Teriyaki Sauce is a sweet, savory, and traditional Japanese seasoning loaded with umami flavors. It is usually made of Tamari, mirin sauce, brown sugar, honey, and basic aromatics. The recipe I have shared here shows you how to make the best Teriyaki Sauce and Marinade with easy step-by-step instructions for you to try and enjoy at home.
I have also shared a detailed video of this recipe to make the cooking process visually clear. This Homemade Teriyaki Sauce is one of the best sauces to make Teriyaki Chicken, Teriyaki Salmon, or to flavor up chicken, seafood, or other meat dishes. You can also use the sauce in stir-fries, noodles, and soup to make some Asian-style dishes at home.
Jump to:
What is Teriyaki Sauce?
Teriyaki Sauce is a sweet, savory, and traditional Japanese seasoning loaded with umami flavors. It is usually made of Tamari, mirin sauce, brown sugar, honey, and basic aromatics. The term Teriyaki refers to the basic Japanese cooking method in which the food is broiled or grilled. That is Tari refers to shiny sauce, and Yaki refers to cooking or grilling in the Japanese language. This Homemade Teriyaki Sauce is used to cook or glaze most seafood, chicken, and meat dishes.
Even though the authentic recipe is made with mirin, soy sauce, sake, and sugar, you may also find modified versions using ginger, garlic, and lemon zest. It is typically used to marinate, braise or grill meats and seafood. You can also use it in stir-frying rice, noodles, and veggies.
You may also use this Teriyaki Sauce as a sauce on the side (SOS) or dipping sauce before serving your Asian-inspired dumplings, meatballs, chicken wings, chicken, or meat dishes.
Ingredients
The ingredients you will need to make Teriyaki Sauce are basic Asian pantry elements. You could find the ingredients in most Asian grocery stores or the Asian aisle at most gourmet groceries. So let's see what are they below.
- Tamari Sauce and Mirin - Japanese essentials that are widely used to flavor up the food. Tamari is similar to soy sauce but they are less sodium content. And Mirin sauce is a Japanese rice wine that enhances the flavor of the dish. Both the ingredients help to deliver the authentic umami flavor
- Aromatics - Ginger and garlic for achieving a fresh aroma and taste
- Oil - You can use any cooking oil that's handy to you. Since I love the rustic flavor of sesame oil in Asian recipes, I have used it here for making the sauce. I have also suggested some best oils in the tips section if sesame oil is not handy for you
- Chilli Flakes and Pepper - For some heat
- Honey and Brown Sugar - Delivers a sweet and glazed look to your sauce
- Cornstarch Slurry - To thicken the sauce
For a detailed ingredients list, please check out the recipe card below.
How to make the Best Teriyaki Sauce at home?
The recipe I have shared here is the Best Homemade Teriyaki Sauce, a popular Asian seasoning to flavor chicken, meat, or seafood. This recipe yields about 1½ cups of sauce and the servings depend on how much salmon, chicken, or other meats you are using for a recipe. For instance, you can use ¼ cup of this sauce for 3 medium size salmon fillets. If you want to be generous you could also increase up to ½ cup of sauce.
Following are the high-level instructions to make this recipe but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and video, please check out the recipe card below.
- Saute the aromatics - In a pan with medium heat, pour sesame oil, and add ginger, garlic, and dry red chili. Saute until it turns aromatic
- Add Seasonings - Add the tamari sauce, mirin sauce, brown sugar, black pepper powder, chili flakes, and honey. Give it a good mix
- Boil - Now pour water and bring the mixture to boil
- Thicken the sauce - Once the mixture starts to boil, add the cornstarch slurry and give it a good mix. Now season the mixture with salt according to your taste. Stir and cook the mixture until it thickens.
- Remove - Once the sauce is thick remove it from the heat. Now the flavor-loaded Teriyaki Sauce is ready for you to use in recipes
Note: Even though I have shared the sauce here, I have also explained how to make Teriyaki Marinade in the following section.
How to make Teriyaki Marinade?
Teriyaki Marinade is a quick and authentic Japanese seasoning that is used to soak chicken, fish, or meat. Soaking the meat or seafood in the Teriyaki marinade helps to achieve a deep bold flavors to your dish. So let's see what are the steps to make it at home.
Note: The ingredient of the Teriyaki Marinade is the same as the sauce, but just leave out the cornstarch slurry, honey, and whole dry red chilis from the list.
To make the Marinade, Add all the ingredients in a medium size bowl except the cornstarch slurry, honey, and dry red chilies. Mix well until the brown sugar dissolves. Transfer it to an air-tight container and store it for future use. Or you can also use the Teriyaki Marinade right away to soak your meat or seafood.
Since I have suggested fresh ginger and garlic for this marinade, it is best to use for immediate use. However, they stay good in the refrigerator for up to 2 to 3 days.
But if you are planning to store the marinade for longer, then recommend adding ginger and garlic powder over fresh ones. Also, I suggest boiling the marinade for at least 2 to 3 minutes and then bringing them to room temperature before storing them in the refrigerator. This version stays good for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Difference Between Teriyaki Sauce and Marinade
Teriyaki sauce is a sweet and savory seasoning that is typically used to baste, stir fry or pour over the meat or other proteins for enhancing the flavor. It can also be added to cook meat or seafood or as a glaze over cooked food. The sauce is usually thickened by the thickening agent cornstarch.
On the other hand, Teriyaki Marinade is used to soak up uncooked meat, chicken, or fish to absorb the flavors from it. The soy sauce, mirin sauce, brown sugar, and other aromatics are mixed in a bowl then it is used directly to marinate or soak up meat or other proteins. The marinades are usually thinner in consistency.
Tips
- Fresh Aromatics - Adding fresh ginger and garlic adds so much flavor to your homemade Teriyaki Sauce. So I recommend not compromising on it
- Tamari Sauce - Even though authentic Japanese sauce calls for Tamari Sauce, you could also use low-sodium soy sauce for similar results
- Mirin Sauce - It is nothing but Japanese rice wine that delivers an authentic flavor and taste to your sauce. If it is not handy feel free to use Dry Sherry or Chinese cooking wine. You can also substitute with rice vinegar instead but you should add ½ tsp white or brown sugar for every 1 tbsp of vinegar. This will reduce the sourness and deliver a sweet flavor similar to rice wine
- Best Oil - I have used Sesame oil for achieving a robust and earthy flavor but feel free to use soybean oil, vegetable oil, peanut, and olive oil
- How much Sauce to use - This recipe yields about 1½ cups of sauce and the servings depend on how much salmon, chicken, or other meats you are using for a recipe. For instance, you can use ¼ cup of this sauce for 3 medium size salmon fillets. If you want to be generous you could also increase up to ½ cup of this sauce
Storage Suggestions
I would suggest making the sauce fresh for adding or cooking your meat or seafood. Because it adds so much flavor to your Teriyaki recipes. However, if you plan to store it, this sauce stays good for up to a week in the refrigerator in a closed airtight container.
Serving Suggestions
Use this Teriyaki Sauce to make Teriyaki Salmon, Teriyaki Chicken, or other stir-fry dishes. You can also use it for grilling chicken, salmon, and shrimp. Also to flavor your soup, noodles, and vegetables.
Related Recipes
You can also find similar recipes below and more at sauce recipes.
- Stir Fry Sauce
- Chili Sauce
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Chili Oil
- Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Kung Pao Sauce
- General Tso Sauce
- Orange Sauce
- Szechuan Sauce
- Tamarind Sauce
Recipes with Teriyaki Sauce.
More Asian recipes.
- Honey Garlic Chicken
- General Tso Chicken
- Kung Pao Chicken
- Honey Glazed Salmon
- Kung Pao Shrimp
- Honey Garlic Shrimp
Teriyaki Sauce Recipe Video
I have also shared a detailed video of this Homemade Teriyaki Sauce below that I hope will help you to make a flavorful sauce for your recipes. You could also find this recipe in a story format.
📖 Recipe
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Ginger, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp Garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp Sesame Oil
- 4 Red Chili, dried
- ¼ cup Tamari Sauce, or low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Mirin Sauce
- 3 tbsp Brown Sugar
- ½ tsp Black Pepper Powder
- ½ tsp Chili Flakes
- 2 tbsp Honey
- 1 cup Water
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch, diluted in 3 tbsp water
- Salt, as needed
Instructions
- In a pan with medium heat, pour sesame oil, and add ginger, garlic, and dry red chili. Saute until it turns aromatic
- Add the tamari sauce, mirin sauce, brown sugar, black pepper powder, chili flakes, and honey. Give it a good mix
- Now pour water and bring the mixture to boil
- Once the mixture starts to boil, add the cornstarch slurry and give it a good mix. Now season the mixture with salt according to your taste
- Stir and cook the mixture until it thickens. Once the sauce is thick remove it from the heat. Now the flavor-loaded Teriyaki Sauce is ready for us to use in recipes
To Serve
- Use this Teriyaki Sauce to make Teriyaki Salmon, Teriyaki Chicken, or other stir-fry dishes. You can also store this sauce for up to a week in the refrigerator
Video
Notes
- Fresh Aromatics - Adding fresh ginger and garlic adds so much flavor to your homemade Teriyaki Sauce. So I recommend not compromising on it
- Tamari Sauce - Even though authentic Japanese sauce calls for Tamari Sauce, you could also use low-sodium soy sauce for similar results
- Mirin Sauce - It is nothing but Japanese rice wine that delivers an authentic flavor and taste to your sauce. If it is not handy feel free to use Dry Sherry or Chinese cooking wine. You can also substitute with rice vinegar instead but you should add ½ tsp white or brown sugar for every 1 tbsp of vinegar. This will reduce the sourness and deliver a sweet flavor similar to rice wine
- Best Oil - I have used Sesame oil for achieving a robust and earthy flavor but feel free to use soybean oil, vegetable oil, peanut, and olive oil
- How much Sauce to use - This recipe yields about 1½ cups of sauce and the servings depend on how much salmon, chicken, or other meats you are using for a recipe. For instance, you can use ¼ cup of this sauce for 3 medium size salmon fillets. If you want to be generous you could also increase up to ½ cup of this sauce
Nutrition
FAQ
Teriyaki Sauce is a sweet, savory, and traditional Japanese seasoning loaded with umami flavors. It is usually made of Tamari, mirin sauce, brown sugar, honey, and basic aromatics. The term Teriyaki refers to the basic Japanese cooking method in which the food is broiled or grilled. That is Tari refers to shiny sauce, and Yaki refers to cooking or grilling in the Japanese language. This Homemade Teriyaki Sauce is used to cook or glaze most seafood, chicken, and meat dishes.
It tastes sweet, and savory, and has fresh flavors from ginger and garlic. The sweet flavor usually comes from brown sugar, mirin, and honey, and the umami flavor from tamari sauce.
No, it is not a healthy sauce as it contains high sugar and salt content. But using them in moderate quantity and enjoying such kinds of grilled or braised foods in moderation are good for a healthy life.
It is used to cook or glaze most seafood, chicken, and meat dishes. You can also use it in stir-frying rice, noodles, and veggies. You may also use this Teriyaki Sauce as a sauce on the side (SOS) or dipping sauce before serving your Asian-inspired dumplings, meatballs, chicken wings, chicken, or meat dishes.
I hope you enjoyed the recipe I shared here and I would love to hear from you about how it turned out for you. Please let me know.
If you have any other questions, feel free to post them in the comment section below and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Happy Cooking!
Leave a Review