Ginger Sauce Recipe - Benihana Copycat (2024)

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This Asian-inspired sauce is a replica of that famous ginger sauce recipe (a Benihana copycat!) you love so much. This no-cook recipe goes great with steak, veggies, rice or seafood dishes!

Ginger Sauce Recipe - Benihana Copycat (1)

Original post: March 2016 | Updated: April 2023

Why This Recipe Works

If you’ve ever eaten at Benihana restaurant or a similar hibachi grills, you have likely begun salivating when you dunk a succulent piece of steak into their famous hibachi ginger sauce.

Every time we go to Benihana, I end up dousing my steak, shrimp, veggies and rice with that stuff. That hibachi ginger flavor is just the best!

  • This is one of those easy recipes that is unbelievably delicious.
  • Benihana ginger sauce always pops into my head when I’m thinking up the perfect dressing for any salad or a topping for my next healthy dinner.
  • No need to pay a visit to a restaurant to get my hands on it. I can make it in my own kitchen easily!

Recipe Ingredients

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Ginger – When at all possible, start with fresh ginger root. Substitute ground ginger only if needed.

White vinegar – This can be replaced with another variety such as rice vinegar or rice wine vinegar, if needed.

Soy sauce – To make this a gluten-free sauce, use a GF variety of soy sauce or replace entirely with coconut aminos. For a less salty end result, use a low sodium soy sauce for the recipe.

Lemon juice – Use freshly squeezed lemons for best results. Add 1 teaspoon of lemon zest for added freshness.

Onion – Replace a portion of the yellow onion with green onions, if desired.

Where To Buy Hibachi Ginger Sauce

According to their site, Benihana Japanese steakhouse prides themselves in preparing the sauce they serve fresh and making it daily. But that’s why we decided to concoct a recipe ourselves and share it with you!

Since they don’t share their recipe, we took what we know to be some very flavorful ingredients and tested it until it was the perfect combination of flavors to mimic their sauce.

How To Make Ginger Sauce

Start with your food processor. It’s handy, easy to clean and it’s a tool I use often.

Toss in the onions and fresh ginger root, followed by 3/4 cup soy sauce and remaining ingredients. Transfer to a small bowl and stir, creating a chunky sauce that will be perfect as your condiment for many healthy recipes!

Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Recipe Notes

  • This sauce can be enjoyed immediately but will taste even better after a day of marinating!
  • If you don’t own a food processor, you can easily grate the onion and ginger by hand.
  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Best when used within 5 days of preparing it.
  • Add a minced garlic clove or two for a flavor boost.
  • Spice up the recipe by adding red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce.
  • For a touch of sweetness, consider adding 1 tablespoon of brown sugar or honey.
  • A tablespoon of sesame oil or dark sesame oil adds a delicious flavor.
  • Can be served chilled or at room temperature.
  • Freeze sauce by pouring into an ice cube tray, then transfer cubes to a freezer storage bag.

Fresh Ginger vs Ground Ginger

When making this inspired sauce, when at all possible you want to use fresh ginger. Buying a small stalk of the root is very affordable and provides so much more pungency (in the best way) to the sauce.

Substitute ground ginger when needed, but ground ginger is more commonly used in baked goods or drinks.

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Can Ginger Be Frozen

Ginger can definitely be frozen. To freeze, first peel and grate it or cut thinly. Flash freeze in a single layer for 20 minutes, then transfer to an airtight container. Use within 6 months!

How To Tell If Ginger Is Bad

Ginger that is no longer fresh or safe to eat will be mushy to the touch, and may also have a sharp, unpleasant odor.

What To Do With Ginger Sauce

  • It is a great condiment or marinade for seafood, steak, beef tips, pork chops, chicken or any type of main dishes.
  • Use ginger dipping sauce to dip Asian appetizers into, such as egg rolls, wontons or potstickers (top with sesame seeds before serving!).
  • Perfect dipping sauce for this mouthwatering homemadeHibachi Steakrecipe!
  • Use as a salad dressing ingredients for any salad.
  • Enjoy it tossed in a stir fry meal or over pasta.
  • Use it as a topping on your next juicy burger.
  • Add to a side dish of quinoa or fried rice.
  • Consider using it as a dipping sauce for Air Fryer Broccoli, Meatballs, Steak Bites or Slow Cooker Veggies!
  • Any food you enjoy dipping in soy sauce will likely taste good with ginger sauce, too.

How Long Does Soy Sauce Last

How long does soy sauce last? If you have a bottle staring at you from inside your pantry or refrigerator and you don’t know whether to toss or use, you’ll want to read this post!

Best Homemade Sauces

I’m obsessed with making savory homemade sauces! Down with store bought! Here are a handful of my favorites that you are sure to fall in love with. These all make for great gifts, too.

  • Homemade Enchilada Sauce is more delicious than anything you can buy at the store and it is super easy to make. It only requires a handful of ingredients and is done in 15 minutes.
  • Alfredo Sauce is super easy to make, done in under 10 minutes.
  • A copycat recipe of the famous Arby’s Sauce that makes sandwiches sing! This zingy flavorful BBQ style sauce is so delicious.
  • This homemade Pizza Sauce takes less than 25 minutes to make!
  • Asian Chili Paste is great to have on hand for homemade Asian recipes. Healthy, super affordable and packed with flavor.
  • Make your own Taco Sauce to use in a variety of Mexican dishes, such as tacos, burritos and taco salads. Ditch the store-bought version so you know exactly what goes inside!
  • Instant Pot tomato sauce tastes super fresh, made with fresh tomatoes and with no peeling or seeding required! Use it as a topping on pasta!

18 Homemade Sauces to Use Now or Freeze for Later

Making homemade sauces is a great way to know exactly what ingredients are going into them, they are more affordable than store-bought and they’re just tastier!Homemade all the way!

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Ginger Sauce Recipe - Benihana Copycat (4)

Ginger Sauce Recipe – Benihana Copycat

This Asian-inspired sauce is a replica of that famous ginger sauce recipe (the Benihana copycat) you love so much!

4.73 from 40 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Asian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 minute minute

Servings: 12

Calories: 16kcal

Author: Megan Porta

Ingredients

  • 1 yellow onion chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh ginger grated
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • 3/4 cup soy sauce

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Pulse/puree until a chunky consistency is achieved. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

    1 yellow onion, 2 tbsp fresh ginger, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/2 cup white vinegar, 3/4 cup soy sauce

  • Serve with a salad, vegetables, steak, shrimp or pour over rice/grains.

Notes

  • This sauce can be enjoyed immediately but will taste even better after a day of marinating!
  • If you don’t own a food processor, you can easily grate the onion and ginger by hand.
  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Best when used within 5 days of preparing it.
  • Add a minced garlic clove or two for a flavor boost.
  • Spice up the recipe by adding red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce.
  • For a touch of sweetness, consider adding 1 tablespoon of brown sugar or honey.
  • A tablespoon of sesame oil or dark sesame oil adds a delicious flavor.
  • Can be served chilled or at room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 16kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 811mg | Potassium: 54mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

Ginger Sauce Recipe - Benihana Copycat (2024)

FAQs

What is hibachi ginger sauce made of? ›

Simply combine all the ingredients in a blender: onion, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey, dark soy sauce, and black pepper. Pulse until it is to your preferred consistency. And that's it!

What is Benihana sauce? ›

Each morning inside our Benihana restaurants, our teppanyaki chefs peel and grate fresh ginger and blend it with chopped onion, vinegar, lemon and soy sauce to create a distinct savory-citrus taste.

What are the two dipping sauces at hibachi? ›

Their unique flavors and creamy textures make them the perfect companions for grilled delights. Whether you're a fan of the zesty kick of ginger sauce or the creamy indulgence of Yum Yum Sauce, one thing is certain: these two sauces are an essential part of the hibachi experience, and they're here to stay.

What is Benihana salad dressing made of? ›

ingredients
  • 14 cup chopped onion.
  • 14 cup vegetable oil.
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar.
  • 1 tablespoon water.
  • 1 tablespoon chopped gingerroot.
  • 1 tablespoon chopped celery.
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce.
  • 1 12 teaspoons tomato paste.

What do hibachi chefs squirt on food? ›

We asked our local hibachi chef and here is what is actually on the cart. The shakers are salt, pepper, sesame seeds, and garlic powder or garlic salt. The squirt bottles are sesame oil, soy sauce, and Japanese barbecue sauce (like Mr. Yoshido brand or the brand name “Japanese Barbecue Sauce”).

What makes Benihana so good? ›

Full of Flavor. Every cut of meat we use is lean, tender and full of flavor, making it ideal for grilling. Hand-Cut on Premises. We hand-cut each piece of chicken and steak so we can inspect each cut prior to serving our guests and ensure we are providing the best piece possible.

What's so special about Benihana? ›

Named after his parents' Tokyo coffee shop, Benihana opened in 1964, featuring an authentic Japanese farmhouse interior and food prepared on steel teppanyaki grills right in front of customers. His highly trained teppanyaki chefs delighted customers with intricate knife work and theatrics.

What does Benihana mean in Japanese? ›

A red safflower found in the neighbourhood streets gave the Aoki's the inspiration for the restaurant's name; 'Benihana – or 'red flower' in Japanese. The family's four sons grew up with the coffee shop, which later became a full-service restaurant.

What is the brown sauce they use at hibachi? ›

The traditional Japanese Hibachi Brown Sauce, also known as “Yum Yum Sauce” or “Hibachi Sauce,” is usually vegan-friendly. The primary ingredients in this sauce are soy sauce, mirin (a sweet rice wine), dashi stock (made from dried bonito fish flakes or kelp), garlic, ginger, and sometimes a touch of sugar.

What is the most popular Japanese sauce? ›

Shoyu (soy sauce)

Shoyu is the most widely used condiment in Japanese cuisine and found in or added to a large number of dishes. The fermented soybean product adds depth to a dish when cooked together or when used as a dipping sauce like for sushi. There are different types of soy sauce, including light and dark ones.

What is it called when they cook in front of you at Benihana? ›

In the United States, teppanyaki (more commonly known simply as hibachi) was made famous by the Benihana restaurant chain, which opened its first restaurant in New York in 1964. Though Benihana cooks their food teppanyaki-style, they also serve dishes such as hibachi steak and chicken.

Is teppanyaki the same as Benihana? ›

Benihana introduced the teppanyaki (colloquially known as hibachi) restaurant concept, which had originated in Japan in the late 1940s, to the United States, and later to other countries.

What is a replacement for ginger sauce? ›

Ground Cinnamon is a wonderful ginger substitute that adds sweetness to a dish. Use it ground to add spicy, woodsy flavor to both sweet and savory recipes. Ground Mace can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. It has a subtler flavor than nutmeg.

What is Chinese ginger sauce made of? ›

The sauce is made with peeled and finely chopped fresh ginger, light soy sauce, and rice vinegar. All ingredients are available at well-assorted supermarkets or Asian grocery stores. Ginger is a root and oddly shaped with lots of nooks and crannies.

What is Chinese ginger dressing made of? ›

Directions. Put yogurt, lemon juice, rice wine vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, onion, garlic, ginger paste, sugar, and black pepper in a blender; blend on High until smooth. Pour dressing into a sealable container, seal, and refrigerate at least 30 minute before serving.

What is Japanese ginger made of? ›

Pickled sushi ginger or Gari (ガリ) is a Japanese pickle made by brining thin slices of young ginger in vinegar, sugar, and salt. It has a refreshing sweet and sour taste with a hint of spiciness, making it a popular side dish to serve with sushi.

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