Just as the name suggests, Yum Yum Sauce is really a yummy sauce. It is a famous Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse Sauce and if you have been to any hibachi grill house in the US, you must have seen and had this pink sauce. The homemade version of this sauce is not only easy to make, but it is also delicious too and takes 5 minutes flat to make.
Just like my other homemade sauces like Pineapple Sauce, Harissa Sauce, or Szechuan Sauce, this has also become a favorite.
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About This Recipe
Yum Yum Sauce is a famous Japanese steakhouse sauce, which is most famous in the US and Canada. It is a condiment at Japanese steakhouses, that is typically served along with seafood especially prawns.
It is not a traditional sauce and is not common in Japan though.
Yum Yum Sauce is a creamy sauce that has all the three flavors, Sweet, Tangy, and Spicy at one place, which makes it even more delicious.
Japanese Mayonnaise is the main ingredient here which is used in this steakhouse, but even the regular mayo just works fine in this recipe.
It is also called Sakura sauce, seafood sauce, or shrimp sauce and is a blend of creamy sweet and sour – basically a savory dip that makes everything yummy.
It is addictive and you won’t be able to stop yourself. You will definitely add it to anything and everything that you are eating.
Why make it at home, you may ask, when it’s available in the market? When we make it at home, we tend to use high quality and fresh ingredients. Also, we know what exactly goes into the making of this sauce.
Other than this it is inexpensive and with the price of a store-bought sauce, you can prepare much more at home. Therefore, the homemade version is always better.
This Yum Yum Sauce is,
- Gluten-Free
- Keto-Friendly
- Addictive
- Easy to make
- Made from scratch
- Just like your Hibachi restaurant
Origin
Although this sauce is a famous Japanese Steakhouse sauce, it didn’t originate in Japan.
It was originated in the West and is famous in the US and Canada. You may not find it in restaurants in Japan. However, it’s an important dip in all the Japanese restaurants in the US.
Ingredients
The ingredients to make this sauce are basic.
It is made of mayonnaise, tomato paste, paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, butter, sugar, water, and salt to taste.
Mayonnaise: Use plain mayonnaise to make this sauce. It will help you get the flavor you want and not overpower any other flavor.
It is better if you can use a store-bought mayo instead of homemade to get the best result.
Use a full-fat mayonnaise if you want for the best flavor. You can use eggless mayonnaise to make an eggless version.
Tomato Paste: Tomato paste is an important ingredient of this sauce. It adds the tartness to the sauce that you need.
It is the tomato paste that renders the beautiful pink color to this sauce. Try to use tomato paste for the best results and not replace it with ketchup.
Paprika: Paprika adds to the pink color of the sauce. It also adds a beautiful flavor to the sauce.
Don’t skip using it. It is one of the most important ingredients. You can choose either plain or smoked paprika.
Cayenne: To make your sauce a little spicy and hot, add cayenne. It will bring a balance to the otherwise creamy and sweet sauce.
You can add as much depending on how much heat you want to add to the sauce.
Butter: Butter is the most important ingredient. You can’t skip it if you want the authentic yum yum sauce.
Make sure your butter is soft and melted before you mix it, but it shouldn’t be hot. If it is firm and solid, you will have butter chunks in your sauce.
Sugar: You will need to use a little sugar as tomato paste is tart and will make your sauce tart otherwise. Add a little sugar to bring a balance.
I sometimes add a little rice vinegar and sake to my sauce for that unique Asian flavor but you can totally choose to skip them.
Step by Step Recipe
Whisk the mayonnaise until it is smooth and creamy.
Add all the remaining ingredients and whisk well.
Refrigerate in an airtight container.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t have tomato paste available, you can use ketchup instead. It might not fetch you the best result but it is close enough.
When you are using ketchup, remember not to use sugar, as ketchup has sugar already.
You can use Vegan Mayo instead of Mayo and Coconut Oil instead of Butter to make a vegan version of the same.
Serving Suggestions
It is versatile sauce and pairs well with many things.
You can serve this sauce with steamed shrimps, fried rice, vegetables, potato wedges, fish fingers, baked potatoes, stir-fries, and chicken.
You can even use it with your steaks, wraps, and sandwiches. Serve it with your starters and with mains.
It pairs well with any grilled stuff. Be it chicken, beef, pork shrimp or veggies, just serve this sauce along.
You can also serve it on the side with Your Sushi and Rice Balls or use a dip for dim-sums, wontons, and potstickers.
It can be slathered on hamburgers and hot dogs too.
You can thin it a bit with warm water and use it as a salad dressing.
Storage Suggestions
It is so easy to make this sauce that you actually don’t need to store it. You can make it fresh anytime you want.
If you still need to make it ahead, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
If you won’t refrigerate it, it will go bad and spoil. Refrigerate it for up to a week in an airtight container.
It doesn’t freeze well, so just refrigerate it.
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Recipe Card
Yum Yum Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp Tomato Paste
- 1 tsp Paprika
- ¼ tsp Cayenne
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder
- ½ tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tbsp Butter (Melted)
- 1 tsp Sugar
- ¼ cup Water
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Whisk the mayonnaise until it is smooth and creamy.
- Add all the remaining ingredients and whisk well.
- Refrigerate in an airtight container.
