Classic Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
Teriyaki sauce is anything but simple: salty but sweet, bold yet bright, with a delicious savoriness that defines “umami” Japanese cuisine. So it might surprise you that it’s incredibly easy to make at home! All you need are 4 ingredients and 15 minutes.
You’ll never get the same sweet and savory Japanese restaurant taste without getting the teriyaki sauce just right — it’s the foundation that all other flavors build on!
To create an umami teriyaki from scratch, you only need 4 ingredients: soy sauce, mirin, sake, and water. Just boil it, bottle it, and use it however you like!
Plus, the simplicity of this teriyaki recipe also leaves plenty of room for experimentation and customization! Infuse sweet and fruity flavors, like my pineapple teriyaki sauce, or add a bit of heat with a scoop of chili crisp.
If you’re interested in authentic Japanese teriyaki, you may also want to check out how to make your own furikake (rice seasoning), pickled ginger, tonkatsu, or ginger sauce just like you’d get at the steakhouse!
Table of Contents
There’s no better way to save money than to learn to make your own pantry staples from scratch, especially condiments like teriyaki.
Is mirin rice vinegar?
Mirin is a sweet Japanese rice wine used in cooking to add depth and sweetness to dishes. It has a low alcohol content and a unique flavor profile with a balance of sweetness and umami. Commonly used in marinades, glazes, and sauces like this teriyaki sauce, mirin enhances the overall taste of Japanese cuisine.
Mirin and rice vinegar are distinct Japanese condiments. Mirin is a sweet rice wine with low alcohol, adding sweetness and depth to dishes. Rice vinegar, on the other hand, is fermented rice that offers acidity and tanginess. While both enhance flavors, mirin contributes sweetness, while rice vinegar adds a sour note to recipes.
- Soy Sauce – As one of the major elements of this teriyaki sauce recipe, you want to be sure you’re using good soy! You can never go wrong with all-purpose Kikkoman. Use dark soy for a stronger, bolder flavor.
- Sake – This clean, sweet-tasting alcohol is popular in Japanese cooking. You can substitute sake with Chinese cooking wine or a dry sherry. For a non-alcoholic substitute, try rice vinegar or rice wine vinegar.
- Mirin – A sweet, syrupy rice wine. Boiling it removes the alcohol content. If you still want a non-alcoholic substitute, you can again use rice wine vinegar — but add a bit of honey or sugar to achieve a similar sweet flavor.
- Water – Just a little more liquid to fill out the mixture.
- Combine Ingredients. Add the soy sauce, sake, mirin, and water to a medium saucepan or skillet. Whisk together.
- Boil. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for just one or two minutes.
- Let Cool & Store. Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool. Use right away as a marinade for beef, poultry, or seafood, or store for later use.
Recommended Tools
- Skillet or Saucepan – I recommend using a wider pan for homemade sauces. A wider pan increases the amount of liquid in direct contact with the hot pan, heating it quicker. It’s also important to use a good quality pan that heats evenly, like a skillet — teriyaki burns easily because of the sugar content in the mixture.
Storing and Reheating
Let the sauce cool completely before transferring it to an airtight storage container that will be easier to pour or scoop the teriyaki from — a wide-mouthed mason jar or condiment bottle, for example.
Don’t let it sit at room temperature for too long if you’re not planning on consuming it. Stored properly, it will last for a week in the refrigerator.
Not on its own, no. However, it is very easy to modify a teriyaki sauce recipe to make it spicy! Adding hot sauces, crushed red peppers, or some chili crisp will heat it right up.
It depends on what you’re using it for. To use it for dipping, to flavor rice or noodles, or any other use during which you’d prefer a sticky texture, diluting isn’t necessary.
However, if you want to use it as a marinade, then it’s best to dilute a thicker mixture. I will note that my teriyaki sauce recipe results in a relatively thin liquid already suited for marinating.
Restaurant-style teriyaki is very similar to the kind I make here. In addition to soy sauce and rice wine, it may also contain additional sugar or honey as a sweetener.
To thicken homemade sauces, simply let the contents simmer for a longer period of time and reduce until it’s thickened nicely. Bear in mind that this will reduce the total amount you’ll end up with, so you may want to double the recipe if you want the same amount of a thicker, reduced liquid.
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Classic Teriyaki Sauce
Ingredients
Instructions
For Sauce
- In a medium saucepan or skillet, mix together the soy sauce, sake, mirin and water. Bring mixture to a boil, lower heat to simmer and cook until reduced and thickened. It turns into a glossy, syrupy sauce (See Note 2).
- Allow to cool to room temperature before using. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator and use within 2-3 weeks.
For Marinade
- In a medium saucepan or skillet, mix together the soy sauce, sake, mirin and water. Bring to a boil and simmer 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to use as is for a teriyaki marinade for beef, poultry or seafood.
Video
Notes
- Substitute sake with Chinese cooking wine or a dry sherry.
- Simmer for about 8 minutes if using a saucepan or 5-6 minutes if using a skillet.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Super easy and perfection! Everyone loved this on out roast chicken kevin.
So happy, thanks for letting me know Madelyn. 🙂
This was delicious drizzled over my ribeye!
Love me some ribeye. Thanks for letting me know Ralph.
How easy, who knew?! Thanks Kevin.
Hope you enjoy this one Candice. Let me know!