This soy substitute is great if you're gluten free or just trying to cut down on the salt. This recipe gives you all the umami with none of the sodium.
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Ethnic Sauces
Make your own ethnic style sauces like enchilada sauce, stir-fry sauce, or easy curry sauces
jump to the recipes
Make Your Own Low Sodium Soy Sauce Substitute
Copycat McDonald's Sweet And Sour Sauce For Nuggets
Love the nuggets and sweet & sour from the golden arches? Apricot preserves, Italian dressing, and a couple other add-ins make a fantastic sauce...
Time: under 30 minutes
Simple Sweet And Sour Sauce
Better than the take-out packets of sweet and sour that you get from a Chinese restaurant. You can whip up your own batch right at home.
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Copycat Benihana Shrimp Sauce
While it's called "shrimp sauce" this tasty Japanese staple can be used as a dipping sauce with any fried food (not just shrimp) or drizzled over fried rice to...
Time: under 30 minutes
Hoisin Sauce
Whether you are out of the bottled kind or just want to make your own at home, this recipe for making hoisin sauce from scratch is a 5-star winner!
Time: under 30 minutes
Get our daily recipe newsletter!
Every day we send out a featured recipe and our editor's favorite picks. Don't miss out!
Basic Chinese Brown Sauce
Soy sauce, beef broth, and oyster sauce combine with a few other basic ingredients in this essential Asian blend.
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Easy Stir-Fry Sauce
Having a good stir-fry sauce on hand makes quick dinners even easier. Combinations of leftover and fresh ingredients will come together with this simple sauce that you can keep in...
Time: under 30 minutes
Red Enchilada Sauce From Dried Chiles
For an authentic recipe you've gotta start with rehydrated dried chiles mixed with vinegar and spices. Now you just need enchiladas!
Method: stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours
Plum Sweet & Sour Sauce
This thick, homemade sweet and sour sauce blows take-out packets out of the water. Plum jam and pineapple spiked with savory soy sauce and vinegar makes for an outstanding...
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Szechuan Stir Fry Sauce
A sensational Szechuan sauce that will make you skip store bought for good. Sesame oil, ginger, and star anise give this sauce its authentic kick. Use it for a beef or shrimp...
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Japanese Shrimp Sauce
It's called shrimp sauce, but don't limit yourself to that. This glorious Japanese mayo sauce is fantastic on all manner of stir-fried meats and veggies.
Time: under 30 minutes
Simple Ponzu Sauce
This simple ponzu sauce can be used as a dipping sauce for dumplings, a marinade for fish or seafood, or as a salad dressing.
Time: under 30 minutes
Mild Enchilada Sauce
This mild sauce starts by making a seasoned roux that is then slowly simmered with water until thickened. Use in any recipe calling for enchilada sauce.
Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 1-2 hours
Basic Stir Fry Sauce
You can't go wrong when sticking with the basics. Here's a fantastic make-ahead sauce that'll make delicious, spur of the moment stir-fries a cinch in your kitchen.
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Honey And Brown Sugar Sweet & Sour Sauce
A sauce so good you'll be finding all sorts of new uses for it. Egg rolls and chicken are a given, but stir fries would also go great with this pineapple and...
Method: stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours
Sweet and Sour Sauce With Chicken Broth
Made with cornstarch, water, white vinegar, sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, chicken broth
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Dipping Sauce for Egg Rolls
This is a tasty dipping sauce for egg rolls, wontons, or fried shrimp. A simple orange sauce gets a little extra zip from horseradish and ginger.
Time: 30-60 minutes
Tomatillo Enchilada Sauce
This green enchilada sauce has an authentic, tangy flavor to add a little zip to tacos, burritos, and of course, enchiladas.
Method: stovetop
Time: 30-60 minutes
Chinese Garlic Sauce
Garlic and ginger are always a good call when it comes to Asian cuisine. Use this garlic sauce to spice up all sorts of creations. If you like your sauces extra thick, just whisk...
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Yellow Curry Sauce
A rich, slightly sweet, mild flavored curry sauce. Use in an any recipe calling for a curry sauce (delicious with chicken, potatoes, cauliflower, etc).
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Chinese Brown Sauce
Chinese brown sauce is a savory, dark brown sauce used in Chinese cuisine. This sauce is commonly used as a dip for meats or as a stir-fry sauce.
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Red Sweet-And-Sour Sauce
Whether you're using it to give fried chicken and pineapple a sweet glaze or just dipping some egg rolls, sweet and sour is always handy to have around.
Time: under 30 minutes
Tonkatsu Sauce (Japanese Ketchup)
This three-ingredient sauce could not be simpler! Ketchup, soy sauce and Worcestershire are all you need for a Tonkatsu sauce ready to top some crispy pork and a hot...
Time: under 30 minutes
Basic Teriyaki Sauce With Dashi
This basic teriyaki sauce is a great way to add flavor to your stir-fry or grilled dishes. It's full of umami flavor, making it perfect for dressing up any dish.
Method: stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
Skip the commercial teriyaki sauce and try this homemade version made with just a few simple ingredients.
Time: under 30 minutes
All-Purpose Sweet & Sour Sauce
Made with wine vinegar, apple or grape jelly, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
In a cooking rut? Try one of these taste-tested, family-approved recipes using ground beef.
This iconic whiskey is a "Jack of all trades" when it comes to cooking. Toss it in some pasta, as a savory dipping sauce, and even bake it into something sweet.
Pizza night is always a favorite, especially when you have great tasting pizza from some of the most popular restaurants.