{"id":8016,"date":"2026-04-24T15:33:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T15:33:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tilda.com\/en-au\/?post_type=howto&p=8016"},"modified":"2026-04-24T15:33:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T15:33:36","slug":"how-to-make-teriyaki-sauce","status":"publish","type":"howto","link":"https:\/\/www.tilda.com\/en-au\/how-to\/how-to-make-teriyaki-sauce\/","title":{"rendered":"How to make Teriyaki Sauce"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What is teriyaki sauce?<\/h2>\n

Teriyaki sauce is a Japanese condiment that hits your senses with a kaleidoscope of flavours: savoury, salty and sweet. This glossy, dark brown liquid is extremely versatile; used as a marinade, a glaze, a dressing or a dip to elevate the flavour of meat, fish or vegetable dishes.<\/p>\n

The popularity of teriyaki actually grew in the United States, although its recipe and ingredients are fundamentally Japanese. You\u2019ll find it ready-made on the shelves of any popular supermarket or well-stocked grocery store. But getting the really authentic mouth-watering flavour that makes a restaurant-grade teriyaki sauce is incredibly easy. Instead of reaching for the ready-made next time you\u2019re in the shop, simply grab five staple ingredients and you\u2019re ready to simmer up your own.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s in teriyaki sauce?<\/h2>\n

Teriyaki\u2019s ingredients are a contrasting bunch that blend to create the sauce\u2019s medley of flavour. Soy sauce is the main ingredient and the bulk of the recipe, adding a salty savouriness, and brown sugar, honey or maple syrup bring a burst of sweetness. A drop of cooking sake mirin or rice wine vinegar balances these all up, then there\u2019s the zestiness from ginger and garlic, plus water and cornflour to create teriyaki\u2019s trademark thick consistency.<\/p>\n

What does teriyaki sauce taste like?<\/h3>\n

Teriyaki sauce has a complex flavour; a mixture of sweet and savoury, tangy and salty. The sweetness comes from the sweet wine and the caramelisation of the sugar, honey or syrup, which also gives the sauce its shiny glaze. The soy, ginger and garlic tone down this sweetness, resulting in a savoury, indulgent flavour that transforms even the simplest chicken, beef or vegetable dish into a real treat.<\/p>\n

Where was teriyaki sauce invented?<\/h3>\n

Although indisputably a Japanese dish steeped in east Asian flavours, the dish is more prevalent in the west. In fact, when the name was coined in 17th-century Japan, it was because of a grilling method popular at the time rather than a sauce. \u201cTeri\u201d refers to the shine that the glaze gives the food, while \u201cyaki\u201d is a nod to the method of cooking.<\/p>\n

The origins of teriyaki as a sauce are more commonly attributed to the Japanese population of Hawaii in the 1960s, who paired the teriyaki cooking style and soy sauce from home with the abundant sweet pineapple juice to master the distinctive marinade. Teriyaki, of course, has its place in Japanese homes and restaurants amidst other sweet, sticky soy glazes and sauces like the Chinese hoisin, oyster sauce, plum or barbecue. But, it is predominantly paired with fish in east Asia rather than the beef or chicken dishes more popular in the West.<\/p>\n

How to use teriyaki sauce<\/h2>\n

So what can you cook or eat with teriyaki? The short answer is pretty much anything! It can be used as:<\/p>\n