster sauce.

Pro Tips

Here are a few helpful tips to make sure your sauce has the best flavor and texture:

• Use fresh ginger and garlic for the best flavor.
• If you prefer a thinner sauce, simply reduce the amount of cornstarch or add more water / vegetable broth to thin it out.
• For a stronger sesame flavor, feel free to add a little more sesame oil.
• Adjust the spice level to your preferences by adding more sambal oelek or sriracha to taste!