BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (2024)

by jessica 8 Comments

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Who doesn’t love to sit around the giant flat-top grill at a Japanese steakhouse and watch the onion volcano or catch rogue shrimp in their mouth, thrown from the chef’s spatula?

BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (1)

But while I’m there I also want some stellar steak and I can’t do it without ginger sauce — hence, this ginger sauce recipe.

The brown dipping sauce at hibachi grills is usually a ginger sauce that brings together soy sauce with other ingredients like sugar, onion, vinegar, and, of course, ginger. It’s popular and prevalent because it’s balanced and compliments nearly any protein or vegetable on a menu.

What's In This Post

Versatile Sauce

This is one of those easy recipes that’s a great way to bring the flavors of a favorite restaurant home. I use it in a ton of ways from cooking up a weeknight dinner in it to serving up kabobs or dumplings at a dinner gathering with a small bowl of the sauce on the side.

If you’re looking for a versatile sauce recipe that has a ton of flavor, this sauce recipe may become your go-to the next time you’re hosting a meal, or just looking to spice up a weeknight dinner.

BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (2)

What is Ginger Sauce?

One of the most popular sauces (the other being yum yum sauce) at any popular Japanese steakhouse, ginger sauce is an umami-packed sauce with spice and slight sweetness. It also has plenty of salt and acid to round it out.

It’s also healthy. Ginger has multiple health benefits, including improving digestion while sesame oil packs an antioxidant punch and is great for your heart.

If you like sauces that incorporate both sweet and savory flavors, you’ll love ginger sauce. Its flavors are so balanced and it works well with most proteins and veggies.

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Ingredients

  • Lite soy sauce – Lite soy sauce is saltier, thinner, and less sweet than dark, making it perfect for this recipe since it also incorporates brown sugar. Feel free to choose low sodium soy sauce if you choose.
  • Rice wine vinegar – Vinegar brings the necessary acidity to this sauce to balance out the sweetness of the sugar and the slight spice of the ginger. Rice vinegar is a little more mellow than others.
  • Minced, grated, or ground ginger – Fresh ginger root is ideal for this but if you need to buy it prepared it will work.
  • Brown sugar – Either light or brown sugar will work but dark will impart more sweetness.
  • Scallions – Chop these into thin slices so that they are not too heavy for the sauce.
  • Sesame oil – Not only does it taste delicious, sesame oil has tons of health benefits, too.
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How to use Ginger Sauce

Of course you can use your ginger dipping sauce just like at a hibachi grill, as a dip for your beef, shrimp, or chicken. But there are plenty of other ways to put this delicious sauce to good use.

  • Marinate Chicken breasts, pork, beef, and seafood soak up these flavors and cook up beautifully whether on the grill, in the oven, or on the stovetop.
  • Mix it up – Drizzle some of this on your ground beef before mixing up your burgers.
  • Stir fry – Take your meat/vegetable and rice game up a notch by using this instead of your typical sauce.
  • Oysters – Instead of a mignonette or co*cktail sauce for your oysters on the half shell, try this one. You can use it on your fried oysters or po’ boy sandwich as well.
  • Mussels or clams – Toss out traditional wine, beer, and butter based sauces for this one.
  • Vegetables – Toss steamed vegetables in the sauce after cooking or marinate raw veggies before grilling or roasting. Mushrooms like button or portobello are delicious sauteed in it.
  • Traditional rolls/dumplings – Spring rolls, egg rolls, pot stickers, and dumplings are a perfect pairing.
  • Eggs – Bring an Asian flair to the breakfast table with a serving of this sauce to go over omelets and fried or scrambled eggs, hash browns, or anything else for your morning meal.
  • Wraps and sandwiches – Aa little ginger sauce will add big time flavor to your lunch routine.
  • co*cktails – Add this sauce to your Bloody Marys to bring a wow factor to at-home brunch.
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Variations

  • Get nutty – Add some peanut sauce for some extra richness and umami flavor.
  • Kick it up a notch – Add some heat with crushed red pepper flakes or try some wasabi.
  • Brighten – Just a small touch of lemon juice will brighten all of the flavors. You can also try using a small amount of lemon zest.
  • Change up the onions – Use finely chopped yellow onions, green onions, or your onion of choice.
  • Switch up the vinegar – Try using white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or any other favorite.
  • Sesame seeds – Add some of these to the sauce for color, texture, and flavor.
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Storage & Freezing

Store in an airtight container for up to 7 days in the refrigerator. If you choose to freeze, it’s easiest to do so in ice cube trays for later use in small portions.

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Other Dipping Sauces

Chili’s Honey Mustard Sauce Recipe

If you're looking to recreate Chilis honey mustard sauce then this is the recipe for you. This honey mustard sauce will be your new favorite!

Check out this recipe

BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (8)

Coconut Shrimp Dipping Sauce

If you like both heat and sweet, this Coconut Shrimp Dipping Sauce that coats your crunchy fried shrimp is what you're looking for!

Check out this recipe

BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (9)

Thai Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe

A sweet and spicy Asian condiment perfect for dipping, marinating, basting or whisking into sauces, soups and salad dressing.

Check out this recipe

BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (10)

BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (11)

BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (12)

Ginger Sauce Recipe

If you're looking for a savory sauce for proteins and vegetables this EASY Ginger Sauce recipe is the way to upgrade nearly any meal!

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: ginger sauce

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 219kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup light soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons ginger minced or grated
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 scallions chopped
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Instructions

  • Combine the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ginger, brown sugar, scallions and sesame oil in a small saucepan.

  • Heat until a low simmer so the flavors can marry.

  • Take off the heat. For a smooth sauce with loads of flavor, pour through a strainer and serve. For a sauce with my texture and flavor, serve as-is.

  • If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Nutrition

Calories: 219kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 6492mg | Potassium: 362mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 239IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 3mg

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (13)Ieva

    BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (14)
    Love this ginger sauce! It’s great with Japanese gyozas, but also works really well in stir-fries (we tried it with prawns and chicken!).

    Reply

  2. BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (15)Jessie

    BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (16)
    This sauce is PERFECT! I’ve been working on my homemade dumpling skills lately and have been looking for different sauce recipes to serve with them -this easy ginger sauce is a winner! It’s so easy and fast to put together.

    Reply

  3. BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (17)Tavo

    BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (18)
    We eat dumplings very often, and this sauce was perfect! Super tasty!

    Reply

  4. BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (19)Shadi

    BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (20)
    I Just tried this recipe and my family loved it. It was so easy and the flavors were fantastic.

    Reply

  5. BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (21)Andrea

    Yum. This was a great dipping sauce for our vegetable rolls. Thanks!

    Reply

  6. BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (22)MacKenzie

    BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (23)
    AMAZING. My daughter and I have been searching for a restaurant quality ginger sauce and this one is on point. Better than takeout!

    Reply

  7. BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (24)Linda R

    Love the flavor profile however found it a bit salty . I will try a low sodium soy sauce.

    Reply

  8. BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (25)Aryn

    BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (26)
    Lovely sauce. I mixed in lots of ginger, and left out the scallions.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

BEST Ginger Sauce Recipe (EASY and Only 6 Simple Ingredients!) (2024)

FAQs

What is ginger sauce made of? ›

In a blender, combine onion, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, soy sauce, sugar, and vinegar. Process until smooth. Serve at room temperature.

What are the two sauces you get at hibachi? ›

It's commonly drizzled over hibachi-grilled dishes, adding a burst of flavor that complements the smoky notes of the grill. While ginger sauce may be the classic companion at hibachi steakhouses, Yum Yum Sauce takes indulgence to the next level.

How long does ginger sauce last in the fridge? ›

Store in the fridge: Store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 7 days. Freeze: If I make a large batch, I use an ice cube tray to freeze small portions of the sauce then thaw them completely before using. Freeze and use within 4 months.

What is the brown sauce they use at hibachi? ›

The traditional Japanese Hibachi Brown Sauce, also known as “Yum Yum Sauce” or “Hibachi Sauce,” is usually vegan-friendly. The primary ingredients in this sauce are soy sauce, mirin (a sweet rice wine), dashi stock (made from dried bonito fish flakes or kelp), garlic, ginger, and sometimes a touch of sugar.

What is ginger dressing made of? ›

Combine olive oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, water, honey, garlic, and ginger in a 1-pint glass jar. Cover the jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake well. Remove the lid, then heat the jar in the microwave until honey is dissolved, about 1 minute. Allow to cool.

Is crushed ginger as good as fresh ginger? ›

Both forms contain all the health benefits of ginger. Though it's hard to beat the flavor of the fresh root, ginger powder is nutritious, convenient and economical. Fresh ginger lasts a while in the refrigerator and can be frozen after you have peeled and chopped it.

What is the famous sauce in Japan? ›

Shoyu is the most widely used condiment in Japanese cuisine and found in or added to a large number of dishes. The fermented soybean product adds depth to a dish when cooked together or when used as a dipping sauce like for sushi. There are different types of soy sauce, including light and dark ones.

What's Yum Yum Sauce made of? ›

Yum Yum Sauce is made of mayonnaise, ketchup, vinegar, garlic, sugar, paprika and water to thin the sauce out. That's it! It's really just a matter of the right ratios of ingredients to get the flavor you want!

What do hibachi chefs squirt on rice? ›

The squirt bottles are sesame oil, soy sauce, and Japanese barbecue sauce (like Mr. Yoshido brand or the brand name “Japanese Barbecue Sauce”).

What makes ginger go bad? ›

Wrinkled skin

However, if the ginger also has a mushy texture, an off smell, a brown color, or visible mold, it is likely bad and should be discarded. It's always best to trust your senses and look for the signs of bad ginger before using it in your recipes. Lightly wrinkled ginger that's still good to use.

Is ginger sauce healthy? ›

From its low-calorie content to its rich antioxidant profile and digestive benefits, it offers a range of health advantages. Incorporating ginger dressing into your diet can support your immune system, heart health, and overall vitality. So, go ahead and savor the flavors of this remarkable condiment!

Does ginger sauce have sugar? ›

Ginger chili sauce is made from chili peppers, sugar, vinegar, ginger and some seasonings. It has a semi-thin viscosity and a golden color with red flecks from the chilies. The flavor is sweet and spicy. It is used as a dipping sauce and with meat, fish and vegetables.

What is hibachi ginger sauce made of? ›

Simply combine all the ingredients in a blender: onion, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey, dark soy sauce, and black pepper. Pulse until it is to your preferred consistency. And that's it!

What sauces do Japanese steakhouses use? ›

Both Ginger Sauce and Yum Yum Sauce are the most popular Japanese steakhouse hibachi sauces. If you've been to the the popular Benihana Japanese Steakhouse chain you'll know that their ginger sauce is their #1 requested sauce.

What oil do hibachi restaurants use? ›

Avocado oil – Most hibachi restaurants use canola oil or vegetable oil, but I prefer to use avocado oil in my skillet dishes. Drizzle of sesame oil – Sesame oil has a very strong flavor, so a little goes a long way. Butter – To keep this recipe dairy free, I used Earth's Balance butter.

What is ginger made of? ›

Ginger products are made from fresh or dried ginger root, or from steam distillation of the oil in the root. You can find ginger extracts, tinctures, capsules, and oils. You can also buy fresh ginger root and make a tea.

What does ginger taste like? ›

What does ginger taste like? Ginger has a spicy flavour, and an invigorating aroma. It produces a warming and fiery taste that gives an unmistakable and comforting kick. Ginger tastes spicy because of its chemical composition, specifically the compound gingerol, which creates its hot sensation.

Is pickled ginger actually ginger? ›

Gari (ガリ) is a type of tsukemono (Japanese pickled vegetables). It is made from sweet, thinly sliced ginger that has been marinated in a solution of sugar and vinegar. Younger ginger is generally preferred for gari because of its tender flesh and natural sweetness.

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