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This easy, sticky sweet, salty, tangy vegan teriyaki sauce comes together in just 10 minutes as a drool-worthy marinade, glaze, sauce, and dip!

completed Easy Vegan Teriyaki Sauce in two jars
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Is Teriyaki Sauce Vegan?

Teriyaki sauce is a popular sweet, tangy, sticky Japanese condiment, traditionally made with soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar. However, many of the modern store-bought versions in the West can contain additional ingredients like ginger, garlic, sesame, and sometimes a sweetener โ€“ like honey, which isn’t vegan.

Therefore, while many brands of teriyaki sauce are vegan, itโ€™s still a good idea to double-check the ingredients OR save the hassle and learn how to make restaurant-quality teriyaki sauce at home in just minutes.

Sure, opening a bottle from the store is convenient, but those versions are also often loaded with preservatives and additives with non-adjustable sodium and sugar levels. Luckily, homemade teriyaki sauce is 100% adjustable, tweakable, and tastes much better than store-bought.

You only need basic pantry ingredients for this recipe, itโ€™s oil-free, and easily adjustable to gluten-free and/or sugar-free. Plus, since you can pull it together in just 10 minutes, itโ€™s perfect for preparing while pulling together a quick teriyaki tofu stir-fry, but it is just as delicious with teriyaki noodles, rice, tofu sushi, using it as a marinade, and more.

The Ingredients of Teriyaki Sauce

While this homemade teriyaki sauce isnโ€™t 100% traditional, it requires only 9 simple pantry ingredients and is packed with flavor.

ingredients for Easy Vegan Teriyaki Sauce measured out against a white surface

Add-ins and Recipe Variations

  • Spice: Add some spice (how much is up to you) with red pepper flakes, chili paste, or hot sauce (like sriracha).
  • Sake: Just a splash for added depth in this easy teriyaki sauce.
  • Sesame oil: Add a nutty, savory, aromatic flavor depth to the garlic teriyaki sauce with just a little toasted sesame oil (start with a teaspoon).
  • Umami: Add a small amount of white miso for extra umami flavor.
  • Orange, Apple, or Pineapple teriyaki sauce: Replace ยผ cup (or more) water with fresh pineapple juice, apple juice, or orange juice and reduce the amount of added sugar. Optionally, add orange zest for extra citrusy brightness.

How to Make Teriyaki Sauce

process shot of mixing ingredients together in a bowl
process shot of mixing ingredients together in a bowl

Step 1: Peel and mince the ginger and garlic. Then, combine those with 1 cup of water and the remaining teriyaki sauce ingredients (except the cornstarch + ยผ cup water) in a saucepan and whisk.

Step 2: Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, combine the cornstarch and ยผ cup water. Then add that to the saucepan, too.

process shot of adding ingredients to a pot
process shot of cooking sauce in pot

Step 3: Heat the teriyaki sauce over high heat, boil it, and reduce just slightly, whisking constantly for about 5 minutes until thickened and the sugar has dissolved.

Step 4: Then, remove it from the heat and use it immediately or transfer it to a glass jar/container to store for later.

    Adjust the consistency of the teriyaki sauce by how much time you heat it and how much cornstarch you add to the recipe.

    FAQs

    How to thicken teriyaki sauce?

    For this easy teriyaki sauce recipe, we use cornstarch to thicken the teriyaki sauce. Itโ€™s heat-activated and will thicken the sauce while you cook it. To adjust the consistency, use less or more cornstarch (always in a slurry โ€“ to avoid lumps). However, you could also experiment with arrowroot flour or tapioca starch.

    How to make a simple teriyaki marinade?

    To use this as a teriyaki marinade, omit the thickener (in this case, cornstarch + the ยผ cup water for it). You can then use it to marinate your vegan protein of choice, then optionally simmer and thicken the leftovers with cornstarch to use as a sauce.

    Top Recipe Tips and Notes

    • Tweak the sauce to your liking: By making teriyaki sauce at home, you can tailor the taste (and sodium/sugar levels) to your liking, so feel free to do so and/or experiment with the optional add-ins listed above.
    • Be patient: Simmer the sauce until it coats the back of the spoon.
    • To adjust the consistency: For a thin marinade, you could skip the cornstarch entirely. For a slightly thicker teriyaki sauce or glaze, increase the amount of cornstarch used and the simmer time. Just note it will thicken more as it cools.
    • For more developed flavor: Simmer the sauce for longer to allow the flavors to meld. Just be aware that it will reduce and thicken more, too.
    completed Easy Vegan Teriyaki Sauce in two jars

    How to Use Teriyaki Sauce

    Storage Instructions

    Pour the vegan teriyaki sauce into a glass jar/airtight container and let it completely cool before transferring it to the refrigerator for up to 1 week. It will thicken while it cools.

    Alternatively, freeze it for 2-3 months, then let it thaw in the fridge overnight when needed.

    Reheat teriyaki sauce either in a microwave or a saucepan over low heat. It will loosen up as it heats, but add a splash of water if necessary.

    completed Easy Vegan Teriyaki Sauce in jar

    Easy Vegan Teriyaki Sauce

    5 from 36 votes
    Prep: 15 minutes
    Cook: 5 minutes
    Total: 20 minutes
    Servings: 1.5 cups
    This easy, sticky sweet, salty, tangy vegan teriyaki sauce comes together in just 10 minutes as a drool-worthy marinade, glaze, sauce, and dip!

    Ingredients 

    • 1 cup + ยผ cup of water (divided)
    • ยฝ cup of soy sauce
    • ยผ cup + 1 tablespoon of packed brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon of maple syrup or more brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon of minced fresh ginger
    • 2 small cloves of garlic, minced
    • ยฝ teaspoon of ground ginger
    • ยฝ teaspoon of garlic powder
    • ยฝ teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
    • ยผ cup of water

    Instructions 

    • In a medium pot, whisk together 1 cup of the water, soy sauce, brown sugar, maple syrup, fresh ginger, fresh garlic, ground ginger, ground garlic, and apple cider vinegar.
    • In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and the remaining ยผ cup of water and add it to the pot.
    • Place pot over high heat and whisk while bringing to a boil, allowing the sauce to boil for 5 minutes while whisking consistently. Remove from heat and pour into a glass container.

    Notes

    • Tweak the sauce to your liking: By making teriyaki sauce at home, you can tailor the taste (and sodium/sugar levels) to your liking, so feel free to do so and/or experiment with the optional add-ins listed above.
    • Be patient: Simmer the sauce until it coats the back of the spoon.
    • To adjust the consistency: For a thin marinade, you could skip the cornstarch entirely. For a slightly thicker teriyaki sauce or glaze, increase the amount of cornstarch used and the simmer time. Just note it will thicken more as it cools.
    • For more developed flavor: Simmer the sauce for longer to allow the flavors to meld. Just be aware that it will reduce and thicken more, too.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 275kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 9gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.03gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.05gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 4344mgPotassium: 287mgFiber: 1gSugar: 45gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 76mgIron: 2mg

    Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

    Additional Info

    Author: Toni Okamoto
    Course: Dips and Sauces
    Cuisine: Asian
    Method: Stovetop
    Diet: Vegan
    Tried this recipe?Please tag us at @PlantBasedOnABudget! ๐Ÿ™‚
    About

    Toni Okamoto

    “They say you are what you eat, so I strive to be healthy.
    My goal in life is not to be rich or wealthy,
    ‘Cause true wealth comes from good health and wise ways…
    we got to start taking better care of ourselves ” – Dead Prez

    More about Toni Okamoto
    5 from 36 votes (33 ratings without comment)

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