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    Home » Recipes » Sauces and Dips

    Healthy Teriyaki Sauce

    Modified: Jun 29, 2023 • Published: May 24, 2020 by Dr. Erin Carter • This post may contain affiliate links • Leave a Comment

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    vegan teriyaki sauce Pinterest image

    This is the best homemade healthy teriyaki sauce! This sauce is so easy to make with either soy sauce or coconut aminos, fresh ginger, coconut sugar, green onion, and chili flakes to give it the most authentic sweet, yet slightly spicy flavour. This sauce is perfect for stir fries, marinades and asian dishes.

    A jar of teriyaki sauce with chili flakes on top.

    Why you will love this recipe:

    • This teriyaki sauce is quick and easy to make and is ready in under 10 minutes!
    • This homemade sauce is made with just a few simple ingredients including soy sauce or coconut aminos, ginger, garlic, green onion and chili flakes.
    • It is refined sugar free and healthier than most store bought stir fry sauces.
    • It can be used in so many ways including for tofu, stir fries, salmon, as a marinade or as a dip or sauce.
    • You can make it without soy sauce to make it soy free.
    • This healthy teriyaki sauce stores well so is perfect for meal prep.
    • This teriyaki sauce recipe is healthy, gluten free, vegan and paleo.
    • It's made with no pineapple.

    Taste and texture:

    This simple teriyaki sauce is thick, slightly sweet, a little sticky and full of flavour. It has a little heat but is not spicy, and can be made as thick or thin as you like.

    Key ingredients and substitutions:

    • Coconut aminos - this is my favourite soy sauce alternative that is both soy-free and gluten free. It is also lower in salt than soy sauce. If you eat soy you can easily use soy sauce instead.
    • Coconut sugar - this is a great substitute for brown sugar that gives this sauce the perfect amount of sweetness while keeping it refined sugar free.
    • Green onions - add the perfect amount of flavour to this delicious teriyaki sauce recipe.
    • Chili flakes - to give it just a little kick. You can add more or less depending on how spicy you like your teriyaki sauce.
    • Fresh ginger and garlic - for flavour and some anti-inflammatory properties to make this sauce even healthier!

    How to make this recipe:

    Step one:

    First, put all the ingredients into your Vitamix blender (or other high speed blender) and blend everything until it's smooth.

    Step two:

    Then transfer the sauce to a small pot and bring it to a boil.

    Step three:

    Turn down the heat and let the sauce simmer until it thickens (usually about 5 minutes).

    Step four:

    Let the sauce cool. It will thicken even more during this time. Now enjoy!

    Step by step directions for making homemade teriyaki sauce.

    Variations and add ins:

    • Depending on your dietary restrictions, instead of coconut aminos you could use Tamari soy sauce, Bragg All Purpose Liquid Soy Seasoning, gluten free soy sauce or soy sauce.
    • To make it less spicy leave out the crushed chili peppers.
    • To make it more spicy add a full teaspoon of crushed chili peppers.
    • The tapioca starch is used as a thickener, if you want a thinner sauce just leave it out.
    • Instead of tapioca starch you can use corn starch instead (note that corn starch is not paleo).
    • For a thicker sauce add an extra half teaspoon of tapioca starch (or other thickening agent of choice).
    • Instead of coconut sugar you can use brown sugar.

    Chef's tips:

    • Make a double batch so that you have more on hand for when you need it.
    • If it thickens too much in the fridge simply heat it before using to thin it out.

    How to serve:

    You can use this teriyaki sauce in so many ways. Some of my favourites include:

    • To make the best stir fry vegetables!
    • To make my Teriyaki Broccoli and Peppers dish!
    • As a sauce or marinade for vegan chicken, beef or fish dishes.
    • To make teriyaki salmon.
    • For lettuce wraps!
    • As a sauce or marinade for tofu or tempeh recipes.
    • As a dip for raw vegetables, spring rolls or lettuce wraps.
    • To make the best fried rice or cauliflower fried rice.
    • If you aren't vegan you can use this sauce to make teriyaki chicken, beef or fish.

    How to store:

    Store this sauce in the fridge in an airtight container or jar for 10-14 days.

    Nutrition info:

    This teriyaki sauce has approximately 27 calories per serving with 6 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of protein, 1 gram of fat, 1 gram of fiber and 5 grams of net carbs. It is refined sugar free, low calorie, paleo, vegan, gluten free, dairy free and vegetarian. It is not low carb, keto, sugar free or Whole30 compliant.

    A spoon being dipped into a jar of teriyaki sauce.

    Frequently asked questions:

    What is coconut aminos?

    Coconut aminos is a sauce made from the fermented sap of coconut and sea salt. It is soy-free and gluten free and tastes very similar to soy sauce. It is also lower in sodium than soy sauce. You can find it in most grocery stores next to the soy sauce, or in the organic or gluten-free section of the store.

    Where do you find crushed chili peppers or chili flakes in the grocery store?

    They are located in the Asian section in most stores.

    Is Kikkoman teriyaki sauce vegan?

    Many of Kikkoman's sauces are vegan including Kikkoman Soy Sauce, Kikkoman Less Salt Soy sauce, Kikkoman Gluten Free Tamari, Kikkoman Teriyaki Marinade, Kikkoman Teriyaki sauce with Toasted Sesame, Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce with Roasted Garlic and Kikkoman Gluten Free Teriyaki Marinade are all suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets. Kikkoman Teriyaki BBQ-Sauce with honey however is not vegan as it contains honey.

    Is Panda Express teriyaki sauce vegan?

    Yes, the teriyaki sauce at Panda Express is vegan friendly.

    Other recipes you will love:

    • The best vegan guacamole
    • Dairy free "cheese" sauce - used to make Mac and cheese!
    • Vegan Alfredo Sauce
    • Dairy free sour cream
    • Vegan cilantro lime dressing
    • Vegan bbq sauce

    Since you made it this far we are basically best friends so be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook where I share even more recipes and healthy living tips! And don’t forget to leave this recipe a star review before you go!

    Recipe

    Healthy Teriyaki Sauce

    The best healthy teriyaki sauce recipe that has the most amazing flavour. Sweet and slighty spicy it's perfect for marinades, stir fries, or as a dipping sauce.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: condiment, dips, sauces
    Cuisine: asian, Chinese, Japanese
    Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 27kcal
    Author: Dr. Erin Carter

    Equipment

    • Vitamix blender

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup coconut aminos or soy sauce
    • 1/4 cup chopped green onion
    • 4 tablespoon coconut sugar (or sub for brown sugar - just note this is not paleo compliant)
    • 1 teaspoon tapioca starch (this is used for thickening the sauce - you can omit it the sauce just won't be as thick)
    • 1 clove garlic, minced (or sub 1 teaspoon garlic infused olive oil)
    • 1/2 teaspoon crushed chili peppers (also called chili flakes)
    • 1 piece of fresh ginger, 2cm x 2cm, peeled and chopped (or sub 1 teaspoon ground ginger)

    Instructions

    • Place all the ingredients into your Vitamix or other high speed blender and blend well until smooth.
    • Transfer the ingredients to medium sized pot on the stove and turn to medium heat.
    • Bring the ingredients to a boil and turn down the heat to low.
    • Simmer for ~5 minutes and then turn off the heat.
    • Let the sauce cool (it will thicken slightly during this time).
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    1. Store this sauce in the fridge for 10-14 days.
    2. You can omit the tapioca starch, just note that it is used for thickening so the sauce won't turn out as thick. 
    3. For a spicier sauce, use 1 teaspoon crushed chili peppers instead of 1/2 teaspoon (or omit it altogether for a less spicy sauce). 
    4. For a thicker sauce add an extra 1/2 teaspoon tapioca starch.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 27kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 346mg | Potassium: 4mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 34IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @pureandsimpleno or tag #pureandsimpleno!

    DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

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    My name is Dr. Erin Carter and I am so thrilled you are here. I am a physician with specialties in both internal medicine and rheumatology, and I believe that food and healthy living are forms of medicine. In my spare time I share health information and delicious, healthy recipes here on Pure and Simple Nourishment.

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