What is Teriyaki Sauce?

Teriyaki sauce is a glaze or sauce originating from Japan.  It is a moderately thick reddish-brown liquid with visible specks of various spices and flavorings.  Teriyaki sauce usually contains soy sauce, honey or maple syrup, minced garlic, brown sugar, water, ginger, and cornstarch.  Some variations use sesame oil, vinegar, red pepper flakes, or white sugar.  Teriyaki sauce smells sweet and tangy.

What Does Teriyaki Sauce Taste Like?

Teriyaki sauce tastes sweet, tangy, and salty.  Some sauces may taste spicy or savory.

How Do You Eat Teriyaki Sauce?

One traditional use for teriyaki sauce includes as a glaze for meats.  Teriyaki sauce pairs well with meats such as fish, chicken, beef, and pork.  When used as a dipping sauce, teriyaki sauce flavors chicken wings, dumplings, shrimp, and steak.  Stir-fries, rice dishes, and vegetables use teriyaki sauce for additional flavor.

Where Can You Buy Teriyaki Sauce?

Look for teriyaki sauce in the international aisle or the condiments aisle of the grocery store.  If you want a specific kind of teriyaki sauce, you may have to look in an international grocery store or a Japanese food store.  If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, you can make teriyaki sauce at home.

How Do You Store Teriyaki Sauce?

Store unopened teriyaki sauce in a cool, dry place away from light.  Once opened, seal the container and store the sauce in the refrigerator.  To store homemade teriyaki sauce, place sauce in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Fun Facts About Teriyaki Sauce

Regional variations of teriyaki sauce exist.  Hawaiian teriyaki sauce typically uses pineapple juice as an ingredient.

Did You Know?

Teriyaki actually refers to a Japanese cooking style.  Because the sauce is part of the cooking style, we call it teriyaki sauce.

Recipes Using Teriyaki Sauce

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

Create your own teriyaki sauce at home. Start by adding soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, brown sugar, water, and ginger to a saucepan. Allow ingredients to simmer until the mixture thickens. Add cornstarch to thicken the sauce and simmer until the cornstarch dissolves.

Teriyaki Marinade

Use store-bought or homemade teriyaki sauce to create a delicious marinade. Place teriyaki sauce in a large bowl with salmon. Allow the salmon to marinade for at least 30 minutes to absorb the flavors. Pour salmon and sauce into a baking dish and bake. Baste the fish at least once with the sauce while it bakes.

Teriyaki Rice

Create a sticky side dish using teriyaki sauce. Prepare white rice with vegetable broth and red bell peppers. Stir in teriyaki sauce and fresh scallions before serving.

Teriyaki Dipping Sauce

Thin out teriyaki sauce to create a delicious dipping sauce. Stir in orange juice, balsamic vinegar, or sriracha to change the flavor of basic teriyaki sauce.

Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Dice sweet potatoes and toss them with teriyaki sauce. Place them in a baking dish and bake until fork tender. Stir potatoes throughout the baking process.