Buy me a Cup of AlohaBuy me a Cup of Aloha

Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
and Gluten Free Soy Sauce

A teriyaki sauce recipe always involves the use of shoyu or soy sauce. And tamari soy sauce can be used to make a gluten free teriyaki recipe.

Gluten free soy sauce does not contain any wheat and is safe for people with Celiac disease or a gluten intolerance.  "Real" tamari soy sauce is not only gluten free, but it's a darker and richer tasting gluten free soy sauce.

And a great tasting teriyaki recipe should always include a great tasting soy sauce which has been "naturally" brewed or fermented.

Gluten Free Soy Sauce

There are a few brands of gluten free soy sauce or tamari on the market. These brands carry a gluten free tamari soy sauce:

  • San-J
  • Eden Foods
  • Kikkoman

Tamari Soy Sauce

soy sauce

Tamari soy sauce is usually produced without wheat, but when Japanese soy sauce was first introduced to the market place it was sold as tamari even though it contained wheat.

"True" tamari is a wheat and gluten free soy sauce. However, other shoyu or soy sauce is not gluten free and is usually fermented with wheat.

Highly sensitive individuals who need a gluten free soy sauce should only use one that is advertised as "gluten free" and the list of ingredients should not include wheat.  And because a lot of people need to also lower their salt intake - soy sauce is very salty!  If you do a search, you will be able to find a naturally brewed organic low-sodium soy sauce and maybe even an organic low-sodium gluten free soy sauce.

Easy Chicken Teriyaki Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. Chicken Breasts or Thighs (boneless & skinless)
  • Black Pepper (to taste)
  • Scallions or Green Onions for Garnish
  • Pre-made Teriyaki Sauce (1/4 cup organic honey, 3/4 cup low sodium soy sauce, & 1 1/4 tsp. minced ginger - simmered for 5 minutes)

When you make your own teriyaki sauce recipe, you can alter the ingredients to suit your own needs.

For example, you can use a low-sodium soy sauce or water down a gluten free soy sauce.

And you can also use your preferred choice of sweeteners.

Natural or Chemical Soy Sauce?

There are two processes to make soy sauce - a chemical way or a natural fermentation way.

Naturally fermented or brewed soy sauce is much better tasting and much much safer than the soy sauce made chemically.

And the cost of the chemically produced soy sauce is much cheaper, so be very careful when dining out at a sushi bar or restaurant that cooks with soy sauce.

Instructions:

  1. If using chicken breasts - pound until 1/2 inch thick and cut chicken breasts in half - season with pepper.
  2. Heat 4 tsp. of a healthy cooking oil in a large frying pan on med-high heat.
  3. Add the chicken breasts or thighs to the hot pan and cook for about 3 minutes or until browned.
  4. Then flip chicken over to cook the other side for another 3 minutes or until browned.
  5. Reduce pan to medium heat and add in some teriyaki sauce. 
  6. Turn the chicken in the teriyaki sauce for about 3 minutes to finish cooking and to flavor the chicken.
  7. Take the chicken out of the pan and reduce teriyaki sauce recipe for about 3 more minutes.
  8. Slice the chicken and pour reduced teriyaki sauce over the chicken.
  9. Top teriyaki chicken with scallions or green onions.

Teriyaki Sauce Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup Filtered Water
  • 3/4 cup Organic Tamari or Low Sodium Soy Sauce (traditionally fermented)
  • 2 Tbsp. Organic Raw Brown Sugar (or to taste)
  • 1 Clove Garlic (pressed)
  • Freshly Grated Ginger (to taste)
  • 2 Tbsp. of Organic Raw Honey (or to taste)

Instructions:

  1. Cook to marry the flavors and reduce teriyaki sauce for a few minutes.

Other ingredients like sesame seeds and green onions are also used to flavor a teriyaki sauce.

Mirin is considered another key ingredient in teriyaki sauce recipes - which is a sweet cooking wine from Japan.  And as far as sweeteners go - you can use brown sugar, raw honey, molasses, or whatever sweetener you prefer.

Uses for a Teriyaki Sauce Recipe

You can add teriyaki sauce to fish, shrimp, tofu, chicken, or any protein you want to flavor using this rich tasting Japanese sauce.

Making a stir fry with teriyaki sauce really adds a nice flavor and really helps to kick up what might have otherwise been a very boring meal.

You can find pre-made teriyaki sauce at most grocery stores especially in the Asian section, but it's so easy to just make your own teriyaki recipe.  And this way, you know what you are eating!

Go to Sukiyaki Recipe

Return to Japanese Food Recipes