Teriyaki is Japanese cooking technique in which meat or fish is cooked in a sweet and savory sauce called teriyaki. Japanese restaurants feature many teriyaki dishes. In Japan, teriyaki is often made using fish; meats such as chicken and beef are utilized more in the West.
How It's Made
Traditional teriyaki sauce is made from mirin (Japanese sweet cooking wine), soy sauce, sugar and another popular Japanese wine called sake. The sauce is cooked on medium heat until it thickens, then the meat or fish is added.
Where To Get Bottled Teriyaki Sauce
You can buy bottled teriyaki sauce at Asian grocery stores and commercial supermarkets. Popular brands of teriyaki include Kikkoman and LaChoy.
Popularity
Japanese teriyaki is a popular style prevalant in Japanese and American restaurants. In some restaurants, you'll see an Asian fusion menu with a different spin on teriyaki. For example, you'll find dishes that combine teriyaki with barbecue.
Misconceptions
Don't confuse Teriyaki with the Chinese-influenced sweet-and-sour chicken or shrimp. In this dish, the sauce is made with rice vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, cornstarch and soy sauce. The sauce is then poured over fried chicken pieces or fried shrimp, and served with pineapples and green peppers.
Considerations
Teriyaki is a good blend of the sweet and savory and best resembles authentic Japanese food tastes without the overly American influence. It's also versatile and can be used on all kinds of meat and fish.
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