Best Vegan Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
This Best Vegan Teriyaki Sauce Recipe is sweet, savory, and easy to make at home. It uses simple pantry ingredients and comes together in minutes. Perfect for tofu, veggies, rice bowls, or noodles. This homemade sauce tastes fresher than store bought versions and lets you control the sweetness and salt. Once you learn how to make vegan teriyaki sauce, you will want to keep a jar ready in your fridge.
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Whisk or wooden spoon
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Small bowl
- Stove top
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Soy sauce or tamari
- 1/2 cup Water
- 1/4 cup Maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons Rice vinegar
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons Water, for slurry
- 1 teaspoon Sesame oil
Instructions
Combine the base ingredients
- Place a small saucepan over medium heat. Add soy sauce, water, maple syrup, and rice vinegar. Whisk gently until everything looks smooth and well combined before the mixture begins to warm.
Add garlic and ginger
- Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the saucepan. Stir gently and let the mixture heat for two to three minutes until fragrant and slightly darker in color.
Prepare the cornstarch slurry
- In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with water until completely smooth. This slurry helps thicken the sauce evenly and gives it a glossy, classic teriyaki texture.
Thicken the sauce
- Slowly pour the slurry into the saucepan while whisking constantly. Let the sauce simmer for three to four minutes, stirring often, until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
Finish and adjust flavor
- Turn off the heat and stir in the sesame oil. Taste the sauce and adjust sweetness or salt if needed. Let it cool slightly before using or storing.
Notes
- Use tamari instead of soy sauce for a gluten free version.
- Add chili flakes if you like a spicy kick.
- Store the sauce in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to one week.
- If the sauce thickens too much when chilled, add a splash of water and stir.