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Tentsuyu Dipping Sauce Recipe

Tentsuyu Dipping Sauce Recipe

Livy Lane
Tentsuyu dipping sauce is a simple Japanese sauce with a rich, savory taste. This Tentsuyu dipping sauce recipe combines soy sauce, mirin and dashi for a balanced flavor.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Sauce
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 4
Calories 38 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup dashi stock
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup mirin
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 small piece kombu optional
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger optional
  • 1 teaspoon grated daikon optional, for serving
  • 1 teaspoon sliced green onion optional, for serving

Instructions
 

Prepare the Dashi

  • Pour the dashi stock into a small saucepan. If using kombu, add it now. Let the stock sit for a few minutes before heating it gently.

Add the Soy Sauce

  • Pour the soy sauce into the saucepan with the dashi. Stir gently with a wooden spoon. Soy sauce gives the sauce its deep color and savory flavor.

Add the Mirin

  • Add the mirin and sugar to the saucepan. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely. The mirin adds gentle sweetness and gives the sauce a smooth and balanced taste.

Heat the Sauce

  • Warm the mixture over medium-low heat. Bring it close to a gentle simmer. Do not boil it hard, because strong heat can change the delicate flavor.

Remove the Kombu

  • If you used kombu, remove it before the sauce reaches a strong boil. This keeps the stock clean and prevents an overly strong seaweed taste.

Strain the Sauce

  • Pour the warm sauce through a fine-mesh strainer if needed. This removes small pieces and gives you a smooth dipping sauce.

Add Optional Flavor

  • For extra freshness, add a little grated ginger. You can also serve grated daikon and green onion separately for guests to mix into their bowls.

Serve the Tentsuyu

  • Serve the sauce warm with freshly cooked tempura. You can also chill it for cold noodles. Adjust the strength with a little extra dashi when needed.

Notes

  • Use good-quality dashi for the best flavor.
  • Choose Japanese soy sauce when available.
  • Keep the heat gentle while warming the sauce.
  • Taste before adding extra sugar.
  • Add more dashi for a lighter dipping sauce.
  • Add more soy sauce for a stronger flavor.
  • Serve with grated daikon for a fresh, slightly sharp taste.
  • Add ginger for extra warmth and freshness.
  • Chill the sauce before serving with cold noodles.
  • Make a larger batch for quick meals during the week.
  • Use vegetable dashi for a plant-based version.
  • Replace regular soy sauce with reduced-sodium soy sauce if preferred.
Keyword Tentsuyu Dipping Sauce Recipe