So many of us were first introduced to Japanese cuisine with teriyaki sauce. It was probably one of the many Japanese dishes that was more readily available in most grocery store or restaurants when Japanese food became a household staple. I remember you can get teriyaki at the local fast food chains in the mall! Teriyaki sauce is actually a complex sauce that has lots of layers of flavours. And best part of this recipe is that it is very easy to make!
What is Teriyaki Exactly?
Teriyaki is a traditional way of cooking from the Japanese culture where meats are grilled and a sauce (Teriyaki sauce) is a glaze on top of the cooked meats. Teriyaki sauce is very commonly used on fish, chicken, and beef. The word Teriyaki broken down means, “Teri” – shine and “yaki” refers to the method of grilling of the meats.
How do I use Teriyaki Sauce?
You can use it as a marinade and it can be used on all proteins like fish, chicken, beef, pork, really whatever you like. If you are a vegetarian, you can even use this sauce to marinate tofu. You can also use the sauce in a more traditional way which is to grill or cook your protein first and brush on the sauce afterwards. Either way, it is super tasty and you can enjoy it in so many ways.
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup light soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 TBSP raw honey
- 3 TBSP mirin (or sake, rice wine vinegar)
- 1 inch ginger, peeled and grated
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and diced finely
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Cornstarch Slurry
- 2 TBSP cornstarch
- 2 TBSP water
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients into a small sauce pan and bring to a boil
- Reduce heat to low and let simmer for about 3 minutes
- Mix cornstarch and water into cornstarch slurry and add into sauce. Mix until combined. The cornstarch mixture will thicken up the sauce
- Let cool and pour into an air tight container and store inside the refrigerator
What is mirin?
You might have noticed that this recipe calls for mirin. It is available in most Asian supermarkets and you can even find it in a western grocery store in their ethnic aisle. Mirin is very similar to sake and it is actually a type of rice wine. It has a much lower alcohol percentage in comparison to sake. Mirin actually does not have any added sugar but the sugar in is naturally produced in the fermentation process. If you cannot find any mirin, you can sub it for some dry white wine or even a rice vinegar. You only need very little so it won’t make a huge difference.
Is Teriyaki Sauce Gluten Free?
You can easily make this recipe gluten free if you use gluten free soy sauce. Which is readily available in most grocery stores these days.
Is Teriyaki Sauce Keto?
Generally speaking, no. Teriyaki sauce has components like honey and brown sugar which is not ideal for a keto diet. However, you can create the recipe with coconut sugar that is more suitable for a keto diet.
Is Teriyaki Sauce Spicy?
Most teriyaki sauces are not spicy but there are versions out there that are spicy. If you like spicy food, you are more than welcome to make the sauce your own and add some of your favourite chili sauce into it!
How long does Teriyaki Sauce Last?
If you put this home-made sauce in your fridge, it will last at least a few weeks in the fridge. You can also pour it into ice cube trays and freeze it for many months. Since the sauce is very easy to create, you can make small batches as you need too!
Leave a Comment