This easy tempura dipping sauce recipe is made without Dashi and ready in about 5 minutes.

Want to Save This Recipe?

Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

Save Recipe

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from A Weekend Cook®.

bowl of tempura dipping sauce

Tempura Sauce

a simple classic tempura dipping sauce
4.60 from 54 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Condiments
Cuisine: Japanese
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes
Servings: 16 tablespoons
Calories: 3kcal
Author:Sydney Dawes

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce
  • ¼ cup Sweet Rice Wine
  • Squeeze of Lemon Juice
  • Pinch of Sugar
  • cup water

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Stirring frequently bring the mixture to a boil.
  • Remove from stove and serve warm.

Notes

 
  • While not traditionally used, I add a small amount of sugar to balance out the salty flavor of the soy sauce. Start with a small amount, taste, and adjust as necessary.
  • After combining your ingredients in a saucepan, bring them to a simmer over medium heat. You want the flavors to meld together, but boiling the sauce can result in an overly strong flavor.
  • Tempura dipping sauce is typically served at room temperature or slightly warm, not hot. This helps preserve the delicate flavor of the tempura.
BONUS TIP: This is optional, but grating some daikon radish into the sauce can add an extra layer of flavor and texture. You can also add some finely chopped green onions for additional flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 3kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.2g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.01g | Saturated Fat: 0.001g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.002g | Sodium: 144mg | Fiber: 0.03g | Sugar: 0.02g
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @AWeekendCook or tag #aweekendcook!

Ingredients

Soy Sauce – Low sodium is the way to go. Any good soy sauce will do.

Sweet Rice Cooking wine – Also known as Mirin this is a sweet rice wine used in Japanese cooking. You can find sweet rice wine in the supermarket, in the International section. Kikkoman is pretty easy to find and it’s inexpensive.

A squeeze of Lemon Juice and a pinch of Sugar

Fun Food Fact: The Kikkoman iconic bottle was designed in 1961 by Kenji Ekuan

Homemade Tempura Sauce Recipe Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Stirring frequently bring the mixture to a boil. Remove from stove and serve warm. My small butter warmer from “Made in” is perfect for cooking up these small-batch sauces.

That’s all there is to it!

How to Store Tempura sauce?

Store in a covered container in the fridge for 4-5 days. I have a ton of jelly jars with lids that I use to store sauces and dips.

How else to use tempura sauce?

This dipping sauce isn’t just for Tempura; here are a few ideas:

  • Drizzle over pan-fried salmon
  • Use as a glaze for roasted vegetables
  • California Roll or Sushi if you like.
  • Sprinkle over steamed rice and vegetables
homemade tempura dipping sauce in bowls on white textured board.

More easy small batch condiment recipes

Did you make this recipe? I would love it if you left a comment or review! Be sure to sign up for the email list and follow “A Weekend Cook” on Pinterest and my Facebook page.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




One Comment

  1. 5 stars
    I was out of dashi so I made this recipe. I think I ended up using close to 1 t of sugar. I know tempura sauce should be thin but I added a small amount of cornstarch slurry to help it stick to the tempura. It is very good.