How to Make Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

Making homemade teriyaki sauce is easy and rewarding, allowing you to control the ingredients and adjust the taste to your preferences. Here's a basic recipe to get you started:

Ingredients:

- 1/2 cup soy sauce

- 1/4 cup mirin (Japanese sweet cooking wine)

- 1/4 cup sake (Japanese rice wine)

- 1/4 cup brown sugar

- 1 tablespoon cornstarch

- 1 tablespoon cold water

- 1 clove garlic, minced

- 1 inch piece of ginger, minced

Instructions:

1. Combine Liquid Ingredients:

- In a medium saucepan, combine the soy sauce, mirin, sake, and brown sugar.

2. Thicken the Sauce:

- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth.

- Add the cornstarch mixture to the saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.

- Stir continuously until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.

3. Add Aromatics:

- Once the sauce has thickened, remove it from the heat.

- Stir in the minced garlic and ginger.

4. Serve or Store:

- Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed.

- You can use the teriyaki sauce immediately or let it cool and store it in an airtight container.

When cooking, you can marinate chicken, tofu, or vegetables in the homemade teriyaki sauce before grilling, pan-frying, or roasting. The sauce will caramelize and impart a delicious teriyaki flavor to your ingredients.

Experiment with different ratios of soy sauce, mirin, and sake to suit your taste preferences, and you'll have a versatile homemade teriyaki sauce that's healthier and more flavorful than store-bought varieties.