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    Home » Recipes » Sauces | Dressings

    Vegan Teriyaki Sauce (gluten free)

    Published: Mar 16, 2023 · by Tracy Halasz · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This quick and easy Vegan Teriyaki Sauce is thick and glossy, subtly sweet and savory – basically a sauce lover’s dream. We love having a bottle of homemade teriyaki sauce on hand to slather on crispy baked tofu, vegan chicken, meatballs or veggie stir fry. So simple and it's ready in 10 minutes!

    Bowl of teriyaki sauce topped with sesame seeds.

    Here at Simply Ceecee, we’re all about flavorful, homemade vegan sauces that transform any meal into a 5-star masterpiece. If you’re looking for more knockout sauces you can whip up in no time, you need to try my epic Sweet and Spicy Tahini Sauce, creamy Vegan Tzatziki or this drool worthy Spicy Peanut Sauce. 

    Reasons to LOVE this Recipe

    Once you try this savory-sweet, sesame ginger teriyaki sauce, you’re gonna want to add it to your weekly rotation. Of course we're obsessed with it on baked tofu, but here's a few other reasons to love it too:

    • Affordable: Instead of buying a bottle of store bought teriyaki sauce that’s full of added sugars and preservatives, why not just make your own? You need only a few pantry ingredients. 
    • Quick and easy: You can literally whip this sauce up in 10 minutes or less. 
    • Allergy/special diet friendly: This recipe is oil free, gluten free, keto friendly, refined sugar free, vegan, and vegetarian. 

    Ingredients You'll Need

    Teriyaki is an ancient Japanese style of cooking broiled or grilled meat in a glaze with soy sauce and mirin. Here's what you'll need to make teriyaki sauce from scratch:

    Soy sauce/tamari (gluten free), mirin, maple syrup, fresh garlic and ginger, cornstarch, and water. Red pepper flakes and sesame seeds for garnish. 

    Teriyaki sauce ingredients set out on a sheet pan.

    Ingredient Substitutions & Variations

    This homemade teriyaki sauce is delicious on its own, but the beauty of this versatile recipe is you customize it to suit your taste buds! Here's a few ideas:

    • Make it spicy: Love to give your sauces an extra kick? For a spicy teriyaki sauce, add 1-2 teaspoons of garlic chili sauce, sambal oelek chili, sriracha or a pinch or two of red chili flakes.
    • Make it sweeter: Add another teaspoonful or two of maple syrup (to taste).
    • Gluten-free: Sub tamari or gluten-free soy sauce. 
    • Lower sodium: Although soy sauce adds A LOT of flavor, it does have a higher sodium content. To reduce the sodium, choose low sodium soy sauce or dilute it with some water.

    How To Make Homemade Teriyaki Sauce 

    With just a few ingredients and a saucepan, you'll be enjoying teriyaki sauce in no time. Let's get into the details:

    Two photos of teriyaki sauce being thickened with cornstarch slurry being whisked into sauce in pan.
    1. Combine the ingredients: Add ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
    2. Make the cornstarch slurry: In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until well combined. 
    3. Thicken the teriyaki sauce: Pour the slurry into the saucepan and whisk until smooth and combined. Remove from heat when the sauce is thick and glossy. 
    4. Customize: Add extra flavor and spice to your sauce by adding some heat. Make it a bit sweeter with an extra splash of maple syrup.
    Saucepan filled with thick and glossy teriyaki sauce topped with sesame seeds.

    How To Serve

    While this vibrant, Asian sauce is so good you could eat it alone with a spoon, it’s also a great way to elevate plant based meals and side dishes! Add a punch of salty-sweet umami flavor to everything from boring leftovers to crispy pan fried tofu and your favorite grilled veggies.

    • Use it as a glaze: With its thick and glossy consistency, this vegan sauce makes a perfect glaze for vegan chicken, meatballs or grilled/baked veggies. 
    • As a dipping sauce: Makes a perfect dipping sauce for vegan dumplings.
    • Make a tofu marinade: Tofu, tempeh and seitan are delicious marinated in this sauce! 
    • Amp up your stir fry: Use as a stir fry sauce with tofu and veggies served over rice or noodles for an easy vegetarian meal. 
    Bowlful of teriyaki tofu on a bed of rice topped with sesame seeds and green onions.

    FAQs

    Is teriyaki sauce vegan?

    Yes, teriyaki sauce is typically vegan! This gluten-free teriyaki sauce recipe is made with soy sauce/tamari or coconut amino, mirin, a sweetener of choice, garlic, cornstarch, and water. 

    How do you thicken teriyaki sauce?

    You can thicken teriyaki sauce by adding a combination of cornstarch and water, otherwise known as a slurry. To make a slurry, simply whisk together 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of cold water. 

    Make Ahead & Storing

    • Make ahead: Make the sauce ahead of time and store it in a jar in the fridge. It will thicken up once chilled so simply add a splash or two of water and give it a good stir when reheating.
    • Storage: Store this sauce in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. 
    Spoonful of sesame seed topped teriyaki sauce being lifted out of bowl.

    Vegan Sauces to try next!

    Here's some more popular sauce recipes I think you'll love:

    • Vegan Honey Mustard Sauce
    • Cashew Cream Sauce
    • Vegan Ranch Dressing
    • Peanut Hoisin Sauce

    If you tried this Vegan Teriyaki Sauce or any other recipe on the blog, please let me know how you liked it by leaving a rating and review below! Be sure to follow along on Instagram and Pinterest for more delicious vegan recipes.
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    Spoonful of sesame seed teriyaki sauce being lifted from a white bowl.

    Vegan Teriyaki Sauce (gluten free)

    This homemade teriyaki sauce is super quick and easy to make (under 10 minutes!). It's a sweet & salty Japanese sauce flavor bomb to drizzle over tofu, burgers, grilled veggies, and it's an incredibly delicious vegan stir fry sauce. Naturally vegan, this gluten-free teriyaki sauce is easier and better than store bought versions!
    Author : Tracy Halasz

    Rate this recipe!

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins

    INGREDIENTS

    • ¼ cup soy sauce / tamari
    • ¼ cup mirin
    • 1 ½ tablespoons maple syrup
    • 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1" ginger
    • ¼ cup water

    Cornstarch Slurry

    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • 2 tablespoons water

    Optional Add Ins

    • ½ teaspoon sesame oil (for flavor)
    • 2 teaspoons chili garlic, sambal or sriracha
    • pineapple chunks, rice vinegar

    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • Heat first 6 ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat until simmering.
    • In a small dish, whisk the cornstarch and water together to create a slurry.
    • Pour the slurry into the teriyaki sauce whisking until the sauce is smooth. Once it starts to thicken and get glossy, remove from heat. The sauce does thicken as it cools so leave it slightly thinner than you'll need. Add in another splash or two of water if your sauce gets too thick.
    • Optional: Stir in red pepper flakes, sriracha or sambal garlic chili for a spicy teriyaki sauce.

    NOTES

    Gluten Free Option: Use tamari or gluten-free soy sauce.
    Mirin: Mirin is a type of rice wine similar to saki. It's a little sweeter and has a lower alcohol content than saki. Find mirin in the condiment aisle (by the soy sauce or the International section) at your supermarket, in an Asian grocery store or buy it online.
    Reduced Salt Option: Use low sodium for less salty teriyaki sauce.
    Sweeter Option: Make it sweeter with an extra teaspoon or two of maple syrup.
    Oil: Add toasted sesame oil for extra flavor and richness.
    Storing: Keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks (or more).

    This recipe is from simplyceecee.co food blog. All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images or republish this recipe without prior permission. Thank you.

    Tried this recipe? Tag me!Mention @ceeceecooks or tag #ceeceecooks

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    Comments

    1. Debbie

      July 16, 2023 at 9:12 pm

      5 stars
      I love this vegan teriyaki sauce! It is so simple to make and the flavor is out of this world. I love it on the tofu and rice. Thank you!

      Reply

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    Hi, I’m Tracy, welcome! I’ve been creating and cooking vegetarian/vegan food for decades, and love helping others on their journey to eat more plants. Here you’ll find super flavorful vegan recipes you and your family will love – vegan or not!

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