I am jar obsessed, so when it comes to storing my sauces, a good glass jar is my first choice. Here are some of my favorites!
Gluten-Free Vegan Teriyaki Sauce
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.This gluten-free vegan teriyaki sauce is sticky, sweet and so versatile. It’s guaranteed to take any Asian inspired dish to a whole new flavor level!
I love a good Asian sauce, but the ones I find at the store are either too sweet, too salty, or just don’t give me that flavor I love. Plus, the added extra random ingredients aren’t really needed. So I made my own!
Gluten-Free Vegan Teriyaki Sauce
Believe it or not it’s insanely easy to make your own teriyaki sauce. Which is why I knew I needed a homemade version in my cookbook. The main thing to watch is burning it, which I am embarrassed to say happened no less than 5 times when I was creating this.
Is teriyaki sauce vegan?
Many recipes, and store bought versions, are vegan. The main thing you will need to look for is if honey is used as a sweetener. Other than that you are good to go!
Teriyaki ingredients
What’s in teriyaki sauce can vary by recipe. But generally, it has these main ingredients:
- Soy sauce
- A sweetener of some sort
- A thickener
- Spices and seasonings to amp up the flavor
To make my recipe gluten-free, I used Tamari instead of soy sauce and brown rice flour as a thickener. I used maple syrup for that deeper sweet flavor, and for that natural sugar angle. To ramp up the flavor I used mirin and garlic powder.
Teriyaki substitutes
If you don’t have, or don’t want to make teriyaki sauce, you can use plain Tamari or soy sauce with a little bit of sweetener to get that signature teriyaki flavor.
What does teriyaki taste like?
Teriyaki sauce has a sweet flavor with a touch of tang. It also has just a little bit of saltiness to it to counter sweet.
Is Teriyaki Chinese or Japanese?
Teriyaki is Japanese. It’s used in many traditional dishes to marinate foods before they’re cooked.
Storage tips
Tips for using
There are so many ways to use teriyaki sauce to spice up dishes, but these are some of my favorite ways!
- Drizzle over rice and veggies
- Teriyaki rice bowl and roasted veggies
- Veggie fried rice
- Vegetable Teriyaki Stir Fry
How To Make Teriyaki Sauce
- Put all ingredients into a pot and heat over medium/low heat until thickened.
- Serve in your favorite dish!
Gluten-Free Vegan Teriyaki Sauce
I make this gluten-free vegan teriyaki sauce on repeat, and it always instantly elevates dinner with almost no extra effort. I whisk together tamari, maple syrup, mirin, garlic powder, and brown rice flour to create a sticky, sweet-savory sauce that is perfect for stir-fries, rice bowls, tofu, and roasted vegetables. It takes me just 10 minutes to make, which means I have a wholesome homemade sauce on the table faster than I could run out to buy one.
Servings: 8
Calories: 90kcal
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Tamari , or soy sauce if you don't need it gluten-free (low sodium if needed, see note)
- 10 tablespoons maple syrup (1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons)
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons mirin (rice cooking wine)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon brown rice flour
Instructions
- Mix all sauce ingredients in a pot, whisk well.
- Heat on the stovetop on medium low heat until thickened, while whisking. Be careful not to overcook because it thickens more as it cools.
Notes
- My #1 Secret Tip for this gluten-free vegan teriyaki sauce recipe is to pull the sauce off the heat a little earlier than you think you should. It thickens quite a bit as it cools, so if I cook it until it looks thick in the saucepan, it usually ends up thicker than I want once it is cold.
- Keep the heat at medium-low: If I rush this sauce by cooking over a higher heat, the sugars can catch, which causes scorching and uneven thickening.
- Watch closely: This sauce only takes a few minutes to make, and it thickens fast once it gets hot.
- Let the sauce cool: I give the sauce 5-10 minutes to cool before deciding if it needs to be thickened up a bit more.
- Use good-quality tamari: Since it makes up most of the sauce, its flavor really shines through. I find that naturally brewed brands give a smoother and richer flavor than cheaper alternatives.
Nutrition
Calories: 90kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 526mg | Potassium: 63mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
