A balanced, glossy, deeply umami Japanese teriyaki with four essential components: soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sweetener—enhanced with aromatics and chef techniques.
📜 Ingredients (Makes ~1¼ cups)
The Core Four (Base of Teriyaki)
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Soy Sauce — ½ cup
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Mirin — ⅓ cup
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Provides sweetness + natural sheen.
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Sake — ¼ cup
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Adds depth, aroma, and cuts through sweetness.
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Sweetener — ⅓ cup total
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Traditional: 3 tbsp sugar + 1 tbsp honey
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Alternatively: 4 tbsp brown sugar
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⭐ Flavor Boosters (Optional but High Value)
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2 cloves garlic, crushed or grated
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1 tsp fresh ginger, grated finely
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1 tsp toasted sesame oil
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1 tbsp rice vinegar (for balance and brightness)
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1 tbsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water (only if you want a thick glaze)
🧑🍳 Step-by-Step (Professional Method)
1. Build the Base
In a small saucepan, combine:
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Soy sauce
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Mirin
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Sake
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All sweeteners
Heat over medium, whisking until sugar fully dissolves.
2. Add Aromatics
Add:
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Garlic
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Ginger
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Sesame oil
Simmer gently (not boil!) for 5–7 minutes.
This infuses flavor without burning or bitterness.
3. Balance & Reduce
Stir in rice vinegar.
Simmer another 3–5 minutes until the sauce reduces slightly and develops shine.
Chef Tip:
Do NOT over-reduce or it may become salty. Stop when the sauce lightly coats the back of a spoon.
4. Optional: Create a Thick Glaze
For a glossy, sticky finishing glaze:
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Whisk in the cornstarch slurry
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Simmer 1–2 minutes
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Stir continuously until thick and smooth
5. Strain (High-End Restaurant Touch)
Strain out the garlic and ginger for a silky, lacquered sauce.
This is what gives restaurant teriyaki its perfect shine.
🍱 How to Use Teriyaki Sauce–4
As a Marinade
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Use ¼–½ cup per pound of protein
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Ideal marinating times:
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Chicken: 1–3 hrs
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Beef: 30 min–2 hrs
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Salmon: 20–40 min
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Tofu: 20–30 min
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As a Cooking Sauce
Pour directly into stir-fries during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
As a Glaze
Brush onto grilled meat in the final minute to create caramelization.
As a Dip
Perfect for potstickers, tempura, vegetable sticks, shrimp, and noodles.
🔥 High Value Chef Tips
1. Mirin Matters
Cheap “mirin-style” seasoning tastes metallic.
Real mirin = cleaner sweetness and better sheen.
2. Don’t Skip the Sake
Sake evaporates and leaves behind aroma + balance.
It’s the difference between “good” and “authentic.”
3. Want Sweeter?
Add 1–2 tbsp honey at the end for a soft, rounded finish.
4. Want Savory?
Add 1–2 tsp soy sauce or a pinch of bonito flakes.
5. Add Smokiness
Stir in ⅛ tsp smoked paprika for grilled chicken and BBQ-style teriyaki.
🧊 Storage
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Fridge: 2–3 weeks in a sealed jar
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Freezer: 3–4 months in small portions
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Thickened version: keep refrigerated and use within 10–14 days
- 2 parts shoyu to 1 part brown sugar (or honey)
- smashed garlic cloves
- smashed fresh ginger (we never bother to peel either the garlic or the ginger)
- dash of sesame oil
- chopped green onions



