Honey Garlic Sauce {Soy Free}
This soy free honey garlic sauce is so flavorful, and versatile. It can be used as a marinade, stir fry sauce or dipping sauce. The flavor profile works well on everything from chicken to fish, noodles to tofu. Sweet, garlicky and umami, this honey garlic sauce will be come your Asian cooking staple too.
This is your guide to make the ultimate soy free honey garlic sauce that goes on just about everything.
Either you are just whipping up a quick noodle dish, or you want a good marinade for some chicken stir fry, this sauce has you covered.
I use the coconut aminos here to make this recipe soy free. My husband is sensitive to soy. So as a Chinese gal, born and raised in China, I had to find substitutions for soy sauce without losing all the flavors.
My Favorite Soy Alternative
There are a number of alternatives to soy sauce when it comes to making this honey garlic sauce. I have tried a few, and my favorite is Coconut aminos.
Coconut aminos is made from the sap of the coconut tree. They have a very similar flavor to soy sauce, but they are gluten free and much lower in sodium
From my experience, they also have a hint of sweetness, which makes them great for many Asian recipes I make.
Because in Chinese cooking, sugar is considered to bring out the harmony of flavors.
If you are used to cooking with soy sauce, make sure you taste the soy alternatives you choose to use, and adjust the seasonings to your taste.
How to Make Honey Garlic Sauce
Ways to Use this Sauce
Stir Fry Sauce:
You can add the sauce to pre-cooked chicken, salmon, or vegetables.
Make sure the sauce coat all around the ingredients you are using. Then you have the perfect honey garlic stir fry!
Marinade for Chicken or Salmon:
You can also use this recipe (remove the broth) as a marinade for about 1 – 1.5 pound of chicken or salmon.
Make sure you include the starch as well. It helps lock the juice in and make the chicken or salmon extra tender and juicy on the inside.
Noodle Salad Dressing:
Simply mix it with your favorite Asian wheat noodles, pasta or ramen. Top with a handful of fresh veggies like chopped cucumber, bell pepper, and purple cabbage, then you have the best honey garlic noodles salad.
Like it warm? Try making honey garlic noodle stir fry.
Here is how you can do it.
Add cooked noodles to a pan over medium to high heat, stir for 30 seconds to a minute. Then add this honey garlic sauce. Combine well.
Serve with your favorite garnish, like sesame seeds, chili oil, and/or chopped green onions.
Elevate the flavor to the next level:
heat 1 tbsp oil in a small sauce pan until shimmering, add the minced garlic and stir for 20 – 30 seconds (watch to prevent it from burning).
Once it becomes fragrant, add the rest of the ingredients (except for the starch).
Sauté the fresh garlic will release the fragrance and flavor in the garlic! And you will also reduce the after taste and smell lingering in your mouth.
No one wants garlic breath right?
Now you have the sauce, make sure it is sealed tight and store in the fridge for 1 week.
Get the recipe:Honey Garlic Sauce {Soy Free}
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos
- 1/4 cup vegetable broth
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (~ 2 tablespoons)
- 1 tsp arrowroot starch, optional *
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, optional **
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine honey, coconut aminos, garlic, broth and arrowroot starch
- Pour the mixture in a small sauce pot.
- Whisk together until no clump left.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn to simmer, continue to stir until it thickens for about 1 – 2 minutes.
The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.
Loved this recipe. Went well with noodles and chicken. Thank you for all the different ways to use and recipe variations.