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Hello! I’m Anjali. I’m a board certified health coach, author, wife, mom and food lover from the SF Bay area (now living in Seattle, WA!); with a passion for delicious food and a desire to make healthy eating easy, tasty and fun! Learn more about me here and stay for a while!

Anjali Shah

Gluten Free Stir Fry Sauce

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This healthy gluten free stir fry sauce combines savory & sweet coconut aminos with fresh garlic and ginger. Mix with vegetables, tofu, or chicken for an easy weeknight dinner that the whole family will love. Naturally soy-free, too!

Gluten free stir fry sauce stored in a glass jar with a spoon.

A good stir fry can make an easy and flavorful family dinner. But unfortunately, most stir fry sauces and soy sauces are not gluten free or soy free – making them tough to use for anyone with a sensitivity or gluten intolerance.

It can be hard to find a pre-made tasty gluten free stir fry sauce recipe at the grocery store (since most store bough stir fries contain soy sauce)! So I decided to create a gluten free recipe that has the perfect blend of ingredients and is super flavorful!

This sauce is made with simple pantry staples and Asian flavors that can take a basic dish to the next level.

Many gluten free foods are highly processed but luckily that is not the case with this healthy Asian sauce!

Coconut aminos take the place of soy sauce for a soy free stir fry sauce that can be enjoyed by everyone. This simple sauce is a super versatile product and the perfect addition to any authentic stir fry recipe.

Whether you are making something with meat, or prefer plant-based dishes, this Asian stir fry sauce recipe adds delicious flavor to any meal. In addition to gluten-free stir fry sauce, you can use it as a marinade, dressing, or dip! I particularly love it for tofu broccoli recipes or veggie noodles!

If you’ve been on the hunt for an Asian sauce without soy sauce, this is the winner! This sauce would work perfectly with so many of my recipes.

Add this gluten free sauce to vegetables of your choice for a veggie stir fry. I prefer to use snap peas, green onions, red bell pepper, baby corn, broccoli, and mushrooms. Saute the veggies in a large skillet with a tablespoon of oil under soft, then add this low calorie Asian sauce and simmer to thicken. For a chicken stir fry, use chicken thighs or chicken breast. Pair either of these stir fry recipes with white rice for a tasty and filling meal!

You can also try it out with my thai basil eggplant or my frozen vegetable stir fry!

👩🏽‍🍳 Why This Recipe Works

  • Soy-free recipe
  • Can be made vegan
  • Ready in 12 minutes!
  • Easy to make
  • Delicious & flavorful
  • Best gluten free stir fry sauce!

Latest Recipe Video!

🥘 Ingredients

This healthy stir fry sauce recipe is made with only a few simple ingredients! The flavors blend together perfectly for a classic taste, without the soy or gluten. Check the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements for this homemade gf stir fry sauce.

Ingredients for gluten free stir fry sauce recipe on a white background.
  • Vegetable Broth or Vegan Chicken Broth: Vegan chicken broth is the base of this easy stir fry sauce. Many all purpose stir fry brown sauce recipes call for a meat based broth but I wanted to keep this recipe accessible to a larger group. However, feel free to use your choice of vegetable broth, regular chicken broth, or beef broth. Use bone broth for a higher protein option.
  • Coconut Aminos/Tamari: Regular soy sauce contains wheat and cannot be consumed by anyone with gluten sensitivities. Coconut aminos are the perfect soy-free, gluten-free option for this recipe, which is great for anyone with food allergies! You can also use tamari. If you don’t need the recipe to be soy free, any gluten free soy sauce or teriyaki sauce of your preference will do.
  • Minced Garlic & Ginger: Garlic and ginger add the best flavors to this gluten free vegetable stir fry sauce. You can adjust the amount depending on preference. It is best to use fresh garlic and fresh ginger for maximum flavor, but ground ginger and garlic powder can be used in a pinch.
  • Sesame Oil & Vegan Fish Sauce: Sesame oil is made from sesame seeds and is very common in Asian recipes. You can also use toasted sesame oil if you prefer that flavor. The fish sauce adds flavor and saltiness to this recipe! Fish sauce isn’t naturally vegan, so to keep this recipe vegan and vegetarian friendly, you’ll need to use a vegan fish sauce or equivalent. If you don’t need this recipe to be veggie friendly, you can use regular fish sauce! You can also use a vegan oyster sauce.
  • Coconut Sugar: If you want to add some sweetness to this soy free sauce, add in coconut sugar for a subtle boost! Other options include maple syrup or brown sugar. This can be skipped if you want to make the recipe sugar-free.
  • Red Pepper Flakes: Make this sauce spicy with red pepper or chili flakes! You can also try other peppers or hot sauces. Leave it out if you want a milder sauce.
  • Arrowroot Powder: Arrowroot helps create a thick stir fry sauce and perfect glaze texture for veggies, proteins, and noodles! If you don’t have arrowroot, xanthan gum or corn starch would work, too.

🔪 Instructions

It is super simple to make a diy stir fry sauce! In the matter of minutes, you’ll have a thick and savory sauce with tons of flavor. Mix with your favorite veggies for an easy dinner that everyone will love! Here is how to make stir fry sauce from scratch:

Mix Ingredients: Mix all ingredients, except the arrowroot powder, in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Asian sauce without soy sauce being cooked in a sauce pan on the stove.

Make Arrowroot Mix, Add To Sauce: Reduce heat. In a small bowl mix together the arrowroot powder and ½ tbsp of cold water, mix to form a slurry. Pour the arrowroot slurry into the simmering sauce, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.

Arrowroot slurry added to healthy stir fry sauce on the stove.

Simmer: Allow the sauce to return to a gentle simmer and cook for another 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Vegan soy free stir fry sauce being cooked in a sauce pan on the stove.

Let Cool: When the soy free Asian sauce has thickened remove from the heat and allow to cool before transferring to a jar for later use. Serve by tossing with stir fry vegetables and enjoy!

Soy free stir fry sauce being poured over stir fry mixed vegetables in a wok.

💭 Expert Tips

  • Add the sauce directly to a stir fry. There is no need to preheat this gluten free Asian sauce before adding.
  • Add more arrowroot, if needed. If the cooked stir fry vegetables have extra liquid, before adding the sauce, the sauce will become a little thin. You may need to add additional arrowroot to thicken to suit your tastes.
  • Whisk the slurry. Continuously whisking when adding the arrowroot slurry helps to prevent lumps forming in the sauce.
  • Cook over a low heat to thicken and reduce the sauce.
  • Double the recipe. This recipe makes approximately ¾ cup of sauce which will serve approximately 4 people when mixed through stir fry vegetables and tofu. If you need more than 4 servings, you can easily double or triple this easy gluten free stir fry sauce to your desired amount.

📖 Variations

  • Vegan Option: It is so easy to make a gluten free vegan stir fry sauce by simply swapping the fish sauce for a vegan option. Use this Asian sauce for vegetables, tofu, or any vegan-friendly food.
  • Pineapple Gluten Free Dairy Free Stir Fry Sauce: Inspired by pineapple teriyaki, elevate your gluten free stir fry recipe by infusing pineapple within the sauce. You can use fresh or frozen diced pineapple.
  • Tangy Flavor: For extra tangy flavors, use rice vinegar, rice wine vinegar, white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar in your stir fry glaze. You could even add a kick of citrus with fresh lime juice or lemon juice.

❓Recipe FAQs

What is the best store bought gluten free stir fry sauce?

Many store bought sauces are loaded with sugar, preservatives, and gmo ingredients. There are a few brands that are better than others when it comes to healthy alternatives.

In my opinion the best bottled stir fry sauce would be from brands like Primal Kitchen or Wan Ja Shan. Wan Ja Shan brewmasters blend traditional Asian discipline with modern technology to make a gluten-free tamari stir fry sauce that is certified organic. You’ll have to check with individual retailers to see who carries it.

Does stir fry sauce contain gluten?

Most stir fry sauces do contain gluten, although there are gluten-free options available. When you order from a Chinese restaurant chances are, there’s gluten in the dish. Check with your server to see if they have a gluten free tamari sauce instead. If you’re making food at home, opt for making a recipe like this simple stir fry sauce! You know exactly what is in it and can avoid all gluten contamination!

Does Kikkoman Stir Fry sauce have gluten?

Yes, Kikkoman stir fry sauce contains soy sauce which has wheat. In addition, it has added ingredients like sodium benozoate, disodium inosinate, and disodium guanylate. You can find a preservative free option at some grocery stores, but it still contains gluten, along with modified corn starch and caramel color.

This homemade stir fry sauce is a healthier alternative and makes cooking healthy meals quick and easy!

Why is soy not gluten free?

Soy itself is gluten free, but most soy sauces are made with soybeans, salt, water, and wheat, which means it does have gluten. There are some gluten-free soy sauce options, but I find it easiest to go with coconut aminos or tamari to play it safe.

How to store this soy free free stir fry sauce recipe?

You can store this sauce in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 7 days. Do not freeze this recipe, it won’t freeze or defrost well. If you have added the sauce to vegetables, store the leftover veggies in an airtight container in the fridge – the veggie + sauce combination will keep for up to 4 days.

Gluten free stir fry sauce stored in a glass jar with a spoon.

🍲 More Homemade Sauces To Try!

Love this vegetarian side dish recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating 🌟 in the recipe below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page!

You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious, healthy, family-friendly food, and if you have any questions, I’m here to help!

📋 Recipe Card

🎥 Watch How to Make It

Gluten free stir fry sauce stored in a glass jar with a spoon.
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Gluten Free Stir Fry Sauce

This healthy gluten free stir fry sauce combines savory & sweet coconut aminos with fresh garlic and ginger. Mix with vegetables, tofu, or chicken for an easy weeknight dinner that the whole family will love. Naturally soy-free, too!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time7 minutes
Total Time12 minutes
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Asian, Vegan
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 4
Calories: 34kcal
Author: Anjali Shah

Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions

  • Mix all ingredients, except the arrowroot powder, in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat. In a small bowl mix together the arrowroot powder and ½ tbsp of cold water, mix to form a slurry.
  • Pour the arrowroot slurry into the simmering sauce, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
  • Allow the sauce to return to a gentle simmer and cook for another 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly.
  • When the sauce has thickened remove from the heat and allow to cool before transferring to a jar to be used at a later date.
  • Store the cooled sauce, covered, in the fridge for up to 6 days.

Notes

  • This recipe makes approximately ¾ cup of sauce which will serve approximately 4 people when mixed through stir fry vegetables and tofu.
  • Add the sauce directly to a stir fry, no need to preheat the sauce before adding.
  • If the cooked stir fry vegetables has extra liquid, before adding the sauce, the sauce will become a little thin therefore you may need to add additional arrowroot to thicken to suit your tastes.
  • Red pepper flakes and coconut sugar are both optional however they do add delicious flavor to the sauce.
  • Coconut aminos is similar in taste as soy sauce however it is gluten-free and soy-free which is great for those with allergies. Coconut aminos comes from the sap of a coconut plant.
  • Vegan chicken broth can be substituted with vegetable broth if preferred.
  • Continuously whisking when adding the arrowroot slurry helps to prevent lumps forming in the sauce.
  • Cook over a low heat to thicken and reduce the sauce.
  • Store the sauce sealed in a jar in the fridge for up to 7 days.
  • This recipe can be doubled if needed.
  • Do not freeze the sauce.
  • Tamari can be used instead of coconut aminos if preferred.

Nutrition

Calories: 34kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Sodium: 491mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 1g

6 responses to “Gluten Free Stir Fry Sauce”

  1. This was such a quick and easy sauce that definitely delivers on flavor! Easily, a new favorite recipe and way better than any store bought version, indeed!5 stars

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