Made with simple ingredients and ready to use in minutes, this Sweet and Spicy Stir Fry sauce adds so much flavor to your dinner! A little sweet, a little spicy and so easy, you'll never to need to use store-bought again with this from-scratch version.
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A delicious sauce is almost like magic, wouldn't you agree?
The way that it can take a boring dish and elevate it into something that will make people reach for seconds (like the creamy sauce on these meatballs).
And so it's no secret that the best part of a homemade stir fry is the sauce.
Stir fries are the best for an easy veggie-packed dinner.
And this easy recipe is the perfect balance of sweet, spicy and savory to take a skillet of vegetables from ordinary to extraordinary in seconds.
Nearly effortless and undeniably delicious, I won't be surprised if this sauce becomes your go-to for your homemade stir fries.
Now let's make some sweet and spicy stir fry sauce!
The Ingredients
- Honey- Provides the sweet flavor in the sauce. Maple syrup can be substituted but has a slightly different flavor.
- Tamari- You can substitute with regular soy sauce or coconut aminos if preferred. Use gluten-free if needed.
- Sriracha- Gives the sauce its spiciness. If you are sensitive to spice, start with half of the amount called for and then add after tasting. If you don't have sriracha, you can experiment with a different hot sauce- start with 1 teaspoon and add more to taste.
- Ground ginger and garlic- I prefer to use ground as it makes the sauce quick to make and smoother. You can substitute fresh if you prefer- you need 2 cloves minced garlic and 1 tablespoon grated ginger.
- Cornstarch- This helps to thicken the sauce but you can leave it out if you don't mind a thinner sauce. It won't thicken the sauce until it is heated when you add it to your stir fry.
- Sea Salt- Depending on the saltiness of your tamari or alternative, you may need to add a bit of salt to taste.
The Method
1. Mix. Whisk together all of the ingredients until combined.
2. Use. The sauce needs to be cooked in order to thicken up.
Add to any stir fry in the last 2-3 minutes of cooking, stir to coat and allow to heat for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened.
3. Enjoy!
Leftovers and Storage
To Store: Store leftover uncooked sweet and spicy stir fry sauce in an airtight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
To Use: Whisk together the sauce again until smooth and then use as directed.
How to Make a Stir Fry
I have a stir fry recipe using this sauce that you can follow if you'd like. But it you want to make it your own, we'll just go over the basic process I use for making a stir fry.
1. Cook protein. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook your protein, stirring often. Remove to a plate.
2. Cook hard vegetables. Add additional oil to the skillet and add the hard vegetables (think carrots, broccoli, onions, etc.) and cook them until crisp-tender, stirring often.
3. Sauté aromatics. If using garlic or ginger, stir those in for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Add soft vegetables. Stir in softer vegetables (think spinach, bok choy leaves or canned mini-corn).
5. Stir in protein. Return the protein to the skillet and stir to combine.
6. Add sauce and simmer. Stir in the sweet and spicy sauce and allow to simmer for 1-2 minutes so that it thickens.
7. Enjoy!
More Ways to Use Sweet and Spicy Sauce
While I originally made this sauce to be used on stir fries, I've since discovered that there are some other tasty ways to use it as well.
- Marinade: Skip the cornstarch and use half of the amount of water.
- On Bowls: Simmer the sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, whisking constantly until thickened. Spoon over rice, vegetable or noodle bowls.
- With Lettuce Wraps: Follow the above "on bowls" directions and then use as a topping with lettuce wraps.
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Recipe Card
Sweet and Spicy Stir Fry Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 3 tablespoon water
- 2 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- fine sea salt to taste
Instructions
- In a small microwave safe bowl, melt the honey. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients and whisk to combine.
- The sauce needs to be cooked in order to thicken up. Add to any stir fry in the last 2-3 minutes of cooking (once the meat is fully cooked and the veggies are nearly cooked), stir to coat and allow to heat for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened.Alternatively, you can bring it to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly until thickened.
- Enjoy!
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