Do you often use teriyaki sauce? If yes, then you may love to have some substitutes for teriyaki sauce in case you are running out of it. Teriyaki is a Japanese sauce mainly used with seafood, roasted meat, poultry and grilled vegetables.
Many people like to use it as topping for some dishes and salads. It contains soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar or honey and ginger. The result is a glossy glaze.
Teriyaki or “glossy broil” is a Japanese cooking technique in which foods are broiled, roasted or grilled with soy sauce, mirin, and sugar. This cooking method has many health benefits that’s why many people want to know more about it.
The Most Popular Substitutes for Teriyaki Sauce
1. Barbecue Sauce
The most popular teriyaki alternative is the common barbeque sauce. Since its main ingredient is tomato, it tastes milder and sweeter compared to teriyaki. You can always consider it for grilled and roasted meats.
Barbeque sauces contain various ingredients and spices but the basic ingredients are tomato paste, molasses, onion, mustard, peppers and vinegar.
2. Sweet Soy Sauce
Sweet soy sauce is the common soy sauce with brown or palm sugar added to it. It’s one of the widely used ingredients in barbecue sauce. There are many types of soy sauces but if you choose this one, it will work better as a substitute for teriyaki.
If you don’t have sweet soy sauce at hand you can just add 2 tablespoons of sugar for ½ cup of soy sauce. It will become thicker like teriyaki sauce and will taste more similar to it. You can use this sauce to marinate meat. It’s better to leave it overnight so that the meat absorbs all the flavors and taste.
3. Korean Kalbi Sauce
The Korean version of BBQ sauce is the Korean Kalbi Sauce. Just like teriyaki, kalbi is a meat cooking technique but it also stands for sauces. Thus, it’s an ideal substitute for teriyaki. Kalbi sauce is slightly smokier than teriyaki. It’s also sweet and salty at the same time.
Korean Kalbi Sauce is basically made of soy sauce, garlic, brown sugar, honey and sometimes rice wine. You can use it both as a marinade and add to the meat while cooking. This sauce is also used as a topping.
4. Worcestershire Sauce
While the thickness of Worcestershire sauce is not the same as teriyaki, you can still use it instead of teriyaki. Worcestershire sauce contains garlic, rice vinegar, salt and other ingredients found in teriyaki sauce. You can even add some soy sauce in your Worcestershire sauce to achieve a more authentic feel.
Worcestershire sauce will provide your dish with sweet and savory flavor. In case, Asian sauces are not available at your place of living you can easily find Worcestershire sauce to replace teriyaki.
5. Ponzu Sauce
Ponzu Sauce belongs to the Japanese cuisine and it’s another good alternative to teriyaki. It contains rice vinegar, mirin, soybeans, shoyu, sugar and citrus fruits (especially traditional Asian citrus “yuzu”). Other unique ingredients are dried shredded tuna flakes and kombu (sea kelp). This sauce is quite rich in different tastes and flavors including sweet, spicy and sour ingredients. So, it will give your dishes an excellent combination of flavors.
Compared to teriyaki, ponzu sauce is denser. Citrus juice provides it both with sweetness and tenderness. It’s usually served with rice, but using it as dipping sauce for fried chicken is also accepted. You can use it especially with poultry when teriyaki is missing from your table.
6. Hoisin Sauce
The biggest fans of teriyaki may love this sauce. Hoisin Sauce comes from Chinese cuisine and is widely used as a teriyaki substitute. This sauce contains fermented soybean paste, garlic, vinegar, sesame oil, chiles, and sweetener. It is hotter and spicier than teriyaki.
If you want to make your dish taste sweet, savory, spicy and salty at the same time, then this will be the best choice. Although it doesn’t taste exactly the same way as teriyaki, if you add it to your meat dishes they will become more delicious. Keep in mind that this sauce is hot enough. If you don’t like spicy sauces, then you’d better choose another option.
7. Tamari Sauce
Many people look for gluten-free sauces and if you are one of them then Tamari sauce is right for you. It contains fermented soybeans, water, salt and organic alcohol just to preserve the freshness and aroma. This is a good choice for vegans too. You can use it both with meat and grilled vegetables.
Tamari sauce is similar to soy sauce and it has a milder taste compared to many other sauces mentioned here. Add some other seasonings and ingredients like salt, garlic or something spicier if you want to achieve a savory touch for the dish.
8. Tianmian Sauce
Similar to Indonesia’s sweet soy sauce, Tianmian sauce is a Chinese sweet bean sauce. It is denser and smoother than teriyaki sauce. This dark brown or black paste tastes mild, savory and sweet. The main ingredients are wheat flour, sugar, salt, and fermented soybeans.
Tianmian Sauce will perfectly glaze meat and make it eye-pleasing. This is not a gluten-free product as it contains wheat flour, but if it’s not a big deal for you, then go ahead with it when you look for something to replace teriyaki.
9. Coconut Aminos Sauce
Those who have allergies from the above-mentioned sauces and ingredients, there is a great substitute to use with meat. Coconut aminos sauce doesn’t contain soybeans and it can replace teriyaki sauce. The main ingredient it has is fermented coconut palm sap. Other ingredients are coconut nectar, coconut sugar, garlic and sea salt.
Compared to teriyaki, it’s less salty. Coconut aminos sauce comes with a similar taste of soy sauce enriched with a salty umami flavor. It has some sweetness but doesn’t taste like coconut.
This sauce is sometimes used in place of soy sauce or tamari, so you can replace teriyaki with it too.
FAQs on Teriyaki Sauce
What is teriyaki sauce?
Teriyaki sauce is a popular Asian sauce mainly used in chicken recipes. It has a strong flavor and taste basically created with soy sauce, garlic, mirin, and honey. This sauce tastes sweet, savory, tangy, and spicy at the same time. Sometimes brown sugar is added to enhance the taste. It is used as a marinade or dipping sauce.
How to make teriyaki sauce?
There are several reasons why you should make teriyaki sauce at home. Homemade sauces are better than store bought options. First, they are fresher and second, you can use substitutes and still achieve the same taste. Although there are several substitutes for teriyaki sauce, you can make it yourself too. Here is how!
The ingredients you need are the following; soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, sake, rice vinegar, ginger and cornstarch. Combine all the ingredients besides cornstarch, add 1 cup of water and cook over medium heat for a minute. Mix cornstarch with 1/4 cold water and add to the sauce. Continue cooking until it’s thickened. Let it cool off and store in the fridge.
Is teriyaki sauce gluten free?
Since it contains soy sauce, it can’t be considered gluten-free.
Can I substitute teriyaki sauce for soy sauce?
We can’t say that teriyaki sauce and soy sauce are the same in their tastes, but they often replace each other. So, you can substitute teriyaki sauce for soy sauce in recipes where soy sauce is included. You may also add water, cornstarch, sugar or honey to soy sauce to make it similar to teriyaki. Overall, they offer different tastes.
While using these substitutes in cooking, you can always add other seasonings depending on your taste. Some like to add garlic for stronger flavor and some others prefer sweet ingredients.