Where's the garlic and ginger?

Many recipes call for adding garlic and ginger to teriyaki sauce as you make it. To keep things as simple as possible, I skipped that. You can add 1-2 teaspoons each of minced garlic and ginger, if you'd like — But trust me, this teriyaki sauce is great just as it is, and I encourage you to try it as-is first before getting creative!

Can I add cornstarch to make the sauce thicker?

Yes. You can make a slurry of 1/4 cup water mixed with 3 teaspoons cornstarch. Whisk that into the sauce. Simmer the sauce over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes, until thickened. While using cornstarch to thicken the sauce isn't traditional, it'll help if you plan to use the teriyaki for an oven-based recipe or simply want to slather it over cooked meat or veggies!

Easy 3-Ingredient Teriyaki Sauce Recipe

Description

Making your own teriyaki sauce is simpler than you might think! You just need 3 ingredients for teriyaki that'll last for months in the fridge.

Feel free to add grated ginger or minced garlic — although I typically wait until I'm using the teriyaki to add those ingredients in!

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup tamari or soy sauce
1 cup mirin
2/3 cup dark brown sugar, cane sugar, or honey

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Instructions

Option 1: Combine tamari, mirin, and brown sugar in a jar. Seal the jar and shake until the sugar has completely dissolved. Store in the fridge for up to 2 months.
Option 2: In a small saucepan, whisk together tamari, mirin, and brown sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes, until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and let cool. Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 months.

Notes

For gluten free teriyaki, make sure the tamari you're using is gluten free!

Can't find true mirin? Aji-mirin makes a decent substitute, but is often sweeter with added corn syrup/sugar. You may want to adjust down the amount of sugar/honey/brown sugar you add.