Tare Sauce Recipe: 3 Ways to Use Tare Sauce in the Kitchen

Tare is a multipurpose glaze and dipping sauce consisting of soy sauce, sake, brown sugar, and sweet mirin (Japanese rice wine). Like all great kitchen condiments, individual recipes for tare vary, but they can be easily adjusted to suit the dish at hand. Add miso or shio koji for a sweet boost of umami or togarashi (or preferred spice powder) for heat. If you don’t have tare in your pantry, teriyaki sauce makes a great substitute.

While tare can refer to a basic combination of mirin, shōyu, sake, and sugar, it may also include sauces like ponzu (citrus and soy sauce), goma (sesame and soy sauce dressing), and kuromitsu, a thick, molasses-style sugar syrup. Here are a few ways to incorporate tare into a menu:

1. 1. As a condiment. Along with simple salt (shio) and white pepper, tare is most commonly known as a glaze for yakitori, Japanese-style grilled chicken skewers. Tare is also used as a dipping sauce for various side dishes and appetizers, like pan-fried gyoza dumplings or hot pot (nabemono).
2. 2. As a soup seasoning. When added to water or stock, tare can serve as a flavorful base for soups like ramen or miso.
3. 3. As a marinade. Yakiniku is an all-purpose tare sauce used as a marinade or condiment when grilling meats. Store-bought tare is an easy and popular BBQ marinade.