I understand how challenging it is to find a ponzu sauce substitute because of its unique flavor profile. But it doesn't mean you shouldn't try that Japanese cuisine recipe requiring the sauce. You might be surprised to find some kitchen staples in my list of substitutes for ponzu sauce!
Jump to:
What Is Ponzu Sauce?
All this time, most of you probably think that the dipping sauce that comes with your sushi, sashimi, and dumplings is soy sauce. It's actually ponzu sauce!
While the sauce's name has a Dutch influence, it's a favorite ingredient in Japanese cuisine. Its versatility is all thanks to its unique, complex flavor and runny texture.
Flavor Profile
Japanese ponzu sauce is among the types of sauces whose specific taste is quite challenging to pinpoint. That's because it's made of several ingredients, each with a distinct, strong flavor.
It contains soy sauce responsible for its well-balanced umami taste and salty flavor. Meanwhile, the added bonito flakes also give the sauce an umami flavor, plus, of course, a fish-like flavor.
Ponzu sauce also has rice vinegar that gives it a bit of a sour taste and juice, specifically from Asian citrus fruits, that gives it a fruity taste.
Some brands use sudachi Mandarin, giving the sauce a tart-like flavor. Others use yuzu juice that gives the ponzu sauce a fruity, bitter flavor. The bitter or tart flavor of the sauce is balanced and toned down with the sweetness of the mirin added.
Uses
Thanks to ponzu sauce's flavor profile, there is an endless list of ways to use it in the kitchen.
Serve it directly out of its bottle or dilute it to make a dipping sauce not just for sashimi, dumplings, and sushi, but also for your Japanese barbecue, seafood dishes, tataki, and shabu-shabu.
Are you planning to roast, steam, or grill vegetables, meat, or chicken?
Well, the Japanese ponzu sauce has a fruit-based acidity that you should take advantage of. Use it as a marinade, or add it to your marinade recipe. You can also use this citrus based sauce to glaze meats, chicken, fish, and more.
If that's not enough, traditional ponzu sauce is also popularly used as a topping for rice dishes. I also love using it in my stew, soup, and stir-fry recipes because it gives the dish a unique, tasty flavor. Sometimes, I add a tiny amount to my cold noodle dishes and salad dressing.
9 Best Japanese Ponzu Sauce Substitutes
When looking for a suitable ponzu sauce substitute, you will need to consider the sauce's flavor and texture. While you can't really find ponzu sauce substitute that will mimic it 100%, the following ingredients are my go-to when I need to give my recipe citrusy, umami flavors:
1. Soy Sauce (or Tamari) and Citrus Juice
As two of the ingredients used in producing ponzu sauce, combining soy sauce and any citrus juice makes one of the best ponzu sauce substitutes. If you are serving guests who are on a gluten-free diet, replace the soy sauce with tamari.
Soy sauce not only has the same texture and color as ponzu sauce. It also has umami flavors, which made it one of the most commonly used condiments and ingredients in Asia.
In terms of citrus juice, I highly suggest using lemon juice because it gives the soy sauce the much-needed tart-like, fruity notes. However, you can use lime juice, orange juice, or grapefruit juice if you don't have any lemons in your kitchen.
So, how do you make this substitute for ponzu sauce? Simply combine four parts of your soy sauce and one part of freshly squeezed fruit juice. Whisk them together, and that's it!
To replace ponzu sauce in your recipe, add the same amount of the soy sauce mixture as what's listed for the sauce.
Best for just about anything.
Related: 10 Best Tamari Substitutes
2. Soy Sauce (or Tamari) and Vinegar
Now, what if you don't have any citrus fruits lying around on your countertop or pantry? Well, you surely have vinegar, which can give your soy sauce a good amount of acidity and sourness.
To ensure you give the sauce fruity notes and a bit of sweetness, use rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or any fruit vinegar you have in your kitchen. If you don't have one, your distilled white vinegar will work perfectly fine.
To make this ponzu sauce alternative, combine three parts of your soy sauce or tamari with one part of vinegar.
Add a teaspoon of honey or light brown sugar if you're using non-fruit vinegar to add some sweetness ponzu sauce is also known for. Whisk the ingredients together until well-blended. Then, replace your ponzu sauce with the same amount of this mixture.
Best for dipping sauces and marinades.
3. Worcestershire Sauce
This fermented sauce most of us use as a seasoning or dip actually has a flavor and acidity closest to ponzu sauce.
The vinegar used in the fermentation process gives the Worcestershire sauce its acidic taste and a bit of sourness. It also has anchovies instead of bonito flakes, tamarind instead of citrus juice, and molasses instead of mirin.
One minor issue with Worcestershire sauce is the added spices, specifically garlic and onion. The savory, earthy flavor adds to the sauce's umami-ness but can affect some recipes' flavor balance.
But, of course, I have a solution to this. Simply reduce the amount of garlic and onion in your recipe. If the taste of the spices seems a little too much for you, then completely remove them from your recipe and let the Worcestershire sauce do its job.
Worcestershire sauce also has a thicker consistency than ponzu sauce. If this won't work for your recipe, simply dilute the sauce with a tiny amount of water until you achieve the consistency you need or want.
With those out of the way, follow a 1:1 substitution ratio when using Worcestershire sauce as a ponzu sauce alternative.
Best for just about anything.
4. Hoisin Sauce and Rice Vinegar
Like soy sauce, hoisin sauce is one of the most common Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean cuisine staples now used in many recipes. It's made from fermented soybeans and spices that give it acidity and a combination of savory and sweet taste.
To give it a tangy flavor that will remind you of ponzu sauce, combine two parts of your hoisin sauce with one part of rice vinegar. You can also use lemon juice or lime juice, but I find that the rice vinegar balances out the flavor and acidic taste.
In terms of its texture, it's thicker than ponzu sauce, like Worcestershire sauce. Yes, the added vinegar can already help thin out the hoisin sauce. However, if you find that it's still too thick for your liking, add a tiny amount of water.
Substitution-wise, add the same amount of the hoisin sauce-vinegar mixture as what's the recipe calls for ponzu sauce.
Best for tofu and meat marinades, stir-fries, glazing, and as a dipping sauce and sauce base.
Related: 9 Best Gochujang Substitutes
5. Fish Sauce and Citrus Juice
Another condiment and ingredient most of you are familiar with is fish sauce. In fact, most people love using it as a marinade for their grilled fish dishes and a dipping sauce for their barbecues.
Made from fermented fish, it has the seafood flavor bonito flakes bring to the ponzu sauce. Like soy sauce, fish sauce is also known for its umami flavor. It also lacks the tangy flavor and fruity notes of ponzu sauce—something any citrus juice can solve.
If you only need the tart-like, fruity flavor of ponzu sauce, add a splash of lemon juice or lime juice to every tablespoon of fish sauce. For a sweeter, fruity-tasting sauce, use orange juice or grapefruit juice instead.
In terms of saltiness, fish sauce is a bit saltier than ponzu sauce, even when combined with citrus juice. It's why I make sure I add less amount of the mixture to my recipe when using it as a substitute for ponzu sauce.
What works best for most of my recipes is adding half the amount of what's required in the recipe for ponzu sauce. However, you can always gradually add the fish sauce mixture to find the right ratio for your taste buds.
Best for seafood dipping sauce and meat marinades.
Related: 9 Best Miso Substitutes
6. Teriyaki Sauce and Lemon Juice
This Japanese sauce is made from soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, mirin, and ginger, giving it a savory, sweet taste with a hint of tangy flavor and acidity.
Since it's sweeter than ponzu sauce, I always combine it with lemon juice or lime juice. The juice also adds a bit of citrus flavor and acidity to the teriyaki sauce.
To ensure the balance of flavors when combining the two ingredients, make sure you mix two parts of sauce and one part of lemon juice. Whisk to blend them well.
Like Worcestershire sauce and hoisin sauce, teriyaki sauce is thicker than ponzu. So, again, it's best to dilute it with a tiny amount of water if you need or want to.
Once well-blended (and diluted), add the same amount of your teriyaki sauce mixture to your recipe as what's required for ponzu sauce.
Best for stir-fries, salad dressings, marinades, and glazing and as a dipping sauce and grilled meat topping.
7. Tonkatsu Sauce
Tonkatsu is another popular sauce used in Japanese cooking that you can use as a ponzu sauce substitute if you want to add some spiciness to your recipe.
It's made from several ingredients: soy sauce, vinegar, lemon or lime juice, sugar, spices, and fruits. This combination of ingredients gives this ponzu sauce alternative a sweet, sour, and tangy flavor with a slightly spicy taste.
Like teriyaki sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and hoisin sauce, tonkatsu sauce has a thick consistency. Hence, dilute it with a tiny amount of water if you want or need to.
Now, to substitute ponzu sauce in your recipe, simply add the same amount of tonkatsu sauce as what's listed for ponzu.
Best for marinades, salad dressings, and stir-fries.
8. Nam Prik Pla
Opt for this Thai condiment if you're preparing spicy meals, as you can omit the chilies, wasabi, and other spicy ingredients in your recipe. You might not even need to add garlic and onion since most commercially available nam prik pla or prik nam pla already have these spices included.
In terms of base ingredients, nam prik pla contains fish sauce, hot chilies, lemon juice, and sugar. Thus, it has an umami flavor that will remind your taste buds of ponzu sauce but is a bit spicier.
The consistency of nam prik pla is also the same as ponzu, so you won't need to make any adjustments. It's why replacing your ponzu sauce with nam prik pla is easy; a tablespoon of ponzu sauce is a tablespoon of name prik pla.
Best for stir-fries and marinades and as a dipping sauce.
9. Japanese Yuzu Kosho Paste
As I mentioned earlier, some ponzu sauce products are made from the juice of the Japanese citrus fruit, yuzu.
From the name itself, this Japanese seasoning is made from yuzu zest, giving it a citrusy flavor, tangy taste, and slightly sweet taste. Other ingredients included are salt and fermented chilies, so the Japanese yuzu kosho has a spicy and salty flavor.
That's why I only use this ponzu substitute when I want to prepare Japanese dishes with a bit of heat.
I also would like to emphasize that yuzu kosho is a paste, so you will need to dilute it in water to give it a consistency that's as close to ponzu sauce as possible. Substitution-wise, add a teaspoon of the diluted paste for every tablespoon of ponzu sauce.
Best for stir-fries, hot pot dishes, miso soups, dips, and sauces.
Related: Best Harissa Substitutes for a Savory, Spicy Dish
Ponzu Sauce Replacements That Works
Give your recipes the right amount of umami flavor and citrus taste without the ponzu sauce with the help of the best ponzu sauce substitute.
From common ingredients you need to combine to seasonings and condiments to ingredients that you can use as is or need to dilute, my list provides you with versatile options.
Just make sure you choose one that works well with your specific recipe, cooking method, and the ingredients you will combine it with.
You Might Also Like:
Discover The Perfect Horseradish Substitute For Your Recipes
9 Best Gochujang Substitutes for Your Korean Dish
10 Best Sumac Substitutes to Try
Recipe
Homemade Ponzu Sauce
Equipment
- Whisk
- Bowl
- fine-mesh sieve
- Small glass jar with a lid
Ingredients
- ½ cup fresh lime juice or lemon juice
- â…“ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoon mirin
- 5 tablespoon fish sauce
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in your mixing bowl.
- Using your whisk, mix the ingredients until well combined.
- Allow the mixture to sit for an hour.
- Place your sieve on top of your glass jar and slowly pour your homemade ponzu sauce over it.
- Use immediately or store in your refrigerator, making sure the jar is sealed tightly.
Notes
- This homemade ponzu sauce can only last for three days.
- You can transfer the remaining sauce to your ice cube tray and freeze it for a longer shelf life.
- You can replace the lemon or lime juice with orange juice, grapefruit juice, or a combination of equal amounts of lemon juice and grapefruit juice.
- If you don't have mirin or can't find one, replace it with the same amount of sweet rice wine or honey.
- You can also replace the mirin with the same amount of light brown sugar. However, you will need to boil the solution over medium heat for a minute or two. This will help dissolve the sugar. Then, after the solution cools down, make sure you strain it to have a clear homemade ponzu sauce.
- For those who want or need a gluten-free homemade ponzu sauce, replace the soy sauce with the same amount of tamari.
- If you want an authentic ponzu sauce and have time to shop and wait for the ingredients, use yuzu juice instead of citrus juice. And instead of fish sauce, use bonito flakes, but make sure you boil the solution similar to when you choose to use sugar.
You can find the video in the post above. If you don't see a video, please check your browser settings.
Leave a Reply