Homemade Teriyaki Sauce – Simply Scratch

Making homemade teriyaki sauce is easy! All you need is just a few simple ingredients and about 10 minutes! I’ve even included instructions for 4 delicious variations. One recipe yields about 1 cup.

For years I’ve been making homemade stir-fries and stir-fry sauces. If you keep a well stocked fridge and pantry, you’ve most likely have everything already – I even keep fresh ginger in the freezer. Years ago it started with a simple ginger garlic teriyaki sauce and I’ve since played around with that base recipe, adding different ingredients to create different versions and adding additional flavor.

To Make This Homemade Teriyaki  Sauce You Will Need:

• brown sugar – Lends sweetness and subtle caramel flavor.
• cornstarch – Used to thicken sauce.
• honey – Adds additional sweetness and flavor.
• garlic (fresh) – Adds distinct punchy flavor.
• ginger (fresh) – Lends a pungent, spicy and sweet flavor.
• white pepper – Brighter, a little sharper and more herbaceous notes than regular black pepper.
• low-sodium soy sauce – Or substitute with low-sodium tamari if gluten free.
• mirin – Or substitute with sake or shaoxing wine.

In a glass bowl, measure and add 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 tablespoon honey, 2 cloves garlic (minced), 1-1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh ginger and 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper.

Next pour in 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce (or use low-sodium tamari if gluten free) and 1/4 cup mirin, sake or shaoxing wine.

Use a whisk or small rubber spatula to stir until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined and the sugar dissolved.

That’s it!

RECIPE VARIATIONS:

Citrus: Add the zest of 1 orange or about 1 tablespoon to the base recipe.

Green Onion: Add 4 sliced green onions (both light and dark green parts) to the base recipe.

Sesame: Add 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil plus 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds to the base recipe.

Spicy: Add 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon sriracha or sambal oelek or more! (depending on your spice level) to the base recipe.

How To Use In a Recipe:

Once you’ve stir-fried your meat and/or veggies,  pour in sauce and bring to a bubble until thickened.

Note: If using any of these teriyaki sauce recipe to baste grilled meat or veggies, I recommend pouring the sauce it into a sauce pan and bring to simmer to thicken first.

How To Store Homemade Teriyaki Sauce:

Store in a container with a tight-fitting lid and keep stored in the refrigerator.

How Long Will Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Last?

Because of the fresh ingredients (garlic and ginger) this sauce will last 3 to 4 days. Be sure to shake or stir well before using.

Can You Freeze Homemade Teriyaki Sauce?

Yes! You can store in freezer safe re-sealable bags, lay them flat and freeze OR pour into plastic containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in fridge overnight.

Enjoy! And if you give this recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!