All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce (Brown Garlic Sauce)

All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce (Brown Garlic Sauce)

4 servings
Adapted from Martin Yan's Chinese Cooking for Dummies. This is my favorite stir-fry sauce. It makes enough for two meals. Having extra on hand makes for a quick meal. My son will actually eat vegetables he can dip in the sauce! WARNING about the amount of soy sauce. When I used Kikkoman soy sauce, I found this sauce far too salty. I now use Angostura, which is much lower in salt. When adding soy sauce, start with less than half the amount and slowly add more to taste. Using vegetable broth makes this vegetarian. Yield: 1 3/4 cups (couldn't get that amount entered)

Ingredients

  • soy sauce
    ⅝ c
  • chicken broth
    ½ c
  • rice wine
    ⅓ c
  • sugar
    3 ½ tbsp
  • sesame oil
    1 tbsp
  • white pepper
    ¼ tsp
  • cooking oil
    2 tbsp
  • minced garlic
    1 tbsp
  • minced ginger
    1 tbsp
  • cornstarch
    2 tbsp
  • water
    ¼ c

Directions

  1. 1

    In a bowl, combine soy sauce, broth, rice wine, sugar, sesame oil and white pepper. (See note in intro about the soy sauce).

  2. 2

    Dissolve the cornstarch in 1/4 cup water.

  3. 3

    Heat a pan over high heat; add the cooking oil, swirling to coat; add the garlic and ginger; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 15 seconds.

  4. 4

    Add the soy sauce mixture; bring to a boil.

  5. 5

    Reduce heat to medium and cook for 1 minute.

  6. 6

    Add the cornstarch solution and cook, stirring, until the sauce boils and thickens.

All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce (Brown Garlic Sauce)

All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce (Brown Garlic Sauce)

20 min4 servings213 cal

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About this Recipe

Craving a versatile, flavor-packed stir-fry sauce that makes weeknight meals a breeze? This All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce, often called Brown Garlic Sauce, is your secret weapon, transforming simple ingredients into a delicious, restaurant-quality dish in just 20 minutes.

What makes this recipe truly special is its adaptability and depth of flavor, inspired by Martin Yan's classic techniques. It's designed to make enough for two meals, ensuring you always have a head start on a quick, nutritious dinner. Imagine your kids, like mine, eagerly eating their vegetables because they can dip them in this irresistible sauce!

Expect a savory, umami-rich experience with a balanced sweetness and a fragrant kick from fresh minced garlic and ginger. The sauce achieves a perfect, glossy consistency, clinging beautifully to whatever you're cooking, from crisp vegetables to tender proteins. It's an easy and inexpensive way to elevate your home cooking, making it accessible even for busy cooks.

This all-purpose sauce is incredibly flexible. While the recipe is naturally low cholesterol, you can easily make it vegetarian by swapping chicken broth for vegetable broth. Pay close attention to the soy sauce; start with less than half the amount called for and slowly add more to taste, especially if using a saltier brand like Kikkoman. This allows you to perfectly customize the saltiness to your preference.

Serve this delicious brown garlic sauce with any stir-fry combination you can imagine. It’s perfect for transforming a medley of fresh vegetables and your favorite protein into a satisfying, Asian-inspired meal any day of the week.

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