Like there are many variations of sushi, there are also different types of sauces.
Sushi is a delicious meal, not only because of the sushi itself but also because of the sauces that it can be served with. As there are many variations of sushi, there are just as many sauces.
One thing to keep in mind: you should never over-sauce your sushi, as to take away from its original flavor and texture. (And yes, there is such a thing as over-saucing your sushi!) The proper dipping method will add flavor without overwhelming the sushi. Typically, you will want to dip just the fish, not the rice, into your sauce. With that in mind, let's take a look at some fun sushi sauce recipes to spice up your next sushi night!
Eel Sauce
We are starting off with Eel sauce! This sauce is used on grilled eel, as well as sushi rolls. It requires mirin, soy sauce, and sugar. The mix of these ingredients creates a balance, as the sweetness of the sugar and acidity of the mirin work together. Mirin, if you didn't know, is a sweet Japanese wine. The soy sauce brings the umami flavor, which means it's savory. Now that we have a basic understanding of the flavor profile, let's get into the recipe! The whole process should take about 20 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup mirin
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan, and whisk well.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once it has reached a boil, reduce the heat and simmer gently until the volume of the sauce has reduced to about 3/4 cup of sauce in the pan.
- Take the sauce off of the heat and let cool to room temperature.
- Transfer the sauce to the fridge to chill until you want to use it.
Dynamite Sauce
While many people cringe at the thought of mayo, it's an important base for tons of delicious sauces. One of these sauces is dynamite sauce. Combining mayonnaise and sriracha, dynamite sauce is the perfect creamy and spicy combination. This is the most simple recipe we are looking at today, as no cooking is required, and it comes together within minutes. With this sauce, you can tweak the spice level to your liking based on how much sriracha you decide to add.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of mayo
- 2 tbsp of sriracha
Instructions:
- Whisk together ingredients thoroughly until well combined.
- Taste test and add sriracha to taste if needed.
- Chill the sauce until you are ready to eat.
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce is originally from Chinese cuisine but is often used on sushi, among other dishes. It serves as the base for other recipes as well, as we saw earlier in the eel sauce. But how is soy sauce made? I thought it would be fun to give ourselves a challenge, as this one requires a little more time and effort than the other sauces we've looked at so far. Be patient here. Expect to spend about 2 hours of actual work time on this. You will also have to wait an even longer period of time for it to fully come together, which can take up to 6 months! Let's take a look.
Ingredients:
- 16 oz organic, high-quality soybeans
- 24 tbsp (or 12 oz) all-purpose flour
- 16 tbsp salt
- 1 gallon freshwater
Instructions:
- If the soybeans are not yet cooked, you will need to cook them. Pour 3 cups of the freshwater into a pot and add your beans. Bring this to a boil. Reduce the pot to a simmer once it has come to a boil. Cook for 1.5 hours, or until the soybeans are tender and partly removed from their pods.
- Add soybeans to a food processor and blend them into a paste. Pour into a bowl and combine with flour.
- Place the mixture on a clean surface and form into a log. Cut into 1/4-inch thick slices.
- Arrange your slices on a wet paper towel and cover with a second wet paper towel. Cover with cling wrap and put away somewhere in the kitchen. Let this sit for 7 days, until your discs are covered in mold.
- Unwrap discs and place them on a baking sheet so they are not touching. Allow to dry in direct sunlight until brown. This is called the koji.
- Pour in water and salt and stir to combine. Add the discs and cover. You will want your discs to dissolve in the water, which can take up to 6 months. Stir this mixture daily.
- Once the slices have finally dissolved, strain the mixture with a cheesecloth. Your soy sauce is ready at last!
There's a good variety of options when considering sushi sauces, and many are pretty straightforward to DIY. It's always fun to try new things and recreate some of your favorite recipes at home!
Of course, we still love to dine out. (That's where a lot of my money goes). If you are looking to dine out somewhere that's serving up healthy, Asian Hawaiin fast-casual, look no further than Motomaki. Whether you're looking for a sushi burrito or a poke bowl, they have a tasty and affordable dish for you!
What's your favorite sushi sauce? Let us know in the comments!