Top 10 Best Recipes To Make With Soy Sauce
Soy sauce is probably the most popular Japanese seasoning. It’s used in all kinds of cooking, from simple home-cooked meals to high-end restaurant cuisine.
There are many different types of soy sauce, and there are countless delicious recipes out there that use it.
Soy sauce is commonly used in dipping sauces for sushi and sashimi or as a flavoring ingredient in meaty dishes.
It’s also a popular addition to rice and noodles and a favorite tenderizing marinade.
In this roundup, we’ll cover some of the best soy sauce recipes out there.
Whether you’re looking for something simple and quick, or a more complex dish to impress your friends, there’s something tasty for everyone!
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- 1 10 best recipes with soy sauce
- 1.1 Okaka Onigiri: The Salty Soy Sauce and Katsuobushi Recipe
- 1.2 Sesame Ginger Soy Sauce Recipe
- 1.3 Soy Sauce Marinated and Grilled Pork Liempo
- 1.4 Classic Teppanyaki Beef Steak with Sake/Soy Sauce Recipe
- 1.5 Oven-Baked Honey Soy Sauce Chicken Recipe
- 1.6 Japanese Style Mushroom Pasta Recipe: Deliciously Creamy Butter Soy Sauce Pasta
- 1.7 Beef Morcon Recipe with Soy Sauce
- 1.8 Adobo Steak Recipe: Beef Tenderloin with Soy Sauce, Vinegar & Honey
- 1.9 Pork Higadillo recipe with a Vinegar and Soy Simmer
- 1.10 Paksiw na Pata Recipe: Soy Marinated Pork Leg
- 2 Top 10 Best Recipes with Soy Sauce
- 3 What does soy sauce taste like?
- 4 How is soy sauce used?
- 5 When to use soy sauce
- 6 Best soy sauce to use
- 7 Best combinations for soy sauce
- 8 Conclusion
10 best recipes with soy sauce
Soy sauce is incorporated into all kinds of dishes, from sweet to savory. Here are some of the best soy sauce recipes in our collection.
Okaka Onigiri: The Salty Soy Sauce and Katsuobushi Recipe
Onigiri is a popular Japanese snack, typically made with cooked rice and a savory filling. This recipe for Okaka Onigiri uses soy sauce and bonito fish flakes.
To make okaka onigiri, you’ll need cooked sushi rice, soy sauce, bonito flakes, and a few other simple ingredients like nori.
The soy sauce combined with katsuobushi gives the rice balls that umami flavor.
Simply mix the cooked rice with the soy sauce and bonito flakes, then form the rice into triangles or balls.
Place a nori sheet around each triangle, and there you have a tasty Okaka onigiri!
The dish is served best with a side of pickled ginger, and it’s perfect for snacking or as a light lunch.
Sesame Ginger Soy Sauce Recipe
If you want to make your own sauce without spending money on bottled stuff, this sesame ginger soy sauce recipe delivers tons of umami flavors.
Adding some spicy ginger can do a lot of good with loads of dishes, and the soy makes this salty enough not to need any other sauces to make your dish taste amazing!
The sauce is made by combining popular Japanese seasonings like toasted sesame seeds, soy sauce, grated ginger, mirin, Kewpie mayonnaise, rice vinegar, and a few others.
The end result is a savory sauce you can use for noodle and rice dishes and stir-fries.
Soy Sauce Marinated and Grilled Pork Liempo
Pork liempo is a popular Filipino dish that is made with marinated and grilled pork belly.
This version incorporates soy sauce into the marinade for a rich, umami flavor.
The flavor is truly decadent with the combination of pork, soy sauce, garlic, sugar, vinegar, and condiments.
It’s actually every BBQ lover’s dream dish because the soy sauce marinade helps to tenderize the pork belly.
If you’re looking for a delicious grilled pork dish for your next family BBQ, definitely give this soy sauce marinated and grilled pork liempo recipe a try!
Classic Teppanyaki Beef Steak with Sake/Soy Sauce Recipe
Cooking on a teppanyaki hot plate is one of the funnest ways to enjoy Japanese food.
Beef is one of the most popular grilled meat choices, and this classic teppanyaki recipe uses soy sauce to add umami flavor.
Tender and thin beef slices are grilled on the teppan and finished with an aromatic sake/soy sauce glaze.
The sauce gives the beef a salty and savory flavor while also adding a touch of sweetness. It pairs perfectly with rice and vegetables for a filling meal that’s sure to be loved by all!
Oven-Baked Honey Soy Sauce Chicken Recipe
This recipe features delicious boneless chicken thighs that have been roasted in the oven till golden brown and coated with honey, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger.
It’s the ideal dinner recipe because it’s straightforward to prepare.
Simply prepare the sauce, combine the ingredients, and let the oven do the work, and the dish is done in 45 minutes.
That’s why people enjoy this recipe so much – it’s simple and packed with flavor.
Because of the savory and sweet soy marinade, baking the chicken in the oven doesn’t cause it to become dry.
It will have a delicious honey crust and be tender, juicy, and tasty.
Japanese Style Mushroom Pasta Recipe: Deliciously Creamy Butter Soy Sauce Pasta
Most people identify noodles with Japanese cuisine and pasta with Italian meals.
Thankfully, though, pasta, Asian-inspired sauce, and mushrooms can all be enjoyed by foodies!
Wafu, or Japanese-style spaghetti, is the dish you’ve been craving all along, and it features soy sauce as one of the ingredients.
This recipe, despite its seeming simplicity, is packed with a variety of mushrooms and has rich, creamy textures and umami flavors.
It is referred to as pasta in butter soy sauce with mushrooms.
Soy sauce, butter, pasta, and the mushrooms of your choice are combined to form the sauce.
Though it seems straightforward, the flavor is far more pleasant than you might imagine!
Beef Morcon Recipe with Soy Sauce
If you’re looking for a meaty recipe to serve on Holidays, beef morcon is a tasty Filipino dish to try!
This Beef Morcon Recipe is a Filipino meat roll stuffed with sausage or hotdogs, carrots, pickles, cheese, and egg.
The beef is marinated in soy sauce and lemon juice for flavor and then filled with savory ingredients.
Soy makes the dish taste salty but also adds a rich umami flavor that pairs well with beef.
After slicing the meat into bite-sized pieces, it’s then rolled in a bacon weave and simmered for a couple of hours.
Beef morcon is definitely a delicious crowd-pleasing dish that’s perfect for special occasions!
Adobo Steak Recipe: Beef Tenderloin with Soy Sauce, Vinegar & Honey
Those who like beef tenderloin can enjoy a pan-simmered steak recipe cooked in a tasty soy, vinegar, and honey mixture.
Adobo is a traditional Filipino dish that’s been given an upgrade with this beef tenderloin recipe.
After searing the tenderloin in a pan, you then deglaze the pan with a soy sauce, vinegar, and honey mixture.
This adds an extra layer of umami-rich flavor while also promoting a nice caramelized effect on the steak.
Serve this recipe with your choice of vegetables and rice or potatoes for lunch or dinner!
Pork Higadillo recipe with a Vinegar and Soy Simmer
Soy sauce is commonly used in stews.
Pork higadillo is a traditional and beloved dish from the Philippines, made from a stew of pork and liver that is slowly simmered with vinegar, Lechon sauce, soy sauce, and some garlic for a sweet, sour, and savory flavor combo.
It is a savory and rich meal that’s perfect for dinner or special occasions, such as holidays.
This Pork Higadillo recipe features a spicy vinegar and soy simmer that makes the meat extra tender and flavorful.
Home cooks like this dish because it’s a sautéed, one-pot meal; you just add all of the ingredients gradually.
And you can choose how much of the soy and vinegar broth to add.
Paksiw na Pata Recipe: Soy Marinated Pork Leg
As mentioned, soy sauce is a common marinating ingredient, and it works wonders on tougher meat cuts like pork leg.
Pork leg is used to make this sweet, sour, and salty Paksiw na Pata recipe.
The dish is basically a one-pot recipe where the pork is cooked with banana blossom, soy sauce, garlic, onion, black pepper, sugar, and vinegar.
The flavor combination makes for a hearty and filling stew. This is a hearty and warming dish that’s perfect for cold weather.
And it can be enjoyed with steamed rice or as part of another Filipino meal.
Top 10 Best Recipes with Soy Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs
- 5 tbsp honey
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ¾ tsp minced ginger
- ½ tsp black pepper ground
- ½ tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- For the marinade, grab a bowl and mix the soy sauce, honey, vegetable oil, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and black pepper.
- Whisk everything together until the sauce has a runny consistency. The soy sauce is runny but it absorbs into meat quite well.
- Pour the marinade sauce on top of the meat of your choice. Be sure to coat both sides of the meat.
- Cook your meat. After it is cooked, remove it from the oven and take each piece out. Then take the sauce that’s leftover in the pan, and you can add some of it on top of the meat or use it as “gravy” for mashed potatoes.
What does soy sauce taste like?
Soy sauce has a savory, salty flavor with hints of umami.
Depending on the ingredients used to make it and how long it has been aged, it can also have some subtle sweet and spicy notes.
It is often used as a condiment or flavoring ingredient in Asian dishes because you can definitely taste its salty flavor.
However, when used in smaller amounts or as part of a marinade or sauce, it can also add subtle flavor and umami to other dishes.
Some people also use it as a salt substitute because of its more complex flavor profile.
How is soy sauce used?
Soy sauce is a versatile seasoning that is used in many different ways.
It can be added to dishes as a condiment or flavoring ingredient, and it’s also popular as a marinade or tenderizer.
Here’s how soy sauce is commonly used:
- dipping sauce for sushi and sashimi
- dipping sauce for deep-fried like egg rolls
- marinade for BBQ meat
- flavoring ingredient for stir fry
- condiment for rice and noodles
- seasoning for soups like ramen and pho
- alternative for salt
In case you need even more inspiration, check out this video:
When to use soy sauce
You can use soy sauce during the marinating process to tenderize and flavor the meat. You can also use it instead of salt at the same time you add other condiments like black pepper, garlic, etc.
Soy sauce can also be used during the cooking process for stews, stir-fry, rice dishes, and soups. It is added near the beginning of the cooking process.
It can be eaten raw or cooked depending on the recipe. If you want to use soy sauce as a topping or dipping sauce, use it raw after the food is fully cooked.
Best soy sauce to use
There are different types of soy sauce on the market. Some recipes call for a specific type, such as dark soy sauce or light soy sauce.
In general, you can just use regular soy sauce for most recipes, including dipping sauces, marinades, stir-fries, and meaty dishes.
The regular Kikkoman Soy Sauce is a good option, as it has a rich and umami-rich flavor that works well with Asian dishes.
It is a milder and well-balanced soy sauce, so you can taste a bit of sweetness and saltiness of the soy sauce.
So if you are looking for the best soy sauce to use in your cooking, try this affordable Japanese soy sauce brand.
Best combinations for soy sauce
Soy sauce is a versatile ingredient that can be paired with many different flavors. Here are some of the best combinations to try:
- Sweet and savory: pair soy sauce with something sweet like honey or brown sugar to balance out the saltiness of the soy.
- Spicy and tangy: add a bit of heat to your soy sauce by using a spicy chili paste or adding some red pepper flakes.
- Citrusy: add a touch of acidity to your soy sauce by mixing in some lemon or lime juice. This can be especially tasty with spicy dishes.
- Umami-rich: use soy sauce as a base ingredient for a flavorful broth or sauce, and then add other umami-rich ingredients like miso paste or kimchi.
- Savory and meaty: use soy sauce to add an umami-rich depth of flavor to your favorite meat dishes, such as roasted chicken or beef stew.
Conclusion
Soy sauce is one of the most versatile and popular seasonings in Japanese cuisine.
It can be used in a wide variety of dishes, from savory meat and seafood dishes to sweet desserts or flavoring ingredients.
Whether you’re looking for a quick and simple recipe or something more complex, there is definitely something tasty that will suit your tastes!
So the next time you’re in the mood for soy sauce, check out our collection of delicious recipes.
Looking for a gluten-free soy sauce? Tamari shoyu is what you need
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Joost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.