As teriyaki gains popularity across the United States, more and more people are realizing the simplicity of how to make teriyaki sauce. Although bottled sauce can be purchased at the grocery store, you may never go back to the store-bought variety again after you learn to make your own.
Teriyaki
Just how popular is teriyaki? Enter any restaurant to find that many steak and hamburger establishments have teriyaki on the menu. Appetizers, poultry, beef, and even fish are seasoned with teriyaki sauce. This sweet and tangy flavor comes from Japan and, literally translated, the word teri means shiny or glossy while yaki means roasted, grilled, or fried. Roasted or fried chicken is coated with the sauce to give it a shiny luster, making teriyaki chicken a dish favored by many Japanese that is served in both casual and prestigious restaurants.
How to Make Teriyaki Sauce For Chicken
- 1/2 cup of shoyu (soy sauce)
- 1/4 cup of mirin (sweet cooking wine)
- 1/4 cup of sake (sweet rice wine)
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
Directions
- Pour all of the ingredients into a saucepan and mix well.
- Turn the heat on low.
- Simmer the mixture while stirring for a few minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- Use the sauce to marinate slices of chicken.
Alternate Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
- 1/4 cup of soy sauce
- 1 cup of water
- 1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger
- 3 tablespoons of brown sugar
- 1 minced garlic clove
- 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
- 1/4 cup of cold water
Directions
- In a saucepan, combine the cup of water, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger.
- Bring to a boil while stirring.
- Dissolve the corn starch in 1/4 cup of cold water and add to the sauce.
- Stir constantly.
- Use this sauce as a glaze for chicken, beef, or fish.
Uses for Teriyaki Sauce
As stated earlier, teriyaki sauce is excellent for preparing chicken dishes. You can also add a splash of it to your favorite hamburger recipe.
Teriyaki sauce goes well with pork, too. Place bite-size pieces of pork on a skewer and add slices of green pepper and onions. Marinate the ingredients in teriyaki sauce. Grill them on an electric or charcoal grill, basting the meat as you cook.
When using teriyaki sauce as a marinade, place the meat in a dish and cover with the sauce. Use plastic wrap to seal the bowl and place the bowl in the refrigerator for two or more hours. The sauce will give the meat a sweet and tangy taste.
Dipping Sauce
Prepare the sauce as abovr and serve it warm or chilled with an assortment of bite-sized vegetables or meat. Using toothpicks, allow your guests to dip the meat and vegetables into the sauce.
Some ideas for vegetables to use include:
- Cucumbers
- Radishes
- Green peppers
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
Stir-Fry With Teriyaki Sauce
Add some of the teriyaki sauce to your stir-fry. First, fry pieces of chicken, onions, red and green peppers, and broccoli in a little cooking oil. Stir 1/2 cup of the sauce into the frying pan. Simmer. Serve the stir-fry with white or brown steamed rice.
Sauce Variations
If you want to try adding to the above recipes, you can choose one of the following.
- A teaspoon of fresh lime juice
- A teaspoon of lemon juice
- A teaspoon of pineapple juice
- A teaspoon of whiskey in place of the sake
Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Enjoy
Now that you know how to make teriyaki sauce, put your culinary talent to use and begin preparing dinner. Your family will be sure to enjoy the flavor of teriyaki sauce. You can make the sauce sweeter or more tart, depending on the tastes of your family. This can be done by adding more sugar or soy sauce. .
