This Healthy Stir Fry Sauce takes minutes to make and can transform any dinner into something flavorful and special!
Save This Recipe!
Enter your email and I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Happy Healthy Mama.
I feel you.
Let me help you with decision fatigue. With this easy stir fry sauce recipe, you have an endless list of options to cook for dinner.
How? Because you can mix this savory sauce with meat, vegetables, shrimp or rice noodles and whip up a quick and delicious meal. The best part about this simple sauce is that it is a pretty straightforward add-and-mix recipe. Add all the ingredients to a mason jar or small bowl and whisk them until they are well combined. And that’s all you need to do to make this simple stir fry sauce.
Yes, you can buy store-bought sauces, but most of the time they’ll have ingredients I don’t want. Things like too much sugar, modified corn starch, “natural” flavor, or dextrose. It’s so easy to make it at home and control the ingredients, why wouldn’t you?
Recipe Ingredients for Healthy Stir Fry Sauce
For this simple homemade stir fry sauce, you need pantry-staple ingredients that are readily available at home.
Tamari
We need ½ a cup of reduced-sodium tamari for this healthy stir fry sauce recipe. It is a gluten-free sauce with less salt and no wheat. Tamari has been around for quite a while; however, it has been making rounds recently because it is a healthy alternative to soy sauce and is also known as gluten-free soy sauce. It is rich in protein but has fewer additives, making it a healthy choice.
However, if you’re not following a gluten-free diet, you can always use low-sodium soy sauce. For soy-free, try coconut aminos, oyster sauce, or fish sauce in place of tamari.
Vegetable Broth
Next, we will add ½ a cup of reduced-sodium vegetable broth to the recipe. It is packed with nutrition and is one of the healthiest food items out there. Vegetables are rich in calcium; thus, broth helps strengthen bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures. It is rich in Vitamin A, which is highly beneficial for our eyes.
However, you can use chicken broth or chicken stock as well. Or, if you want to reduce the salt content even more, plain water will also get the job done!
Apple Cider Vinegar or Rice Vinegar
Two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar are good enough to add flavor to this easy homemade stir fry sauce. While apple cider vinegar has a strong flavor, it is packed with healthful substances that aid in weight loss, lower blood sugar levels, kill harmful bacteria, and result in healthy-looking skin.
I love using apple cider vinegar because of the host of health benefits that comes with it, but rice vinegar is more traditionally used in stir fry sauces, so if you have that on hand you can use it as well.
Honey
To balance out all the bold flavors, we will add 2 tablespoons of honey to this simple recipe. But you can also use pure maple syrup or agave syrup if you follow a vegan diet. The point is to add a dash of sweetness to the recipe, as most ingredients have a sharp flavor.
Honey is a natural sweetener; however, it also has health benefits. For starters, it helps soothe coughs and treat a sore throat.(Check out my Homemade Cough Syrup recipe) It contains more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than table sugar, making it a more nutritious sweetener to use.
Sesame Oil
We will add roasted sesame oil to this recipe for a nutty and earthy taste. Sesame oil has a very strong aroma and a distinct taste; therefore, we need only a teaspoon to make a good stir fry sauce.
Sesame oil contains anti-oxidants and Vitamin E, which are suitable for our skin, hair, heart, and overall health.
Garlic
We need 2 minced garlic cloves for this homemade stir fry sauce recipe. Fresh garlic is rich in manganese, selenium, fibre, and Vitamins B6 and C and is known to protect the body against common flu. Plus, it helps reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, and the risk of heart disease.
Ginger
We also need 1 teaspoon of finely minced fresh ginger. This herb is quite famous because it promotes good health. Ginger contains 400 natural compounds that provide numerous medicinal benefits. Not only does it aids digestion, but it also helps fight flu and cold. Also, ginger is an excellent addition to your diet to reduce weight, control nausea due to chemotherapy or pregnancy, and help with osteoarthritis.
Arrowroot Powder
To add consistency to this flavorful sauce, we will add 1 tablespoon of arrowroot powder to it. I prefer arrowroot, but you can also use cornstarch to thicken this healthy stir-fry sauce.
How to Make Healthy Stir Fry Sauce
This homemade stir fry sauce is so easy to make; it only requires 5 minutes! Here’s what you need to do:
1. Put all the ingredients in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid, and shake until well combined. Alternatively, whisk all the ingredients together in a small bowl.
2. Use with your desired stir-fried meat or vegetables.
And that’s it!
How to Make a Basic Stir Fry
- Heat a large pan or wok over high and add a higher smoke point oil, like avocado oil.
- If you’re using a protein, cook that first. Give it a good sear and remove it from the pan when it’s not totally cooked.
- Add your vegetables and cook. Once the vegetables have cooked, add your protein back to the pan. Add your sauce and stir to coat. Cook until everything is hot and the sauce is thickened. Serve immediately.
If you are looking for recipes to try out this healthy stir fry sauce with, mix it up with steamed broccoli, air-fried asparagus, and serve with coconut rice. This homemade sauce is bursting with flavor and will make your meals an instant crowd-pleaser! You should try this Chicken and Broccoli recipe as well. It uses a delicious peanut sauce and it’s incredible!
Happy cooking!
Print
Healthy Stir Fry Sauce
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This healthy stir fry sauce takes minutes to make, has incredible flavor, and is healthier than any store bought sauce!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup reduced sodium tamari
- 1/2 cup reduced sodium vegetable broth or water
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup for vegan)
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon finely minced fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in a small jar with a tightly fitting lid and shake until well combined. Alternatively, whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Use with your desired stir fried meat and/or vegetables. Can be stored in the refrigerator for 5-7 days, but don’t add the arrowroot powder until just before you’re ready to use the sauce.
Notes
How to Prepare a Basic Stir Fry
- Heat a large pan or wok over high and add a higher smoke point oil, like avocado oil.
- If you’re using a protein, cook that first. Give it a good sear and remove it from the pan when it’s not totally cooked.
- Add your vegetables and cook. Once the vegetables have cooked, add your protein back to the pan. Add your sauce and stir to coat. Cook until everything is hot and the sauce is thickened. Serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: sauce recipe
- Method: combine
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 106
- Sugar: 12 grams
- Fat: 1.3 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 19.7 grams
- Fiber: 0.3 grams
- Protein: 4.9 grams
I think carrot is too much in this dish, my grandmother cooks this dish very delicious
he 1/2 cup of reduced-sodium tamari called for in this healthy stir fry sauce recipe provides a flavorful, protein-rich, and lower-sodium soy sauce alternative that is also gluten-free.
Creating a homemade healthy stir-fry sauce is a game-changer! With the right blend of savory, tangy, and sweet flavors, it elevates your dish while keeping it nutritious. Say goodbye to store-bought versions packed with preservatives!
The information here was very useful, thank you.
Ensure that you are not performing the majority of the labor-intensive tasks if you have a spouse. Request the children’s assistance with meal preparation and planning when they reach an appropriate age.
Good article! I like vegan
Ensure you’re not doing all the labor-intensive work if a spouse is in the picture. Ask the kids to assist with meal planning and preparation when they are old enough.
I’m sure the stir fry sauce is lovely, but this is a comment about, “Day after day, we have to decide what to eat/make for our families for dinner. Again and again. Until eternity, amen.”
Speaking from the wise old age of 81, it’s not “until eternity” – it’s til your kids are grown – and from my perspective looking back – those years fly by! I know sometimes it seems like forever, and I get it, remember it – the tediousness. If there is a partner in the picture, be sure you’re not doing all the heavy lifting! And when they are old enough, get the kids to help with meal planning and preparation.
Thanks for the stir fry sauce recipe!
You’re right…just take out the “for our families” part, and we have to decide what to eat/cook every day! Ha–just trying to help make the decision easier. 🙂 My husband does help with the heavy lifting…but isn’t the best with the dinner decision making. For some reason he and the kids always respond with “I don’t know” or “I don’t care” when I ask what they feel like eating for dinner. So most of the decision making is up to me. There are worse things to complain about, I know! I hope you love this sauce!