Yum Yum sauce recipe is a quick and easy to make. This dipping sauce tastes better than your favorite Japanese steakhouse sauce. You are going to love this savory, tangy and sweet sauce on steak, seafood or hibachi fried rice.
If you like Japanese-inspired dishes, you should try shrimp tempura and shrimp tempura roll with this delicious sauce.
What is Yum Yum Sauce
Yum Yum sauce is a Japanese steak house mayo-based dipping sauce. Nowadays it is very popular around the world and people use it on everything from steaks to salads. It is tangy, sweet and pale pink in color. This sauce can be thick or thin, depending on what you will be using it for. It is an extremely versatile sauce and goes well on fish, shrimp, chicken dishes like Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken and vegetables.
what is yum yum sauce made of
Yum yum sauce is made of mayonnaise (the key ingredient here), ketchup, garlic, paprika, rice vinegar, sugar and water). Nothing fancy! You can experiment with ratios to get the right consistency and the flavor. I like to add cayenne pepper as well. You can leave it out and substitute ketchup with tomato paste if you wish.
How to make Yum Yum sauce
You will need simple ingredients to make this delicious dipping sauce.
- Mayonnaise: It is the main ingredient that adds the creaminess to the sauce.
- Granulated sugar: Feel free to adjust the amount to your liking.
- Ketchup: I prefer to use ketchup, but tomato paste will work as well.
- Paprika: Use sweet not smoky paprika.
- Rice vinegar: It is another key ingredient that adds that pungent taste. It is similar to apple cider vinegar. So if you don’t have rice vinegar on hand, use it.
- Cayenne pepper: It is an optional ingredient, feel free to leave it out.
- Garlic powder: It helps to enhance the flavor.
- Water: You will need 3-4 tablespoons to thin the sauce to the desired consistency. I recommend to start with 1 tablespoon and add more if needed.
To make it, whisk together all the ingredients in a jar or bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 30-40 minutes before serving.
How to make yum yum sauce without mayo
You can use Greek yogurt which is tangy and creamy like mayo. It is a great option to save calories and add a gram of protein. For vegan yum yum sauce, use vegan mayo or vegan yogurt.
How to use yum yum sauce
Yum yum sauce is sweet and savory, pairs really well with almost everything.
- Fried rice: Drizzle over fried rice, it is absolutely delicious. Try it with Hibachi fried rice, Tofu Fried Rice, Chicken Fried Rice or Shrimp Fried Rice.
- Shrimp: It is great as a dipping sauce for shrimp tempura or shrimp cakes. Actually it will be fantastic on any seafood.
- Salads: Try to use it as a dressing for potato salad. It is so good.
- Veggies: It is also so amazing for veggies like roasted cauliflower, steamed broccoli or oven roasted potatoes.
- Potstickers: It is very scrumptious with chicken potstickers. Drizzle them to brighten everything up or use as a dipping sauce.
How to store the sauce
You need to refrigerate the sauce for 30-40 minutes before serving. Keep the leftovers in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator. It will last for 4-5 days.
Need More Asian-inspired recipes? Try these!!
Yum Yum Sauce Video
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Yum Yum Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- Mayonnaise- 1 cup
- Granulated sugar-1 tablespoon
- Ketchup or tomato paste-1 tablespoon
- Paprika-1 teaspoon
- Rice vinegar-2 tablespoons
- Cayenne pepper-½ teaspoon
- Garlic powder-2 teaspoons
- Water-2-3 tablespoons or as needed
Instructions
- In a jar or bowl whisk all the ingredients until smooth. Adjust the amount of water to achieve the desired consistency. I recommend to start with 1 tablespoon.
- Cover and refrigerate for 30-40 minutes before serving.
- Store the sauce in an airtight jar for up to 4-5 days.
Nutrition
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Sauces and Dips
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Jane says
Made it today and it was so delicious!Thank you!
chefjar says
Thank you, Jane!
Nikki says
Omg!When I tasted the sauce it was so authentic to my favorite Japanese restaurant! Thanks for sharing !
chefjar says
Thank you, Nikki!))
Emma says
It is absolutely perfect! Tastes just like the sauce at my favorite sushi restaurant! Thank you, Tati!
chefjar says
Thank you so much, Emma!))
Danielle says
This is the most authentic recipe I’ve found. It tastes like the sauce at the Japanese Steakhouse! So so good!
chefjar says
Thank you so much for your kind words, Danielle! This yum yum sauce is best!
Kerri says
This sauce is so good on everything!A new staple at our house! Thanks for sharing!
chefjar says
Thank you so much, Kerri! I am so glad you liked it)))
Sandra says
This is my daughter's favorite dip for years. If I let her, she would eat it straight from the jar. Thank you for posting.
chefjar says
Hi Sandra! Thank you for your lovely comment! I’m so happy to hear this dip has been your daughter’s favorite for years. That’s such a sweet compliment! 😊