Easy Stir Fry Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

By: Author Joy Shull

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This homemade Stir Fry Sauce is so easy to make! All you need is just 3 ingredients and the flavor is so much better than anything you can buy in the store!

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This is the best easy stir fry sauce!

  • Only three ingredients: so easy to make!
  • Highly Concentrated: a little bit of this sauce goes a long way.
  • Pairs well with any kind of stir fry: Stir fry veggies, ramen noodles, chicken, tofu, pork, you name it. This sauce pairs beautifully with any kind of stir fry recipe

The key to the best ever stir fry is in the sauce recipe. I have tried endless store bought sauces, and none of them ever tasted good enough to get that takeout taste that I was craving.

You can find the full recipe and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, but here’s what you will need.

What is stir fry sauce made of?

  • sesame oil: toasted sesame oil is more flavorful, so use this if you can find it
  • soy sauce: or tamari
  • corn starch
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How do you make stir fry sauce from scratch?

  1. Add the corn starch, sesame oil, and soy sauce to a mason jar.
  2. Close the lid, and shake to combine
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This sauce does not mess around. It is bold, so flavorful, and a little bit goes a long way. If you make the whole batch, it will be enough to flavor 6 – 8 generous servings of food.

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What is stir fry sauce used for?

You can use stir fry sauce for just about anything, but commonly used best vegetables for stir fry include

  • Mushrooms
  • Carrots
  • Sugar snap peas
  • Broccoli
  • White or yellow onion
  • Bell peppers, any color
  • Green onion
  • Water chestnuts
  • Baby corn
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What should I put in my stir fry?

  • Vegetables: our go to vegetables include onion, garlic, ginger, brococli, mushrooms and bell pepper
  • Protein: beef, chicken, tofu, chickpeas, tempeh
  • Noodles or rice: white rice, brown rice, ramen noodles, brown rice noodles, pad thai noodles
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Stir Fry Sauce Tips

  • Make the sauce first: Prepping this ahead makes it easier to add as you need it when making your stir fry. You can either cook your ingredients in this sauce, or add it at the end of cook time.
  • Add a little bit at a time: If you are unsure of how much sauce to use, I recommend cooking your ingredients first in sesame oil, then adding this sauce to taste in the last 3-5 minutes of cook time to taste.
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What can I add to stir fry for flavor?

I have one recommendation, and that is to always use this together with fresh garlic and fresh ginger. Do not skip this step.

These are not a part of the sauce, but they are part of the full recipe that you will make. I have found this to be the best way to bring out all of those flavors and I highly recommend doing this.

If you skip this step and tell me that the recipe is bland, it is because you did not add the garlic and ginger!

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How to thicken stir fry sauce

Cornstarch acts as an easy thickener in this stir fry sauce recipe. It is is a great way to thicken sauces when you want a quick recipe.

There is no need to cook out a raw flour flavor like you would when cooking with a roux. Most sauce recipes use a corn starch slurry to thicken them.

Instead of that, we are simply mixing it with the other ingredients and once well shaken it will thicken the same way.

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I have tested this easy recipe time and time again and it is always incredibly delicious.

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“OMG Joy! I have been searching for the true stir fry sauce” for everything “ and this is it! Made shrimp broccoli and mushroom stir fry tonight and and I’m still licking up the sauce from the pan!”

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This recipe seemed to be too easy, but it works better than more complicated recipes. This will be my go to.

More Stir Fry Recipes You’ll Love

  • Homemade Orange Sauce
  • Broccoli with Garlic Sauce
  • Teriyaki Noodles
  • Asian Mushroom Ramen Noodles
  • Stir Fry Vegetables
  • Ramen Noodle Stir Fry
  • Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry

Are you making this recipe? I want to see! Don’t forget to tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite with your recipe creations!

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Be sure to pin this recipe for later and followBuild Your Bite on Pinterestfor all the latest delicious recipes!

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Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a star rating below!

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Yield: 6- 8 servings concentrated

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes

Easy homemade stir fry sauce recipe made with just 3 ingredients!

Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup + 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce or tamari
  • ¼ cup toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

  1. Add soy sauce, sesame oil, and cornstarch to a mason jar. Screw on the lid and shake to combine
  2. Be sure to use this stir fry sauce with fresh minced garlic and fresh minced ginger in your stir fry (cooked with your vegetables/protein), as stated in the post. This is what will give it the "wow" factor.
  3. Once your stir fry is mostly cooked, add the stir fry sauce and heat an additional 3 - 5 minutes, or until sauce thickens. This is important, as the corn starch needs a few minutes to thicken up.
  4. READ THIS RECIPE NOTE - this is intended to cover around 8 servings of stir fry, served over UNSALTED rice or noodles. Otherwise it will be too salty. It is a highly concentrated sauce. A little goes a long way! If you are making a small stir fry, start by adding a few tablespoons of sauce at a time until desired saltiness.

Notes

To make this recipe gluten free, use gluten free soy sauce or tamari.

To see examples of how much food this sauce will cover, check out several of my recipes using this sauce. Cabbage Stir Fry, Stir Fry Vegetables, Ramen Noodle Stir Fry

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 66Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 131mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

Did you make this recipe?

Be sure to tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite with your recipe creations!

Easy Stir Fry Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

FAQs

What is stir-fry sauce made of? ›

Whisk the soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, sugar and red pepper flakes if using in a medium bowl until combined. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

What is the secret ingredient in stir-fry? ›

Honey: Adds a touch of natural sweetness to this savory sauce. Rice Vinegar: Alternatively, you can use apple cider vinegar. Arrowroot Powder: Helps to make the sauce extra rich and thick. Dry Sherry (optional): The secret ingredient in Chinese restaurant stir fry's is Shaoxing Wine – but it's not gluten-free!

How do you make stir-fry taste like a restaurant? ›

Aromatic ingredients like garlic, ginger, green onions, chilies and spices. These ingredients are typically added to the oil first to infuse it with flavor. You won't need much; a few teaspoons to a tablespoon of total aromatic ingredients per person adds a serious amount of flavor.

What are the 3 rules of stir-frying? ›

The first is to cook your protein and your vegetable separately, and combine them only after both are fully cooked. A second rule of thumb for stir-frying: Choose one vegetable per stir-fry. Finally, always remember to add liquid only after everything is more or less finished cooking.

What makes stir fry sauce thicker? ›

Cornstarch! In his book How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, Mark Bittman recommends mixing 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch with the same amount of water, and tossing this into the stir fry just when it's almost done. It thickens in seconds, picking up the flavors of everything already in the dish and coating evenly.

What gives stir fry flavor? ›

5. Add flavour.
  • Herbs: basil, oregano, cilantro.
  • Spices: cumin, coriander, cardamom.
  • Reduced sodium or no sodium added broth.
  • Fresh lemongrass, garlic or ginger.
  • 100% fruit juice.
  • Citrus zest.
  • Lower sodium soy sauces (<600 mg sodium per tablespoon)
Sep 16, 2019

How to make a stir-fry for dummies? ›

How to Stir-Fry in 8 Steps
  1. Make a stir-fry sauce. ...
  2. Marinate your protein. ...
  3. Have your mise en place ready. ...
  4. Heat your wok. ...
  5. Start with the protein. ...
  6. Add aromatics. ...
  7. Cook the vegetables. ...
  8. Coat with sauce.
Nov 10, 2021

What should you not put in a stir-fry? ›

"Tomatoes should never go in a stir fry — not at all." Chef Natasha Ford adds that they're too mushy. "They would just make your stir fry soupy," she says. "If you really want to use them, keep them as fresh and uncooked as possible.

What are the seven common ingredients in a stir-fry? ›

The main ingredients to a stir-fry are: Proteins – chicken, beef, pork, seafood, tofu, tempeh, seitan. Aromatics – garlic, green onions, shallots, ginger.

What is the secret to a successful stir-fry? ›

5 Tips for Making the Perfect Stir-Fry
  • Your Wok Should Be Smoking Hot.
  • Do Not Cook Ice-Cold Meat.
  • Cook the Meat in Batches.
  • Cook the Vegetables Next.
  • Add the Cooked Meat at the End.
Jun 26, 2019

How to make stir-fry more tasty? ›

8 Tips to Make Your Stir-Fry More Exciting
  1. Nuts and seeds. Peanuts might already be regular stir-fry toppers, but it's time to expand your nutty horizons. ...
  2. Fresh ginger. Ginger will add some serious zing to your stir-fry. ...
  3. Put an egg on it. ...
  4. Marinate your protein. ...
  5. Skip the rice. ...
  6. Vinegar. ...
  7. Seaweed. ...
  8. Fresh herbs.
Aug 5, 2015

What is the best oil for stir-frying? ›

Peanut oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, sunflower oil, rice bran oil and extra light olive oil are all ideal for stir-frying, deep-frying and shallow-frying, as they have a high smoke point. This means you can heat the oil to high temperatures without burning it and spoiling your food.

What goes first in a stir-fry? ›

Meat first, then vegetables – If you want meat or seafood in your stir fry, cook it first then scoop it out onto a separate plate before cooking the vegetables. You'll add the meat back in at the end. 5. Don't crowd the pan – If you have too much in your pan, the vegetables will steam instead of staying crisp.

When to add sauce to stir-fry? ›

Add liquid only after everything finishes cooking. Once the protein cooks through, add sauce to the pan, and heat through. Drizzle sauce down the sides of the pan with a ladle. If using tofu, simmer for several minutes in sauce before adding veggies.

What is the brown sauce in Chinese food called? ›

Oyster Sauce: Oyster sauce is said to have originated when an oyster seller left his oysters over the heat for too long, and they became a rich, caramelized sauce, which is used in many Chinese food dishes, including Chinese brown sauce.

What is fry sauce made of? ›

Fry sauce is a condiment often served with French fries or tostones (twice-fried plantain slices) in many places in the world. It is usually a combination of one part tomato ketchup and two parts mayonnaise.

Is stir-fry sauce the same as teriyaki? ›

Stir fry sauce is a general name for different types of sauces you can use in a stir fry. Teriyaki sauce is an example of a sauce you can use for stir frys, but there are many others as well.

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