What’s the best teriyaki sauce substitute? This substitute for teriyaki sauce recipe uses soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar and more for a sweet and sticky replacement. You’ll also learn what is teriyaki sauce made of, and get a list of teriyaki substitutes such as hoisin sauce, tamari, BBQ sauce, and more. Don’t run to the store to get an alternative to teriyaki sauce; you may have what you need at home!

⭐ Teriyaki Sauce Substitute

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

You can easily make your own DIY teriyaki sauce by combining soy sauce, sugar, honey, ginger, and garlic. To thicken the sauce, you can add a cornstarch slurry (a mixture of cornstarch and water). Optional additions include mirin for a touch of sweetness and a more authentic flavor.

Here are the ingredients for my homemade teriyaki sauce recipe:

• 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar (packed)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch whisked with 2 tablespoons cold water (cornstarch slurry)

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Here are the step-by-step instructions to make this easy teriyaki sauce alternative:

Soy Sauce

Soy sauce can serve as a base for a simple teriyaki sauce substitute. You can mix it with a sweetener, such as sugar or honey, and add ginger or garlic for extra depth of flavor. Adding cornstarch will also provide thickness to the sauce.

Another option is kecap manis, a type of soy sauce that already has sweetener added.

Oyster Sauce

Oyster sauce is a thick, rich sauce made from oyster extracts and soy sauce. It has a sweet and savory flavor, making it a suitable teriyaki sauce substitute. Using oyster sauce as a base, you can add sugar or honey to adjust the sweetness.

Ponzu

Ponzu is a citrus-based sauce often used in Japanese cuisine. Combining it with soy sauce and a sweetener like sugar or honey creates a teriyaki sauce substitute with a refreshing twist.

Mirin

Mirin is a sweet Japanese rice wine often used in teriyaki sauce recipes. You can combine it with soy sauce, ginger, and garlic to create a teriyaki sauce substitute that will be slightly sweeter than the original.

Bulgogi Sauce

Bulgogi sauce and Kalbi sauce are Korean marinades made from soy sauce, sugar, garlic, and sesame oil. While they have a slightly different flavor profile than teriyaki sauce, they can still be used as a substitute in many recipes.

FAQs

How to use teriyaki sauce?

Teriyaki sauce is used in traditional dishes like grilled chicken skewers, fish, and seafood. It’s even made its way to non-Japanese dishes such as burgers and stir-fries. Simply add the sauce to your dish while cooking or use it as a dipping sauce. (Try: Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon)

What sauce does teriyaki mostly taste like?

What flavors are like teriyaki? A similar-tasting sauce to teriyaki would be my homemade teriyaki replacement made from a combination of soy sauce, sweetener, and an acid (vinegar). Other alternatives include kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), Korean BBQ sauce, hoisin sauce, and oyster sauce.

What is the difference between teriyaki and soy sauce?

While teriyaki sauce and soy sauce share a common ingredient – soy sauce – their flavor profiles are different. Teriyaki sauce is sweeter and thicker due to the addition of sugar and mirin.

Can you substitute teriyaki sauce for soy sauce?

Yes, though it’s not a direct substitute. You can use teriyaki in place of soy sauce if you adjust the dish’s sweetness and thickness accordingly.

How to make 3 ingredient teriyaki sauce?

To make a simple 3 ingredient teriyaki sauce, combine equal parts of soy sauce, sugar, and mirin (or a suitable substitute like white cooking wine or Shaoxing rice wine). Mix the ingredients together and heat them in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves. Adjust the ratio of ingredients based on your taste preferences.

How to make teriyaki sauce without cornstarch?

If you want to make teriyaki sauce without cornstarch, use a natural thickener like arrowroot powder or a small amount of xanthan gum. Mix the arrowroot with a little water before adding it to the sauce to avoid clumping. Add the thickener slowly while heating the sauce, adjusting the thickness as needed.

What is the best teriyaki sauce for stir fry?

The best teriyaki sauce for stir fry is one with a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors without being too thick or too thin. Opt for a high-quality store-bought sauce (I like Kikkoman Teriyaki Glaze) or make your own at home. To enhance the flavor of your stir fry, feel free to experiment with ingredients like ginger, garlic, pineapple juice, or chili flakes.

👩🏻‍🍳 More Recipe Substitutes

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