The Recipe · No.750 · Teriyaki Sauce

Teriyaki Sauce, and Where to Source It

Real teriyaki is four ingredients simmered down, not a thickened bottled syrup. Reduce it slowly until it turns glossy and coats the back of a spoon, then brush it on at the end of cooking so the sugars glaze instead of scorch.

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Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep5 min
Cook10 min
Makesabout 1 cup
CuisineJapanese
Cook it with
One-potNo-cook
Part One
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Soy sauce
The savory base; a naturally brewed soy has real depth, not just salt.
1/2 cup
Source it →
Mirin
Sweet rice wine that gives the glaze its shine and body.
1/2 cup
Source it →
Sake
Adds a clean rice-wine backbone; cook off the raw edge. Local.
1/4 cup
Local / market
Sugar
Balances the salt and helps it lacquer. An unrefined sugar deepens the color.
3 tbsp
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Ginger
A little grated ginger for warmth. Firm, heavy hands are freshest.
1 tsp
Source it →
One list, with a link to where to buy each one.
Part Two
The Method
  1. CombineAdd soy, mirin, sake, sugar, and ginger to a small saucepan.
  2. SimmerBring to a gentle simmer and cook until the sugar dissolves and it starts to thicken.
  3. ReduceKeep reducing until it turns glossy and coats the back of a spoon.
  4. CoolCool before using; it thickens further as it sits. Brush on at the end of cooking.
Part Three
The Toolkit

Saucepan · Whisk · Grater

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