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    Home » Recipes » Sauces and Salad Dressings

    Vegan teriyaki sauce

    Aug 26, 2022 by Becky Striepe
    Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Recipe Video Print
    jar of teriyaki sauce with a spoon over it drizzling sauce
    jar of teriyaki sauce with a spoon over it drizzling sauce, text overlay
    image collage showing combining the water and cornstarch in the pan, whisking all the sauce ingredients together, the sauce boiling in the pan, and the finished bottle of teriyaki sauce with a spoon drizzling sauce

    Vegan teriyaki sauce is incredibly flavorful and easy to make. You'll never want to buy the bottled stuff again!

    jar of teriyaki sauce with a spoon over it drizzling sauce

    It takes less than 10 minutes to make vegan teriyaki sauce from scratch. You're truly going to be obsessed with this recipe!

    Jump to:
    • Why make teriyaki sauce from scratch?
    • Recipe notes
    • Substitutions
    • Storage directions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Vegan Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
    • Frequently asked questions

    Why make teriyaki sauce from scratch?

    Homemade teriyaki sauce is just so much more flavorful than most store-bought options! And when you see how easy it is to make, you'll be hooked.

    This sauce is packed with flavor and takes only eight minutes to make. You can multiply this recipe, if needed, to make as much as you like. It keeps for about a week.

    teriyaki tofu ingredients in bowls and measuring spoons on a wooden cutting board with text labels on each item

    Recipe notes

    You mix this sauce up in the same pan you use to cook it. Start with a cold pan, and whisk together the water and the cornstarch.

    Now, add seasoned rice vinegar, low-sodium soy sauce, brown sugar, maple syrup, and fresh garlic and ginger. Simmer for just a few minutes to thicken, and boom! Vegan teriyaki sauce.

    image collage showing combining the water and cornstarch in the pan, whisking all the sauce ingredients together, the sauce boiling in the pan, and the finished bottle of teriyaki sauce with a spoon drizzling sauce

    To save time, I like to mince my garlic and ginger together in the food processor. Mincing by hand is fine, though. You do you.

    Substitutions

    If you don't want to use cornstarch, you can replace it with potato starch or arrowroot instead.

    You can also use a teaspoon of garlic powder and ½ teaspoon ground ginger in place of fresh, though fresh definitely gives this sauce more flavor.

    Storage directions

    Leftover vegan teriyaki sauce will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator. Shake or whisk before serving.

    This sauce also freezes well for up to six months. To thaw, place in the fridge overnight or on the counter for a few hours. Once it's thawed, give it a good whisk to reincorporate any ingredients that have separated.

    Serving suggestions

    This sauce is great for adding a flavor boost to all kinds of delicious meals!

    I originally created it for my baked teriyaki tofu recipe. It's also great for drizzling over air fryer tofu, cooked tempeh, roasted eggplant, or roasted or steamed sweet potatoes.

    baked teriyaki tofu in a bowl with noodles and roasted pea pods

    Use vegan teriyaki sauce to pump up your next sushi bowl or noodle bowl, too!

    jar of teriyaki sauce with a spoon over it drizzling sauce

    Vegan Teriyaki Sauce Recipe

    Vegan teriyaki sauce is incredibly flavorful and easy to make. You'll never want to buy the bottled stuff again!
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    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Sauces and Dressings
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: vegan teriyaki sauce
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 3 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 8 minutes minutes
    Servings: 16 servings
    Calories: 31kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • 1 cup water
    • ¼ cup seasoned rice vinegar
    • ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or agave nectar
    • 2 cloves garlic - minced
    • 1" piece of ginger - minced

    Instructions

    • In a cold pan, whisk together the cornstarch and water, then mix in all of the rest of the sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer for a 2-3 minutes to thicken. It might be hard to see that it's getting thick, but you can tell because the bubbles start rolling more slowly. Remember that it will thicken even more as it cools, so don't overcook!
    • You can stir in a tablespoon of sesame seeds at this point, if you want. Use now or refrigerate for up to a week.

    Video

    Notes

    Store for up to a week in the fridge or up to 6 months in the freezer. Whisk or shake before using.
    This recipe yields approximately 2 cups of teriyaki sauce. 1 serving = 2 tablespoons

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Vegan Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    31
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    0.2
    g
    0
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    0.02
    g
    0
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    0.03
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    0.1
    g
    Sodium
     
    288
    mg
    12
    %
    Potassium
     
    49
    mg
    1
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    7
    g
    2
    %
    Fiber
     
    0.1
    g
    0
    %
    Sugar
     
    5
    g
    6
    %
    Protein
     
    1
    g
    2
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    54
    IU
    1
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    1
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    9
    mg
    1
    %
    Iron
     
    0.2
    mg
    1
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    Frequently asked questions

    Is teriyaki sauce vegan friendly?

    It can be, though some companies do use honey in their teriyaki sauce. This recipe is 100% vegan friendly.

    What's in teriyaki sauce?

    Teriyaki sauce is a mixture of soy sauce, water, sweeteners, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger. You can also stir sesame seeds into the finished sauce, if you like!

    Is Kikkoman teriyaki sauce vegan?

    The last time I checked, this brand was free of animal ingredients. However, I do not recommend using this sauce in this recipe. It isn't thick enough to cling to the tofu.

    What is a good substitute for teriyaki sauce?

    If you want to make this recipe with another sauce, feel free! Stir fry sauce, BBQ sauce, sweet chili sauce, or hoisin sauce thinned with a little water all work well.

    What's the difference between soy sauce and teriyaki sauce?

    Teriyaki sauce is basically seasoned soy sauce. It starts with soy sauce and water and adds sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger. It also contains cornstarch to thicken it.

    Can I substitute soy sauce for teriyaki?

    I don't recommend doing that. Teriyaki sauce contains a lot of seasoning, and your recipe is going to be lacking if you use plain soy sauce instead.

    More Vegan sauces and salad dressings

    • raw hot sauce in a bowl with a spoon for serving
      Raw Hot Sauce from Any Peppers
    • bowl of vegan avocado pasta topped with chopped tomato
      Avocado Pesto Pasta
    • stir fry sauce without cornstarch in a mason jar on a white napkin
      Blender Stir Fry Sauce (no cornstarch!)
    • bowl of red pepper pesto pasta with spinach and black olives
      Vegan Red Pepper Pesto Fettuccini

    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

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    About Me

    photo of Becky Striepe
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

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