Name: Easy Stir Fry Sauce - My Quick Go To
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: Asian Inspired
Ingredients: 3 tbsp tamari (or soy sauce); 2 tbsp maple syrup (or sweetener of choice); 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 1/2 tbsp sesame oil (see notes for oil-free options); 1 tsp chilli garlic sauce (see notes for alternatives); 2 tbsp water; 1 inch fresh ginger, grated (2 g); 2 tsp cornstarch (or arrowroot starch, see notes for omitting)

Description

My go to stir fry sauce for quick weeknight meals. Just a few pantry staples & ready in 5 minutes or less. Salty & sweet with a bit of spice!

Ingredients

Scale

3 tbsp tamari (or soy sauce)
2 tbsp maple syrup (or sweetener of choice)
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1/2 tbsp sesame oil (see notes for oil-free options)
1 tsp chilli garlic sauce (see notes for alternatives)
2 tbsp water
1 inch fresh ginger, grated (2 g)
2 tsp cornstarch (or arrowroot starch, see notes for omitting)

*All the ingredients for this recipe are from our pantry and freezer tips!

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Instructions

*If you wish to make a big batch and refrigerate this sauce, add the starch just before you cook with the sauce. This can help preserve the effectiveness of the starch as a thickening agent.

*The recipe as written makes 125 ml or 1/2 cup of sauce. Generally, 2 tablespoons of stir fry sauce per serving is a good rule of thumb so this recipe would serve 4.

In a small bowl or jar mix all of the ingredients. Whisk in the starch. (Or, if using a jar, secure the lid and shake to combine).
Refrigerate until ready to use.
When adding it to a dish: ensure the heat is high enough that the sauce comes to a light boil (this way the starch will activate and thicken the sauce). Stir to coat your stir fry ingredients, heat through for 2-5 minutes until the sauce has reached your desired consistency, remove from the heat, and serve. Try it on my easy weeknight stir fry with crispy baked tofu!

Notes

Approximate Cost: $1.00 Canadian per 100 ml vs. on average $1.35 per 100 ml for store-bought sauces. ($1.24 for this 125 ml recipe).

To make this sauce oil-free, replace the sesame oil with vegetable broth or aquafaba. These replacements will carry less rich flavour but the sauce will still be delicious.

If you do not have chilli garlic sauce you can use any hot sauce you do have and add some grated garlic or garlic powder. Alternatively red chilli flakes and garlic could also achieve a similar flavour.

If you do not want your sauce to thicken you can omit the starch. The sauce will stay liquid.

Category: Sauces & Dips
Method: Stirred
Cuisine: Asian Inspired