Vegan Teriyaki Sauce is sweet and savory and easy to make with simple ingredients. This version is gluten-free and oil-free. It’s delicious on tofu, rice bowls, noodles, and veggie burgers.
I have always loved teriyaki sauce.
I remember ordering dishes with teriyaki sauce when my family first started eating at Japanese restaurants when I was a kid.
The best part was when there was extra sauce to eat with my rice.
And my favorite sandwich at the local burger joint was topped with teriyaki sauce and a grilled pineapple ring.
I used to purchase store-bought sauce, but it’s difficult to find one without gluten.
And they often contain honey as a sweetener, which as a vegan I avoid.
But now I make this easy homemade version whenever I have a craving for the sweet and salty sauce.
You only need six ingredients plus water to make this quick Vegan Teriyaki Sauce.
Like all the Asian-inspired recipes I share, I would never claim that this recipe is authentic.
But it’s really delicious on a variety of dishes.
The traditional Japanese sauce contains soy sauce, mirin, and sugar and is used on grilled or broiled foods like fish.
For this version, I combine the following ingredients:
Tamari
Water
Coconut Sugar
Garlic
Ginger
Rice Vinegar
Cornstarch
You could leave out the garlic and ginger if you want, but I personally love them in this sauce.
And both are very nutritious.
If you’re following a low-sodium diet, be sure to use low-sodium tamari.
What can you make with Vegan Teriyaki Sauce?
Try substituting it for other sauces with crispy tofu or chickpea stir fry.
Or make a Hawaiian veggie burger by adding it to a black bean burger along with a slice of pineapple, tomato, and lettuce.
You can even pour some on Spicy Mango Fried Rice or some soba noodles and steamed broccoli.
And I’ll be sure to share some recipes using this sauce very soon!
Now let’s make Vegan Teriyaki Sauce!
Vegan Teriyaki Sauce (Gluten-Free & Oil-Free)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup tamari
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tablespoon ginger, minced
- 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch, (or substitute arrowroot powder)
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a small sauce pan.
- Over medium heat, whisk the ingredients until the sauce comes to a low boil. Whisk continuously until the sauce is thickened.
- Store covered in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Becky Striepe
Oh wow! I love how simple this is, and it sounds delicious!
Amy
Thanks Becky! I couldn’t find a store-bought one that was vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free, so I decided to make my own!
Michelle W
This was a huge hit in our house tonight. So easy to make and hands down the best teriyaki sauce!
Amy
Thank you so much, Michelle! I’m so happy you all loved it!
Karin
Am making this tonight but do not have coconut sugar. Is regular organic cane sugar ok?
Amy
Hi Karin, I don’t think it’s going to turn out very well if you use white sugar. Turbinado or brown sugar would work better, but I really recommend coconut sugar.
Sarah
This sauce is delicious and will be my new go to for Asian rice or noodle dishes! I used regular white cane sugar and it came out just fine. Thanks for the recipe.
Amy
I’m so happy you liked it, Sarah! And thanks for letting me know it works well with white cane sugar.
Robin
I thought there was too much acid. Next time I will half the rice vinegar and see if it is better for me.
Heather
This looks so delicious! But due to allergies, what would the best substitutions for the coconut sugar and cornstarch? Would maple syrup and oat flour both work well? I know you listed arrowroot, but that also doesn’t agree with me 🙁
Amy
Thank you, Heather! Can you have tapioca flour? If so, you would use twice the amount of tapioca flour as you would cornstarch. As for the sweetener, I would try maple syrup. Try adding a little at a time and taste testing for sweetness. I hope this works for you!
Heather
Sadly, tapioca is another one that I can’t do, and it’s a bummer, because that means no churro marshmallows! You’ve seen those right? Haha.
I have ever used oat flour in a homemade fried rice glaze and it came out great, so I think I’ll try it and get back to you, if you’d like me to? Thank you for your fast reply, btw!
Amy
Yes, please let me know how it turns out!
BJ
Sauce turned out great even though I used brown sugar and ground ginger spice. I’l be making t this a lot.