The Best Stir Fry Sauces
With Stir Fry Sauces, think strong and vibrant. Too much cornstarch (many recipes call for 1 tablespoon or more) makes sauces thick and gloppy. For a cleaner flavor and texture of sauces use a minimum of cornstarch-no more than 2 teaspoons for a typical stir-fry. With so little cornstarch, it is necessary to limit the amount of liquid ingredients in the sauce-about 1 cup in the recipes that follow. About one cup of sauce will nicely coat the ingredients in our standard stir-fry, plus there will be enough to moisten your rice.
Below are the recipes and ingredients for seven easy to make sauces you can make ahead and freeze. These sauces are unique, made with simple pantry ingredients, and are ready in just five minutes.
Guide to Sauces
Orange-Sesame Sauce
This sauce recipe makes enough for 1 stir fry recipe. The citrus flavor is this stir fry sauce recipe is especially good with chicken and seafood.
Orange-Sesame Sauce Recipe
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Combine ingredients in medium bowl and use as directed in stir-fry recipes.
Guide to Sauces
Spicy Orange Sauce
This sauce recipe makes enough for 1 stir fry recipe. Add more red pepper flakes to taste for even more heat.
Orange- Sesame Sauce Recipe
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup1 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Combine ingredients in medium bowl and use as directed in stir-fry recipes.
Guide to Sauces
Coconut-Curry Sauce
This sauce recipe makes enough for 1 stir fry recipe. This velvety sauce coats food especially well.
Coconut-Curry Sauce Recipe
1 cup coconut milk
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1-2 teaspoons red curry paste
1 teaspoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
Combine ingredients in medium bowl and use as directed in stir-fry recipes.
Guide to Sauces
Sweet and Sour Sauce
This sauce recipe makes enough for 1 stir fry recipe. The flavors in this sauce are good with chicken, pork, and seafood.
Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe
6 tablespoons red wine vinegar
6 tablespoons orange juice
6 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
Combine ingredients in medium bowl and use as directed in stir-fry recipes.
Guide to Sauces
Spicy Thai Basil Sauce
This sauce recipe makes enough for 1 stir fry recipe. Fish sauce gives this sauce its authentic Thai flavor. This sauce goes well with meat, poultry, or seafood. It’s good with tofu, too.
Spicy Thai Basil Sauce Recipe
1 cup basil leaves. chopped coarse
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon Asian chili sauce
2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Combine ingredients in medium bowl and use as directed in stir-fry recipes.
Tips for Cooking Your Stir Fry
First, cook your veggies over medium-high heat in a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Cook for 5 minutes, until hard veggies like carrots or broccoli are softened. Add tender veggies like bok choy or bean sprouts during the last minute of cooking, to just soften.
Remove the veggies from the pan (transfer to a large clean bowl).
Add the meat (plus additional oil if there is none left in the pan). Cook for 5-8 minutes, until meat is cooked through. This depends on the thickness of your meat. Cubed chicken breast takes about 7 minutes to cook through. Add the sauce to the pan with the meat, heat through (or until thickened), then add back the veggies. Serve over rice.
More Stir Fry Sauce Recipes >>
