This easy Ponzu Sauce Recipe combines soy sauce, fresh citrus, mirin, rice vinegar, and sesame for a bright, savory Japanese-inspired sauce in 5 minutes!
Some sauces have a way of waking up everything they touch-ponzu is one of them. Salty, citrusy, slightly sweet, and savory, this easy Ponzu Sauce Recipe comes together in about 5 minutes and instantly brightens whatever you spoon it over.
Ponzu sauce tastes bright, citrusy, salty, and savory, with plenty of umami from the soy sauce and a subtle sweetness from mirin. This version also has a hint of toasted sesame and chile, giving it a little extra depth.
Made with soy sauce, fresh orange juice or yuzu, mirin, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and a touch of chile, it’s wonderfully versatile. Drizzle it over seared fish, rice bowls, vegetables, noodles, or dumplings, or use it as a dipping sauce or marinade. I love keeping a jar in the fridge for those nights when dinner needs a quick spark of flavor.
What is Ponzu Sauce?
Ponzu is a classic Japanese citrus-based condiment with a bright, tangy, savory flavor. It's often combined with soy sauce to make ponzu shoyu, the version many of us know simply as ponzu sauce. Think of it as a light, citrusy, umami-rich dressing that instantly wakes up fish, vegetables, rice bowls, and more.
What is Ponzu Sauce used for?
Ponzu is incredibly versatile. Use it as a dipping sauce, dressing, marinade, or finishing sauce. Drizzle it over poke bowls, grilled or raw fish, rice, noodles, steamed or roasted vegetables, or salads. It's also delicious with dumplings, tofu, and sushi.
We’ve been using this on our Poke bowls in this Avocado Salad , with these Sushi Burritos, and most recently with this Grilled Bok Choy.
Ponzu Sauce Recipe Ingredients
- Fresh citrus juice: Orange juice gives the sauce a fresh, bright sweetness; use yuzu for a more traditional citrus flavor.
- Mirin: Adds a delicate sweetness that balances the salty soy and tart citrus. In a pinch, substitute honey mixed with a little water.
- Rice vinegar: Adds a clean, tangy acidity and extra brightness.
- Sesame oil: Gives this version a rich, nutty depth; a little goes a long way.
- Toasted sesame seeds: Add subtle nuttiness and texture.
- Chili flakes: Just a pinch adds a gentle touch of heat.
How to make Ponzu Sauce Recipe!
- Whisk. Place all ingredients in a small bowl, and whisk.
- Season to taste. Taste and adjust sweetness (more mirin) or citrus juice to your taste. Some citrus, like oranges, will be sweeter than yuzu, so adjust accordingly.
How to use Ponzu
- Use it as a dressing for cold noodles or salads like this Avocado Salad
- Drizzle it over grilled veggies, like this Grilled Bok Choy!
- Use it as a dipping sauce for Sushi or Sushi Burritos
- Spoon it over Poke Bowls
- Use it as a marinade for grilled chicken or shrimp- similar to this
Storing Homemade Ponzu Sauce
Store in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 4 days (if using fresh juice) or up to 2 weeks (if using bottled citrus juice). You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
More dressings you'll love!
Enjoy the simple Ponzu Recipe and let us know how you like it in the comments below!
xoxo
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Ponzu Sauce Recipe
- Prep Time: 10
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: ½ cup 1x
- Category: Condiment, dressing, marinades, sauce
- Method: stirred
- Cuisine: Amerian, Japanese
- Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Description
This easy Ponzu Sauce Recipe combines soy sauce, fresh citrus, mirin, rice vinegar, and sesame for a bright, savory Japanese-inspired sauce in 5 minutes!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce, or GF Liquid aminos
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice (or yuzu)
- 2 tablespoons Mirin (or use 2 teaspoons honey and 1 tablespoon water)
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
- pinch chili flakes
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk.Â
- Taste and adjust sweetness (more mirin) or citrus juice to your taste.  Some citrus fruits, like oranges, will be sweeter than yuzu, so adjust accordingly.
Notes
Store in a sealed jar for up to 4 days in the fridge (if using fresh juice), or 2 weeks if using bottled juice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 29
- Sugar: 2.2 g
- Sodium: 130.9 mg
- Fat: 1.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 2.7 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Forgot to rate!
Thanks for circling back and rating it Debbie!
Loved it! Used on your poke bowl recipe and had enough left over to use on a rice dish the next day!
Thanks so much Debbie- it such a versatile sauce I usually make a double batch. 😉
Awesome! Love that it is vegan. We used this as a dipping sauce for tempura morels and it was fantastic.
Thanks and glad you enjoyed!
Perfectly balanced and indispensable- so good on almost everything!
This was great! I added a little dash of yuzu along with the fresh squeezed orange juice. It’s amazing how you could really taste the brightness of it, even with such a small amount. Thanks for the recipe!
Awesome Susan! Glad you enjoyed it!