Our Honey Garlic Sauce recipe blends soy sauce, honey, and garlic into a delicious sauce ideal for stir-fry, veggies, meats, and seafood, adding a rich, savory-sweet flavor to any dish.
We love using this honey garlic sauce on veggies, protein, and we think you’ll love it too! If you haven’t already tried our honey garlic salmon, it’s a must try! Our kiddos love when we make extra so they can drizzle it over rice and veggies.
You can also use this on our Broccoli Mushroom Stir Fry and if you want even more delicious sauce recipes to try give our Chinese Garlic Sauce a try too!
Ingredients you’ll need for honey garlic sauce:
- Water – Used to dilute the sauce, water ensures it has the right consistency for an even coating over the salmon, making the dish both visually appealing and deliciously balanced.
- Cornstarch – Serves as the sauce’s thickening agent. To avoid clumpy sauce, first mix the cornstarch with a portion of cold water to create a smooth slurry before incorporating it into the rest of the sauce.
- Avocado Oil – Chosen for its high smoke point, avocado oil is perfect for both sautéing the garlic and searing the salmon, providing a slightly nutty flavor that enhances the overall taste of the dish.
- Garlic – Mincing a whole bulb of garlic and adding it to the sauce infuses a robust, savory flavor that perfectly counterbalances the honey’s sweetness and complements the salmon’s richness.
- Honey – Honey not only sweetens the sauce but also creates a luscious glaze that adheres to the salmon. As it cooks, the honey caramelizes, deepening the sauce’s color and enriching its flavor profile.
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce – This ingredient contributes a deep, umami flavor, creating a delightful contrast to the honey’s sweetness. For those looking for alternatives, coconut aminos or tamari can substitute for soy sauce, but consider their salt content to achieve the desired flavor balance.
How to make honey garlic sauce
Mix water and cornstarch to form a slurry.
Heat avocado oil in a saucepan over medium heat, then sauté minced garlic until fragrant. Add more oil as needed.
Stir in honey and soy sauce, along with the remaining water.
Add the cornstarch slurry, bring to a boil, then simmer until the sauce slightly thickens.
Remove from heat. Use the sauce immediately or allow to cool before storing.
Recipe Tips and Alterations:
- If the sauce is too thick after simmering, you can thin it by adding a little more water until you reach the desired consistency. If it’s too thin, let it simmer a bit longer or add a little more cornstarch slurry.
- After the sauce has simmered, taste it and adjust the flavors as needed. If it’s too sweet, add a bit more soy sauce. If it’s too salty, a little more honey which will balance it out.
- For a gluten-free alternative, use tamari or coconut aminos instead of traditional soy sauce.
- To make this vegan you can Replace honey with maple syrup or agave nectar.
- Add a pinch or so of crushed red pepper flakes for some heat if desired.
Can I make this sauce in advance?
Yes, you can make this sauce in advance. We store it up to one week in the refrigerator.
Can I use this sauce if I’m vegan?
Yes, you can swap the honey out for maple syrup, agave nectar, or cane sugar.
More sauce recipes
Honey Garlic Sauce
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Print Pin SaveIngredients
- 3/4 cup water divided
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2-3 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 bulb garlic minced
- 3/4 cup honey
- 3/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of the water with the cornstarch to make a slurry. Set aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of avocado oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant but not browned. Add another tablespoon of avocado oil if needed, sizes of bulbs vary.
- Add the honey, soy sauce, and the remaining water (minus 2 tablespoons for the slurry) to the saucepan. Stir to combine.
- Stir in the cornstarch slurry into the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 1 minute, or until the sauce has thickened slightly. Remove from heat.
- Use the sauce immediately as desired, or allow it to cool before transferring to a container to refrigerate.
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Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information is automatically calculated and can vary based ingredients and products used. If the nutrition numbers are important for you we recommend calculating them yourself.
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