Go Back
–+ servings
Teriyaki Sauce in a white square cup on a grey table with few ingredients around.

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

Print Recipe
Teriyaki Sauce, celebrated for its sweet, savory, and umami-rich Japanese flavors, is perfect for enhancing dishes like Teriyaki Chicken and Salmon. It's also great for boosting the taste of stir-fries, noodles, and soups, bringing a touch of authentic Asian-style cooking to your home.
Course Sauces
Cuisine Japanese, Asian
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 5 servings
Calories 136
Author Sangeetha Vel

Ingredients

For the Sauce

  • 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
  • Salt to taste

For Cornstarch Slurry

  • 1 tbsp Cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp Water
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preparing Teriyaki Sauce

  • Heat sesame oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ginger, garlic, and dry red chili. Sauté until aromatic, which releases their flavors into the oil, creating a fragrant base for your sauce.
    Sauteing the aromatics in a pan.
  • Add tamari sauce, mirin, brown sugar, black pepper powder, and chili flakes. Drizzle in the honey last to prevent it from burning, ensuring a smooth blend of sweet and savory elements. Give everything a good mix.
    Adding honey into the sauce mixture.
  • Add water and increase the heat slightly to bring the mixture to a quick boil. This helps the sugar dissolve completely and melds the flavors together.
    Sauce mixture boiling in a pan.
  • Once boiling, reduce the heat and slowly whisk in the cornstarch slurry (the specified amount of cornstarch diluted in water) to avoid lumps. Season with salt, adjusting to your taste preferences.
    Adding cornstarch slurry to the sauce mixture.
  • Continuously stir and cook the mixture until it reaches the desired thickness. Once the sauce has thickened, remove it from the heat. Your flavor-packed Teriyaki Sauce is now ready to use in your recipes!
    Showing the texture of Teriyaki Sauce using a blue spoon.

Using

  • Use this Teriyaki Sauce to prepare delectable dishes like Teriyaki Salmon, Teriyaki Chicken, or various stir-fry dishes.
    Serving Teriyaki Sauce in a small square bowl.

Notes

Here are some useful tips to consider for your Teriyaki Sauce and Marinade:
  • Balancing Flavors: Adjust the sweetness or saltiness to your taste by modifying the amounts of sugar and Tamari. Start with the base recipe and tweak it from there to suit your preferences.
  • Customizing Spice Levels: If you enjoy a bit of heat, consider adding a teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes or a splash of chili sauce to the marinade or sauce.
  • Marinating Time: For the best results, marinate meats for at least 30 minutes, or ideally, overnight in the refrigerator. This ensures the flavors fully soak into the meat.
  • Reducing Waste: If you're using the marinade for basting, set some aside before adding the meat to avoid cross-contamination. This way, you can use it as a sauce without any safety concerns.
  • Thickening Tips: If your Teriyaki Sauce isn’t thickening as you’d like, dissolve an additional teaspoon of cornstarch in a little cold water and stir it into the simmering sauce until it reaches your desired consistency.
  • Amount of Teriyaki Sauce to Use: The amount of Teriyaki Sauce needed can differ depending on the dish you're preparing. Typically, ¼ cup works well for marinating or glazing three medium-sized salmon fillets. If you prefer a richer flavor or are serving more generously, you might want to increase the amount to up to ½ cup. Feel free to adjust according to your taste preferences and the size of your dish.
  • Teriyaki Marinade: I’ve shared the steps to make Teriyaki Marinade below. Be sure to check it out if you’re looking to add a delicious twist to your dishes with this flavorful marinade!

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 136kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 660mg | Potassium: 177mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 402IU | Vitamin C: 53mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

Visit the Recipe

Want to view the full post? Simply scan the QR code with your camera and tap the link.

QR Code