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    Home » Recipes » Sauces

    Easy stir fry sauce recipe (vegan, vegetarian)

    Published: Jul 23, 2021 · Modified: Oct 26, 2022 by Trish Bozeman · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Easy homemade stir fry sauce recipe! It only takes 2 minutes to make this versatile sauce and it’s delicious on stir fried veggies, proteins, noodles, and rice.

    pouring stir fry sauce

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    Hi, Rhubarbarians! Sharing an easy, weeknight staple that we use for so many recipes: an all-purpose vegan stir fry sauce recipe!

    Asian take-out is a staple in our house. The whole fam, including Rhubarbaby, LOVES veggie chow mein noodles. But, we honestly haven't found a great bottled stir fry sauce that we love. So, we made our own!

    Here's an easy, 5-ingredient recipe for vegan stir fry sauce recipe that will make amazing and quick stir fry meals for weeknights.

    Jump to:
    • Why we love this stir fry sauce
    • Here's what you'll need
    • How to make it
    • How to use the sauce in stir fry
    • Recipe tips and substitutions
    • Making ahead, storing, and freezing
    • FAQs
    • Recipe
    • Comments and reviews

    Why we love this stir fry sauce

    The bottled Chinese store bought stir fry sauces are easy, but to us they just taste like salt. They don't satisfy that need for a great veggie stir-fry or noodles.

    Our homemade stir fry sauce recipe is quick and easy, but full of umami flavor! The base of the sauce is vegetable stock, so it's not overwhelmingly salty or overpowered by soy sauce. We thicken it with a bit of corn starch so that it coats your stir fry perfectly.

    We got our inspiration from Chinese cuisine, but have adapted our recipe using pantry staples found in most American households.

    More sauces to try:

    • Honey soy stir fry sauce
    • Pineapple teriyaki sauce
    • Sweet and sour sauce
    vegan stir fry sauce recipe in a mason jar with a spoon

    Here's what you'll need

    Ingredients:

    • Soy sauce: The Kikkoman less sodium soy sauce is our favorite.
    • Sesame oil: We are big fans of the flavor of toasted sesame oil!
    • Vegetable stock: The Better than Bouillon vegetable base is one of the pantry staples we just can't live without. It's the best!
    • Hoisin sauce: Be sure to choose read the ingredients if you don't eat fish sauce!
    • Corn starch: This helps thicken the sauce.

    Chinese stir fry sauce is traditionally made with oyster sauce. But this vegan version is just as delicious!

    Oyster sauce adds an extra punch of umami that you get in restaurant Chinese dishes. You can still get that same punch by adding bottled vegan oyster sauce (or make your own vegan oyster sauce).

    Equipment:

    • A small mixing bowl or glass jar: We love making this in a small mason jar with a lid and shaking it all up to mix!
    • Measuring spoons and cups
    • Small whisk or large fork: How cute are these tiny whisks?

    How to make it

    If you've got 2 minutes, you can make this sauce! Here's how. (Full instructions are listed in the recipe card below)

    • Add the soy sauce, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, vegetable stock, and corn starch to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
    • OR you can combine all of the ingredients in a container with a tight fitting lid (like a mason jar) and shake until everything is combined.

    Seriously, that's it.

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    stir fry sauce in a mason jar on a gray towel

    How to use the sauce in stir fry

    This makes a lot of sauce, probably more than you'll need for just one meal. (Full instructions are listed in the recipe card below.

    Stir fry your veggies/proteins until almost completely cooked. Add enough sauce to lightly coat your stir fry ingredients and stir to combine. Let the sauce heat and thicken slightly, about 2 minutes and taste. Add more sauce if desired, adding a little at a time until your desired flavor is achieved.

    Here are some stir fry dishes to try with this sauce:

    • Veggie chow mein
    • Crispy tofu
    • Stir-fried noodles
    • Vegetable stir fry
    • Veggie fried rice
    • Dipping sauce
    • Sauteed veggies like cabbage or bok choy.

    Want to use this stir fry sauce as a marinade? Just omit the cornstarch! Pour over your protein of choice and marinate for at least 30 minutes.

    Recipe tips and substitutions

    Here are some tips and substitutions that will help you master this recipe in your kitchen!

    • We keep the sauce very simple and versatile, so more flavor will be needed in your stir fry for depth. There's no garlic, ginger, or onion in the sauce and we find that these ingredients are a MUST in stir fry. Be sure to add those when cooking your veggies/proteins.
    • Swap out of the veggie stock for what you have. If you like chicken or beef stock, use one of those! We love the Better than Bouillon's no chicken base and the no beef base as well.
    • Dissolve the corn starch completely before adding to your stir fry. You don't want clumps of corn starch!
    • Let the sauce thicken when cooking. If you cook the sauce in the pan with your stir fry ingredients for a couple of minutes, that corn starch will allow the sauce to thicken and coat your ingredients.
    • Gluten free? No problem! Swap out the soy sauce for coconut aminos.
    • Need less sodium? Use lower sodium soy sauce!

    We think you will love our vegan sweet and sour tofu recipe for your next weeknight dinner!

    stir fry noodles being eaten with chopsticks

    Making ahead, storing, and freezing

    • Making ahead: You can make this stir fry sauce recipe ahead of time and store in the refrigerator. Keep it in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks.
    • Storing: Store any unused sauce in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
    • Freezing: You can freeze stir fry sauce! We recommend freezing the sauce in an ice cube tray so that you can use small portions when needed. Pour the sauce into an ice cube tray and freeze. Remove the cubes from the ice cube tray and store in a freezer safe sealed container (like a Ziploc bag) for up to 3 months. When ready to use, add a couple of the frozen cubes directly to your stir fry and let them heat and coat your ingredients. Add more to your taste as needed.

    FAQs

    How long does this last?

    In a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Frozen in cubes for up to 3 months.

    How do I make this gluten-free?

    Swap out the soy sauce for coconut aminos.

    Can I use this sauce as a marinade?

    Just omit the cornstarch! Pour over your protein of choice and marinate for at least 30 minutes.

    More recipes you'll love:

    • Veggie pineapple teriyaki stir fry
    • Easy vegetable chow mein
    • Honey garlic cashew tofu

    Did you make this recipe? Leave us a review and star rating in the comments below! We read every single review and appreciate your feedback.

    Recipe

    Vegan stir fry sauce pouring over noodles

    Easy stir fry sauce recipe

    Trish Bozeman
    Easy homemade stir fry sauce recipe! It only takes 2 minutes to make this versatile sauce and it’s delicious on stir fried veggies, proteins, noodles, and rice.
    4.65 from 14 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Total Time 2 minutes mins
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine American, Chinese
    Servings 1 batch
    Calories 179 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 Tablespoons soy sauce
    • 1 Tablespoon hoisin sauce
    • 2 teaspoon sesame oil
    • ½ cup vegetable stock
    • 2 teaspoons corn starch

    Instructions
     

    To make the sauce

    • Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl or glass jar and whisk together until well combined and the corn starch is dissolved.

    To cook with the sauce

    • Stir fry your veggies/proteins until almost completely cooked. Add enough sauce to lightly coat your stir fry ingredients and stir to combine. Let the sauce heat and thicken slightly, about 2 minutes and taste. Add more sauce if desired, adding a little at a time until your desired flavor is achieved.

    Video

    Notes

    This recipe makes enough sauce for a very large pan of stir fried noodles and vegetables. Start with enough to coat your stir fry and add more to your taste.
    • We keep the sauce very simple and versatile, so more flavor will be needed in your stir fry for depth. There's no garlic, ginger, or onion in the sauce and we find that these ingredients are a MUST in stir fry. Be sure to add those when cooking your veggies/proteins.
    • Swap out of the veggie stock for what you have. If you like chicken or beef stock, use one of those! We love the Better than Bouillon's no chicken base and the no beef base as well.
    • Dissolve the corn starch completely before adding to your stir fry. You don't want clumps of corn starch!
    • Let the sauce thicken when cooking. If you cook the sauce in the pan with your stir fry ingredients for a couple of minutes, that corn starch will allow the sauce to thicken and coat your ingredients.
    • Gluten free? No problem! Swap out the soy sauce for coconut aminos.
    • Need less sodium? Use lower sodium soy sauce!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 179kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 8gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 4751mgPotassium: 153mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 250IUCalcium: 14mgIron: 1.7mg
    Keyword vegan, vegetarian
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Camille

      July 31, 2022 at 6:59 pm

      Loved this sauce. I added a little minced garlic as well. The flavor after heating it with veggies was great . Definitely a keeper!

      Reply
    2. Sarah

      February 09, 2022 at 7:06 pm

      5 stars
      Made this tonight for some stir fry with brown rice and it was a hit with the family!
      Definitely will be making this sauce again and again thank you!

      Reply
    3. kppdx

      April 14, 2020 at 4:54 pm

      3 stars
      I'm sorry, this recipe didn't wow me. I think the Hoisin sauce was the problem - too sweet, in a fruity plum-flavored way. Oyster sauce might be a better choice. A little ginger and/or garlic wouldn't hurt either.

      Reply
      • Trish Bozeman

        April 16, 2020 at 1:07 pm

        This is a very basic VEGAN stir fry sauce, so oyster sauce is not an option. I included a link to a vegan oyster sauce in this post. Garlic and ginger are intended to be added to your stir fry itself. Sorry you didn't like it.

        Reply
    4. Edy Walton

      March 04, 2020 at 9:11 am

      No need to cook it after mixing the ingredients ?????? How long will it lasts if not use immediately? Can it be made in large quantities for future use? Thank you.

      Reply
      • Trish Bozeman

        March 05, 2020 at 9:54 am

        You technically don't have to cook it, but I like to add it to veggies/noodles and cook for just a couple of minutes. Keep it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

        Reply
    5. Jenni LeBaron

      July 15, 2019 at 10:40 am

      5 stars
      This stir fry sauce looks awesome! I love that it has such a short and simple ingredient list and comes together so quickly! I can see this being wonderful with a big pot of rice noodles!

      Reply
    6. Dana

      July 15, 2019 at 5:55 am

      5 stars
      This idea has got me EXCITED. Often times I've whipped together an impromptu stir fry and have been left with too little sauciness, or too much! Love the idea of just having some sauce handy on the side and slowly adding what I need. The ingredients used are exactly what I have on hand when making stir fry too, so this is perfect. Thanks for the recipe! Not sure why I never thought to just do this... lol.

      Reply
    7. Tracy

      July 14, 2019 at 9:32 pm

      5 stars
      Oh man the possibilities are endless with this sauce! You're so right - those store bought sauces do just taste like salt. This has SO much more flavor!

      Reply
    8. Sandra Shaffer

      July 12, 2019 at 1:22 pm

      5 stars
      So simple and full of flavor. We used this to dip egg rolls in. Next time I'll try it with chicken and veggies. This sauce will be stocked in our refrigerator!

      Reply
    9. Pam Greer

      July 11, 2019 at 1:39 pm

      5 stars
      This is the only stir fry sauce I use now!! Ready in just 2 minutes and it goes with everything!

      Reply
    10. Gloria

      July 09, 2019 at 6:26 pm

      5 stars
      This is fantastic. Easy to whip up. Perfect for so many things. I always have these ingredients on hand. Printing this off and hanging it on the fridge.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Trish, a vegetarian mom with a passion for cooking meatless meals with seasonal produce. I'll help you create vegetarian recipes that your whole family will love. Welcome!

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