Teriyaki Sauce

What is teriyaki sauce?

Teriyaki sauce is a thick, sweet and savory sauce used in Japanese cooking.

The name comes from “teriyaki,” a word that refers to cooking meat or vegetables in this sauce. It gives food a tangy flavor, which is actually a synonym for the literal translation of the word, “shiny glaze.”

Originally, it was a liquid used as a glaze for different types of meat.

Origins of teriyaki sauce

It was indeed the Japanese who first made teriyaki sauce, but not necessarily in Japan.

In fact, many Japanese immigrants moved to Hawaii in the 1960s, bringing their culinary traditions with them. By mixing fresh pineapple juice with brown sugar and soy sauce, they created the first teriyaki sauce!

Since then, teriyaki sauce has become popular and widely available. Fresh pineapple juice is no longer used, but more accessible ingredients are now the norm.

As for the cooking method, there are records of it in Japan as far back as the 17th century. Even then, people marinated fish in a sauce before grilling it.

Main ingredients in teriyaki sauce

Today, teriyaki sauce is made from four main ingredients: soy sauce, sake, sugar, and ginger. For those in the know, it’s very similar to unagi sauce in terms of ingredients.

Cornstarch is usually added to thicken the sauce. Of course, recipes vary.

You can swap out sake for mirin if you want less alcohol in your recipe. Sometimes, brown sugar is used instead of white sugar.

Here, you’ll also find more Western-style versions that include honey and garlic.

How to store teriyaki sauce

If you’ve made your own teriyaki sauce, keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.

For store-bought teriyaki sauce, you can keep it in the fridge for up to a year. After that, the flavor may start to change.

How to use teriyaki sauce

Teriyaki sauce is first and foremost a marinade. It pairs perfectly with chicken, fish, or meat. Let your pieces soak for at least half an hour before cooking.

Vegetarians, don’t worry: teriyaki sauce also goes great with vegetables, tofu, and mushrooms.

Once marinated, your pieces can be cooked any way you like: grilled, baked, over an open flame… For thicker cuts of meat, you can even use teriyaki sauce in a slow cooker. It’ll make your meat tender and flavorful!

If you really love the taste, you can also use teriyaki sauce as a dip—for example, with your temaki.

You can also swap it for barbecue sauce with ground beef, since the basic ingredients are similar.

It’s also great with noodles—a very popular combo in India. Finally, teriyaki sauce makes a great base for a salad dressing, especially with cabbage. It’s a perfect match!

Teriyaki sauce recipe