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Gluten free teriyaki sauce brings authentic Japanese home cooking flavors to your meals with just four simple ingredients. This homemade sauce is rich, glossy, and perfectly balanced with sweet and savory notes. It’s way better than anything you’ll find in a store.
Use it as a marinade, glaze, or stir-fry sauce—the possibilities are endless. Pair it with dishes like Teriyaki Salmon Bites for a quick, flavorful meal that everyone will love!
Table of Contents
Ingredients
This gluten-free teriyaki sauce is made with just 4 simple ingredients, but the flavor is as authentic as it gets. It’s the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and umami flavors.
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- Gluten-free mirin: Adds sweetness and a mild tang for balanced flavor.
- Recommended: Ohsawa or Morita organic mirin.
- Gluten-free sake: Provides depth and richness to the sauce.
- Recommended: Morita premium cooking sake or premium Junmai (pure rice) sake.
- Gluten-free soy sauce: Delivers a savory umami flavor to tie everything together.
- Recommended: Kikkoman or tamari that has no wheat.
- Soy-free option: Big Tree Farm Coconut Aminos, or San-J and Sempio (made from fermented peas).
- Brown sugar: Balances the savory elements with a hint of sweetness.
Tip
Ratio of teriyaki sauce
To achieve authentic teriyaki sauce flavor, use this ratio: 2 parts mirin : 2 parts sake : 2 parts soy sauce : 1 part brown sugar (2:2:2:1).
How to make authentic teriyaki sauce gluten-free
This homemade teriyaki sauce takes just 15 minutes from start to finish. It’s so flavorful and easy to make, you’ll never want to buy a store-bought bottle again!
- Combine ingredients: Add all the ingredients to a small saucepan and stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Bring to a boil: Heat the pan over medium heat, uncovered, until the mixture comes to a gentle boil (about 4–5 minutes).
- Simmer and reduce: Lower the heat to medium-low and let the sauce simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Cool the sauce: Remove the pan from heat and let it cool. The sauce will thicken as it cools, becoming glossy with a slightly viscous texture.
- Store: Transfer the cooled sauce to a clean jar and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.
Tip
Getting the Perfect Consistency
Authentic Japanese teriyaki sauce is glossy and lightly thickened by simmering, not by adding starch like Western versions. If you prefer a much thicker sauce, you can simmer it 2–3 minutes longer or stir in a slurry made with 2 teaspoons of starch and 2 tablespoons of water.
Ways to use the sauce
This gf teriyaki sauce is super versatile. Once you taste it, you’ll see just how many dishes it can elevate—the possibilities are endless!
- As a marinade: Try it with Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon, tofu, or Teriyaki Salmon Bites for a flavorful and juicy finish.
- As a glaze: Use it to coat Tsukune (grilled chicken meatballs), Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken, or Chicken Yakitori Skewers. It’s also perfect for One Pot Salmon and Rice, adding a rich, savory shine to the dish.
- In stir-fries: Toss it with Paleo Chicken Yakisoba, Hibachi Vegetables, or Hibachi Noodles for quick, delicious meals packed with umami flavor.
Storage tips
Homemade gluten free teriyaki sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Let the sauce cool completely after cooking before transferring it to a clean, airtight jar. Once sealed, refrigerate to keep it fresh and flavorful!
ChihYu’s helpful notes
- Stick to the magic ratio: For authentic flavor, follow the 2:2:2:1 ratio of mirin, sake, soy sauce, and brown sugar. This balance is key to achieving the perfect sweet, savory, and umami taste.
- Simmer for glossiness: The sauce thickens naturally as it simmers. Keep an eye on it to avoid over-reducing, as the texture should be slightly viscous, not gloopy.
- Cool before storing: Let the sauce cool completely before transferring it to a clean jar. This step helps maintain freshness and prevents condensation from diluting the sauce.
- Versatility in use: This sauce works as a marinade, glaze, or stir-fry sauce. Whether it’s for salmon, chicken, or veggies, the possibilities are endless!
- Staying true to the authentic flavor: The real teriyaki sauce is savory, sweet, and light. The flavor is perfectly balanced and not overpowering, making it a versatile sauce. If you prefer to add a touch of fresh garlic or ginger, use very small amounts. Taste and adjust as needed.
More teriyaki sauce recipes
Teriyaki sauce is incredibly versatile. Whether you’re following a paleo lifestyle or cutting back on sugar, these recipes have you covered!
- Paleo Teriyaki Sauce: Made with coconut aminos and natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup. A healthier, grain-free option.
- Sugar-Free Teriyaki Sauce: Keto-friendly with monk fruit or stevia for sweetness. Perfect for low-carb diets.
Gluten free teriyaki sauce recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup gluten-free mirin
- ½ cup gluten-free sake
- ½ cup gluten-free soy sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil, stirring with a wooden spoon to dissolve the sugar. This should take about 4–5 minutes. Keep the pan uncovered to prevent it from boiling over.
- Once the sauce reaches a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer until it thickens slightly, about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure it doesn’t stick to the saucepan.
- When the sauce has thickened, remove the pan from the heat and set it aside to cool. Transfer the cooled sauce to a jar for storage. Note that the sauce will thicken further as it cools. The final consistency will be glossy and liquid-like—not overly thick or syrupy, but with a nice sheen and a slightly viscous texture.
Notes
- Flavor ratio: To achieve authentic teriyaki sauce flavor, use this ratio: 2 parts mirin : 2 parts sake : 2 parts soy sauce : 1 part brown sugar (2:2:2:1).
- Gluten-free product recommendations:
- For gf soy sauce: use Kikkoman or tamari
- For soy-free soy sauce: use Big tree farm coconut aminos. San-J and Sempio are made from fermented peas.
- For gf mirin: use Ohsawa or Morita organic mirin.
- For gf sake: use Morita premium cooking sake or buy premium Junmai sake.
- Authenticity: Traditional Japanese teriyaki sauce is slightly thickened by simmering the sauce down, creating a glossy texture.
- To thicken more, simmer for 2–3 extra minutes.
- Alternatively, mix 2 teaspoons of starch with 2 tablespoons of water and add it while simmering.
- Storage: Let the sauce cool completely before transferring it to a clean jar. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made this sauce with the teriyaki salmon bites and they are so delicious. What a great recipe. Highly recommend it.