The Best Ginger Sauce You’ll Ever Make – An Easy Recipe

A flavorful ginger sauce can take your homemade hibachi-style meals to new heights. Whether you’re stir-frying chicken, shrimp, and fresh veggies or cooking up a batch of fluffy rice, having a boldly zingy ginger condiment on hand is a must. For an authentic Japanese steakhouse experience right in your own kitchen, nothing beats a sauce mimicking the yum yum blend served at Benihana restaurants. With just a few basic pantry ingredients, you can easily copy their signature dipping rich yet bright profile by using ginger sauce recipe.

What is Ginger Sauce?

Originating from traditional Japanese cooking, the savory-sweet condiment known as ginger sauce has become a staple in Japanese steakhouse cuisine worldwide. As a signature part of interactive hibachi style dinners, the vibrantly zingy sauce is most commonly paired with proteins like grilled meat and seafood as well as sides like veggies and fried rice. Though its roots can be found in the home kitchens and restaurants of Japan, ginger sauce grew to immense popularity internationally courtesy of the Benihana Japanese Steakhouse chain.

As post-war travel to Japan exposed American patrons to the novel dining experience, Japanese steakhouse concepts rapidly expanded across the United States and were warmly embraced as part of evolving American restaurant culture. The interactive Hibachi cooking format and mouth watering multicourse meals served at venues like Benihana made a strong cultural imprint, helping establish Japanese-style teppanyaki as a modern, popular segment.

Above all, it was the restaurant’s requested Yum Yum Sauce — a signature, irresistible treat —that became most iconic. To this day, no hibachi -style meal is complete without that final perfect bite drizzled in the prominent, wildly popular condiment. Whether recreating the experience at home or dining out, ginger sauce remains a hallmark of the cuisine.

Why does this recipe work?

Creating the perfect ginger sauce isn’t difficult when you understand what makes the blend at Benihana restaurant so famous. The key is balancing different yet complementary flavors to brighten any hibachi meal.

At the heart of this ginger sauce recipe is freshly grated ginger, which adds a spicy pop while staying mild enough to top everything from shrimp to veggies to rice. Whisking it into a mixture of rice vinegar and soy sauce balances its heat with smooth Umami and tang. A dab of sesame oil and honey rounds out the flavors, resulting in a dressing that effortlessly pops into my head whenever I crave succulent hibachi steak.

The best part is how easy and healthy it is to whip up a batch at home. Within minutes you’ll be enjoying an unbelievably delicious homemade version of what made your famous visits to Benihana so perfect. Whether grilling your own protein and veggies or just making sides, having this ginger sauce on hand ensures every bite is irresistible. Hands-on kitchen experiences don’t get much better than this!

Ingredients:

Creating your own copycat Benihana ginger sauce recipe is easier than you may think. The key is sourcing fresh, high-quality ingredients that shine when blended together.

With just these incredible ingredients blended together , you can make your own batch of ginger sauce worthy of home praises! This vegan friendly dipping sauce recipe is a perfect accompaniment for shrimp, steak, fried rice, noodles, and hibachi grilled vegetables like veggie egg rolls.

Ingredient Notes:

The key ingredient in ginger sauce recipe, ginger, adds a delicious spicy zing to this recipe. For the best flavor, look for plump ginger roots with smooth skin. Fresh ginger has a pleasantly pronounced heat.

For soy sauce, either tamari or a low sodium version will work well. Regular soy sauce is also an option but may make the sauce too salty over time for some tastes. Tamari imparts a slightly richer, deeper profile.

Brown sugar balances the sauce, adding just the right amount of sweetness to complement the spicy notes from ginger. Light or dark brown sugar use in sauce depending on your preference.

Rice wine vinegar enhances the umami flavors but white vinegar can substitute if needed.

While traditionally made with diced onion, this ingredient is entirely optional. Omitting it results in a cleaner, lighter-flavored sauce better suited for delicate proteins and dipping.

Feel free to adjust the sauce to your liking – the amounts are flexible. Recommend starting with smaller amounts then adding more of select flavors to taste.

How to make Ginger Sauce?

Making a delicious ginger sauce at home is simple when you follow these easy steps. Begin by taking a fresh ginger root and slicing it into thin pieces using a very sharp knife. Cut the ginger into quarters lengthwise, then slice each quarter into thin matchsticks. Add the sliced fresh ginger, along with the diced onion and the freshly squeezed lemon juice and grated lemon zest, to a food processor or blender. Pulse the ingredients together until they are finely minced. Next, pour in the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and brown sugar. Continue processing until the mixture forms a smooth, thick paste.

Transfer the thickened mixture to a small bowl and whisk in a splash of water until you reach your desired consistency – a runny chunky paste or a silky-smooth paste. Once the sauce is to your liking, cover and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes so the ingredients can marry and the flavors fully develop. The sauce will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. Just give it a good stir before serving to recombine the remaining pieces.

How To Use Ginger Sauce?

While ginger sauce is perhaps best known as an accompaniment to hibachi-style cuisine, its versatile flavor profile allows for plenty of creative uses beyond Japanese steakhouses. For proteins like meat, poultry and seafood, it adds a lively zing when paired with grilling or baking methods. The ginger’s warm spices complement savory notes in steak, chicken and shrimp quite nicely.

The sauce suits for dipping appetizers and sides. Its balanced sweet-salty-tangy nature enhances the flavors in dumplings, spring rolls or pot stickers for a tasty snack. Over noodles or fried rice, a drizzle creates an instant sauce without overpowering subtle ingredients. Its brighter notes also work well with sushi rice and raw fish.

Beyond savory applications, ginger sauce has potential as an innovative salad dressing. A spoonful emulsified into olive oil creates an Asian-inspired vinaigrette to drizzle over salad greens and roasted vegetables. The ginger livens up mild lettuces without overwhelming their freshness. Chopped cucumbers, bell peppers or cabbage stand up well to its complementary heat level.

However you choose to incorporate ginger sauce into meals, don’t forget to shake the container vigorously before portioning it out. Stirring ensures the ingredients redisperse evenly after resting in the fridge. From weeknight stir fries to weekend grilling fare, adding just a teaspoon or two allows this condiment to enhance countless dishes in a flavorful yet subtle fashion.

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Surprising Benefits of Ginger Sauce

Beyond tasting incredible, regular inclusion of ginger sauce in your diet offers some unexpected health advantages. Despite its rich flavor, this Asian dressing is low in calories but high in nutrition when used as a condiment. Its addition to meals makes eating more fulfilling while supporting healthy weight.

Ginger is rich in antioxidants that help reduce cell damage and aging. It also boosts your immune defenses. With warming properties, ginger is gentle on the digestive system and helps soothe an upset stomach.

Notably, ginger contains an array of essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, B6, and potassium. It’s also low in sodium than to typical store-bought varieties. Studies show ginger can support heart health through its anti-inflammatory compounds. The spice may even enhance blood circulation throughout the body.

With so few simple ingredients, this versatile ginger sauce recipe delivers big health benefits as a regular addition to your weekly menu. Consider yourself among the growing number of people using ginger’s antioxidants to feel and look better inside and out!

Nutrition Facts(per serving)

Whether you’re storing a small amount leftover from your latest cooking endeavor or preserving a larger batch for the future, there are some simple guidelines to follow to maximize the lifespan and quality of this brightly seasoned condiment.

Storing Tips

• Store leftover ginger sauce in an airtight, sealed container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
• For longer storage, freeze prepared sauce in ice cube trays to make individual 1-2 tablespoon portions. Transfer frozen cubes to a freezer bag once solid and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• To use frozen sauce, thaw overnight in the fridge or for a few minutes on the counter until thawed and completely liquid again.
• You can also freeze large batches of prepared sauce in tightly sealed containers, leaving 1⁄2 inch of headspace for expansion. Freeze for up to 6 months and be sure to clearly label and date before storing.
• Always taste frozen sauce to check quality before using. If it tastes sour or off, discard it. In general, use within 3 months for peak freshness.

Recipe Notes:

1. For marinating chicken or steak slices, whisk about 1/2 cup of the sauce into a marinade.
2. A food processor makes quick work of grating the ginger and mincing the onion. Hand grating and chopping is also fine.
3. Store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
4. For extra flavoring, try 1 minced garlic clove, 1/4 tsp dried spices like ground red pepper flakes or cayenne, Or a dash Of hot sauce.
5. A 1-2 tablespoons Of brown sugar Or honey per 1/2 cup sauce can round out sweetness levels.
6. A tablespoon of sesame oil Or dark sesame oil adds depth in ginger sauce recipe.
7. You can serve the sauce chilled straight from the fridge or leave it at room temperature.
8. Freeze sauce in an ice cube tray then transfer cubes to a freezer storage bag and use within 3 months.
9. Taste and adjust seasonings before serving As flavors get better Over a day.
10. This delicious sauce easily considers adding to many Other dishes too!

Grab Hibachi Ginger Sauce Today!

For years fans of classic Benihana Japanese steakhouse cuisine have asked for the secret to their famous tableside sauce. While recipes abound online attempting to replicate the flavorful combination, none fully capture its dynamic flavor profile. That’s why we decided to concoct and test our very own version using only fresh, high-quality ingredients.

We pride ourselves on making dishes from scratch daily with care, love and intention. After perfecting this recipe over many iterations, we’re excited to finally share the magic. Our ginger sauce mimics the signature notes diners know and love without compromising on quality. Now you too can replicate a favorite steakhouse experience at home with ease using ingredients readily available.

Get the full ginger sauce recipe with the method on our website today. A batch kept in the fridge is the ultimate flavor boost for many meals. We hope you and fellow food enthusiasts will enjoy what we’ve concocted just as much as we do each time we prepare it. Dig in – you deserve a taste of hibachi bliss anytime!

Fresh Ginger vs Ground Ginger

In summary, for full flavor in ginger sauce recipe like this vibrant, the fresh ginger root is preferred for its oils, volatility and ability to truly showcase ginger’s signature notes. Ground ginger can be used if needed, but lacks the same vibrant qualities.

Can We Freeze Ginger?

Whether you want to take advantage of bulk ginger purchases or simply have leftover ginger from a recipe, freezing is a great way to preserve this fresh root for future use. Many cooks are surprised to discover that ginger can successfully be frozen and retain much of its pungent flavor profile.

 The key is properly preparing the ginger before placing it in the freezer. It is best to peel the ginger root and either finely grate it or very thinly cut the flesh into matchstick-like pieces. Once cut or grated, spread the ginger in an even single layer on a baking sheet or plate and flash freeze it for 10-15 minutes or until the pieces are solid but not frozen together.

Once frozen, transfer the ginger to an airtight freezer container or labeled freezer bag and it will maintain quality for up to 6 months in the freezer. For easy measured amounts, ginger can also be frozen in ice cube trays and then pop out into a freezer bag.

When ready to use the frozen ginger, there is no need to thaw as it will soften sufficiently during cooking. Freezing ginger root in this manner allows it to be conveniently used throughout the year, bringing that bold fresh ginger flavor to dishes even in the colder months.

Detecting Spoiled Ginger:

Whether fresh ginger root has gone bad is important to identify so you don’t consume spoiled produce. There are some indicators to identify whether ginger is no longer fresh. First, pay attention to the texture. Fresh ginger should feel firm when gently touching or squeezing the flesh. If it feels excessively mushy or soft, it is likely spoiled.

Color changes can also indicate aging, such as fading from the bright beige of fresh ginger to a duller shade over time. Tiny black or gray spots may appear as rot sets in as well.

Smell plays a big role in detecting rotten ginger. A fresh root will have a pleasantly aromatic odor, while spoiled ginger may give off an unpleasant odor that becomes sharper and more chemical-like rather than appetizing.

Visual signs of grayish or blackened areas on the ginger can also indicate it is past its prime. Storage conditions affect how long ginger keeps as well. Ginger stored too long in the fridge may show signs of spoilage sooner than expected.

If there are any doubts about the quality based on appearance, texture or odor tests, it is best to discard ginger roots and start with a fresh new one for cooking. Following good storage guidelines helps keep ginger fresh for enjoying its bold flavor profile.

Conclusion

The ginger sauce recipe at Benihana restaurants has become an iconic flavor, balancing tantalizing tastes. With simple ingredients simmered together, home chefs can delight in this signature blend’s complex depth, recreating the rich savor of teppan dining with ease.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ’s)

What is ginger sauce made of?

Ginger sauce is typically made with freshly grated ginger, rice vinegar or white vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, sugar or honey, and water. Fresh ginger gives it a bold flavor while the other ingredients provide balance and depth of flavor.

What are the 2 sauces at hibachi?

The two signature sauces often served tableside at hibachi restaurants are ginger sauce and teriyaki sauce. Ginger sauce is more peppery and pairs well with meats while teriyaki sauce is sweeter and commonly used for vegetables.

What is similar to ginger sauce?

While ginger sauce has a very distinctive flavor, other Asian dipping sauces with common ingredients like miso sauce, sriracha aioli or Thai sweet chili sauce have components that are comparable. Ginger sauce also resembles the bright, spicy kick of Chinese plum sauce.

What is the brown sauce served at hibachi restaurants?

The rich, brown “hibachi” sauce commonly drizzled onto grilled meats and rice at hibachi restaurants is similar to demi-glace or beef gravy. It’s full of umami flavors from reduced meat juices, soy sauce, sugar and sake or mirin rice wine.

Can I use ground ginger instead of fresh ginger?

Ground ginger can work in a pinch but won’t have the same bright complexity and spice levels as fresh ginger. It lacks essential oils that bring out fresh ginger’s flavor. For best results in a sauce, look for fresh ginger if possible.

Can I use ginger paste instead of fresh ginger?

Yes, ginger paste is a suitable substitute for freshly grated ginger in most recipes. It provides a similar potent ginger essence without extra prep work. Start with the same amount as fresh ginger and adjust the heat level to taste.

What is an iconic ginger sauce recipe?

The teppanyaki restaurants known as Benihana are renowned for bold culinary presentations along with their signature ginger-soy blend. Served tableside, the quick sauce captures the balance of flavors in Asian cuisine. To recreate it, finely grate 1/2 inch ginger and mince 1 garlic clove. In a saucepan, simmer rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil and honey with the aromatics for 10 minutes until ginger is very soft. Cooling yields a richly complex condiment perfect for grilled meats and veggies.

What do Asians use ginger for?

Beyond cooking, ginger is commonly used in Traditional Asian Medicine to aid digestion, reduce nausea, and soothe sore throats/colds. It adds warmth as well as zing to dishes from soups to marinades across Asian cuisines like Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Korean cooking.

What is Yum Yum sauce made of?

Sweet yet tangy, Yum Yum sauce is a creamy blend of mayonnaise, ketchup or tomato sauce, vinegar, sugar and sometimes shredded cabbage or carrots. It gets its name from its addictively “yum” flavor profile and is commonly served with popcorn shrimp or chicken strips.

What is the difference between tamari and soy sauce?

While tamari and soy sauce are both products of fermentation, there are a few key differences. Tamari tends to have a richer, smoother taste than soy sauce as it has a thicker, more syrupy texture from a higher concentration of soy. Soy sauce has a slightly lighter, more acidic flavor and thin, easy pourable consistency. The sodium levels are also usually higher in soy sauce. Despite the differences, we often use them interchangeably in recipes.

The Best Ginger Sauce You’ll Ever Make – An Easy Recipe

Recipe by The Saucy CanvasCourse: Classic SaucesCuisine: Asian, Japanese

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

5

minutes

Calories

12

kcal

Total time

10

minutes

Light up meals with this quick and easy homemade ginger sauce! Just blend the ingredients for a tangy condiment perfect for tossing with noodles or serving alongside chicken and veggies. Full of flavor but low in calories, everyone will love this versatile sauce.

Ingredients

• 1 yellow onion chopped

• 2 tbsp fresh ginger grated

• 1/4 cup lemon juice freshly squeezed

• 3/4 cup soy sauce

• 1/2 cup white vinegar

• 2 teaspoon brown sugar(optional)

Directions

• Place everything in a blender and blend until smooth.
• Store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
• Ready to serve with vegetables, shrimps, steak, salad etc.