Teriyaki sauce: A sweet, savoury sensation gaining traction

This is one of the most popular Japanese sauces. Its fame extends far beyond the Land of the Rising Sun. Canadians have also begun to appreciate it. Although it is based on soy sauce, it contains several other important additions. Although all the ingredients come from Asian cuisine, it can be prepared at home and easily bought in stores. However, sometimes you have to be careful with it.

Teriyaki sauce has a unique, sweet and salty taste. It is based on soy sauce, but sweet and distinctive additions such as honey or maple syrup, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil are also important. Original recipes also include rice wine.

Teriyaki sauce is a great addition to sushi. Its global popularity began with this dish. It is a universal addition because it can be used hot or cold, for marinating, and also for frying. It goes well with crispy spring rolls, baked or grilled meats, but also fish. A classic combination is grilled salmon fillet with teriyaki sauce. However, the marinade works especially well for poultry. The sauce is also great for frying vegetables such as broccoli, peppers, carrots, or mushrooms. It gives them a unique, caramelized aroma.

Do you like teriyaki sauce? No wonder it is an example of umami flavour, which makes food even more enjoyable. Soy sauce, the main ingredient of this Asian delicacy, is rich in monosodium glutamate, a natural umami flavour enhancer. Therefore, it is easy to overuse the sauce; sometimes, you must be careful about that. Soy sauce is very high in sodium, which can be problematic for people with high blood pressure or kidney problems. Therefore, it is better to opt for reduced-sodium soy sauce.

The second problem is sugar, which can raise blood glucose levels. People with diabetes should be particularly careful about the amount of teriyaki sauce they consume. Due to the significant number of calories, it is also not recommended for a weight-loss diet. In these cases, it is much better to prepare this sauce yourself, and it is best to serve it with salmon.

Ingredients:

                
• 2 salmon fillets
• 4 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 1.5 tablespoons of maple syrup or 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of lime juice
• 2 teaspoons of grated ginger
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely grated
• half a teaspoon of grated orange zest
• 1 teaspoon of sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons of sesame seeds

Preparation:

1. Wash the salmon, remove the skin, and pat dry.
2. Prepare a marinade from the given ingredients (excluding sesame seeds and sesame oil). Combine them all and mix thoroughly.
3. Then, rub each fillet with a tablespoon of the marinade and refrigerate for an hour.
4. Preheat the oven to 220°C. Bake the fillets for about 15 minutes, sprinkling them with sesame seeds just before the end.
5. Heat the remaining sauce, and add sesame oil.
6. Pour the sauce over the baked salmon. You can serve the prepared salmon with rice. It also pairs well with vegetables, such as spinach or green beans.