By: Amy Katz · Published: · Last modified: · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
4.98 from 39 votes
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Special diet: gluten-free, nut-free, oil-free, vegan
Sweet and savory Vegan Teriyaki Sauce is easy to make from scratch in 15 minutes with only 6 ingredients. It's delicious on tofu, rice bowls, noodles, veggie burgers, and more.
The secret to taking a meal from average to extraordinary often comes down to a simple sauce. In fact, it's arguably the most important step I discuss in my free Instant Flavor guide.
And utilizing this vegan Teriyaki sauce is a sure way to elevate the taste of foods from vegetables to grains to proteins. Plus this homemade recipe tastes better than what you'll find at the supermarket.
Use it to make Baked Teriyaki Tofu and Grilled Tofu and Veggie Skewers, or drizzle it on steamed rice and vegetables. It's also an incredible addition to veggie burgers and stir-fried chickpeas.
Jump to:
- Why you'll love this recipe
- Ingredients and substitutions
- Instructions
- Serving suggestions
- Storing and freezing
- Recipe FAQs
- More vegan sauce recipes
- 📋 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why you'll love this recipe
- You only need 6 ingredients plus water to make it.
- It's oil-free, gluten-free, and sweetened with coconut sugar.
- It tastes better than store-bought versions and is delicious on a variety of foods as a marinade and dipping sauce.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Tamari (If you are not following a gluten-free diet, you can use soy sauce instead. Or for a soy-free version, coconut aminos can be used, but will result in a sweeter, less salty sauce.)
- Coconut sugar (If unavailable, substitute ⅔ the amount of brown sugar in place of the coconut sugar. Or use an equal amount of date sugar or organic white sugar.)
- Fresh garlic
- Fresh ginger
- Rice vinegar
- Cornstarch (Or substitute an equal amount of arrowroot powder or potato starch.)
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
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Instructions
Making homemade vegan teriyaki sauce couldn't be simpler.
All you need to do is place the ingredients in a small pot, bring to a simmer, and whisk until thickened. The cooking time is only 5 to 10 minutes.
Serving suggestions
One of my favorite ways to use this vegan teriyaki sauce is as a marinade for tofu. It's perfect for making Baked Teriyaki Tofu and grilled Teriyaki Tofu Skewers.
You can also use it as a stir-fry sauce when making Chickpea Stir Fry. Or drizzle some on top of steamed vegetables and rice for an easy and flavorful meal.
And don't forget the veggie burgers! Make yours Hawaiian style with a pineapple ring and slather of sticky salty and sweet sauce.
Storing and freezing
Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it in a freezer zipper bag or glass container with a tightfitting lid for up to 3 months.
Recipe FAQs
Is coconut sugar better for you than regular sugar?
Coconut sugar, also called coconut palm sugar, is a natural sugar made from coconut palm sap. According to Healthline, "It’s very similar to regular table sugar, although it’s not as processed and contains minor amounts of nutrients."
Does teriyaki sauce thicken when cooked?
Yes, the cornstarch thickens the sauce. You can also use potato starch or arrowroot powder.
What makes teriyaki sauce not vegan?
Some commercial brands of teriyaki sauce contain sweeteners such as honey or white sugar processed with bone char which make them not vegan-friendly.
More vegan sauce recipes
- Vegan Mushroom Gravy
- Vegan Yogurt Sauce with Garlic and Herbs
- Vegan Onion Gravy
And for even more recipes, join the Vegan Mediterranean Diet Recipes Facebook group for support, inspiration & fun!
If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars! ★★★★★
📋 Recipe
Homemade Vegan Teriyaki Sauce
Sweet and savory Vegan Teriyaki Sauce is easy to make from scratch in 15 minutes with only 6 ingredients. It's delicious on tofu, rice bowls, noodles, veggie burgers, and more.
4.98 from 39 votes
Print Pin
Special diet: gluten-free, nut-free, oil-free, vegan
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Asian, Fusion
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 32kcal
Author: Amy Katz
Ingredients
- ½ cup tamari*, (Or use soy sauce if you are not following a gluten-free diet.)
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch, (Or substitute arrowroot powder or potato starch.)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
Place all the ingredients in a small sauce pan.
Over medium heat, whisk the ingredients until the sauce comes to a low boil. Whisk continuously until the sauce has thickened, about 5 to 10 minutes.
Notes
*If you are following a low-sodium diet, use low-sodium tamari.
Makes about ¾ cup. Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 32kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.02g | Saturated Fat: 0.003g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 554mg | Potassium: 25mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 0.05IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Nutritional information is an estimation only.
More Vegan Condiment and Sauce Recipes
- Vegan Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
- White Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Easy Vegan Pesto Recipe
- 4 Ingredient Guacamole Recipe
About Amy
Amy Katz is a vegan recipe developer, photographer, and Certified Vegan Nutrition Health Coach. She loves sharing delicious plant-based Mediterranean diet recipes that home cooks of all levels can enjoy. Her easy vegan recipes have been featured on HuffPost, LIVESTRONG, Healthline, Parade, VegNews, BuzzFeed, MSN, Greatist, Country Living, Insider, Brit+Co, Well+Good, and more. She lives in Orange County, California with the love of her life, Brad, and their adorable black cat, Ozzy.
Reader Interactions
Comments
BJ
Sauce turned out great even though I used brown sugar and ground ginger spice. I'l be making t this a lot.Reply
Robin
I thought there was too much acid. Next time I will half the rice vinegar and see if it is better for me.Reply
Sarah
This sauce is delicious and will be my new go to for Asian rice or noodle dishes! I used regular white cane sugar and it came out just fine. Thanks for the recipe.Reply
Ozzy
Excellent recipe. I cut the sugar in half to lower the calories, used low sodium soy sauce instead of tamari, powdered ginger (half a TBSP), and black rice vinegar, because these are what I had on hand. It turned out great. Delicious on brown rice, and I'll try it tomorrow on some steamed veggies. Thanks Amy!Reply
Michelle W
This was a huge hit in our house tonight. So easy to make and hands down the best teriyaki sauce!Reply
