Benihaha Ginger Sauce Recipe (Copycat) Enjoy your favorite Japanese steakhouse experience right at home with this fresh and zingy homemade ginger sauce!
If you’ve been to a Japanese steakhouse before, you probably already know how irresistible ginger sauce is. If not, you’re definitely in for a treat. When I make a hibachi style dinner at home, I dip practically everything into this mouthwatering sauce. I think the perfect bite of hibachi is 50% meat, 50% ginger sauce. Okay, maybe that ratio is slightly off but you know what I mean…it’s THAT good!
Hibachi cooking originated in Japan where the first modern hibachi restaurant opened in the 1940’s. A couple of decades later, in the 1960’s, hibachi found its way to the United States and it has been wildly popular ever since, taking a prominent seat in American restaurant culture. Both Ginger Sauce and Yum Yum Sauce are the most popular Japanese steakhouse hibachi sauces. If you’ve been to the the popular Benihana Japanese Steakhouse chain you’ll know that their ginger sauce is their #1 requested sauce.
The ingredients in this copycat Benihana ginger sauce recipe are simple, fresh, and simply incredible when they’re all blended together. It’s made with just 6 ingredients that may already have on hand and it’s whipped up in just a matter of seconds. Once you make a batch at home, you’ll see why I’m singing the praises of this sauce!
This ginger dipping sauce recipe is also vegan friendly. You don’t need shrimp or steak to dip into it, either. You can mix this sauce in with your fried rice, noodles, hibachi grilled vegetables, etc, or use it as a dipping sauce for your veggie egg rolls.
How to use Ginger Sauce
There are a number of ways you can enjoy this delicious Japanese steakhouse ginger sauce. While I love using mine to dip in hibachi cooked steak, chicken, pork, shrimp, and grilled veggies, you can also use it as a dipping sauce for wontons, potstickers, egg rolls, and sushi. It’s also great drizzled over rice and noodles. Or spoon some onto salmon steaks and then bake or grill them.
And if you want to elevate your salad skills, use this ginger sauce as a dressing over your favorite leafy greens. Just add some oil to it, give a thorough shake, and pour. It’s a great way to add flavor and zing to your salads!
Ginger Sauce Recipe
Let’s get started!
As previously mentioned, this homemade ginger sauce can be made in just a few minutes. You might already have some of the ingredients on hand and the cleanup afterwards is also quick and easy.
To make this sauce, you just need to place everything into a blender and then blend it all together until it’s smooth. That’s all there’s to it!
Store it in an airtight jar in the fridge where it will keep for up to 5 days.
Ingredient Notes:
- If you want the ginger to be less pronounced, you can use less than what the recipe calls for. If you really want the ginger to stand out, use a little bit more.
- You can substitute low sodium soy sauce for the tamari but we highly recommend using tamari. Tamari has a richer, deeper, more complex flavor than soy sauce and so is particularly suited for dipping.
- The brown sugar provides a nice balance of sweetness to spicy zing of the ginger but it is entirely optional.
Once you start making your own sauces at home, you’ll never go back to store-bought again. Here are some other sauce recipes you’ll love!
- Yum Yum Sauce
- Black Bean Sauce
- Hoisin Sauce
- Jerk Sauce
- Char Siu Sauce
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Honey Peach Cardamom Sauce
Ginger Sauce (Japanese Steakhouse)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger root , peeled (use more or less depending on strength preference)
- 1/3 cup tamari (highly recommended for the best flavor, but can substitute low sodium soy sauce)
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- zest and juice of one lemon (1 1/2-2 tablespoons juice)
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Place everything in a blender and blend until smooth. Store in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 5 days. Makes about 3/4 cup ginger sauce.
Dee says
This was absolute YUM!
It didn’t taste as I thought it would. I was aiming for a ginger sauce similar to what my favorite hibachi restaurant serves. It wasn’t like theirs but it was *identical* to the dressing they put on their simple little salad starter. That lets me know that it will be a superb dipping sauce to add to the table for fondue nights. It’ll go so well with the asparagus and broccolini that is going to be offered for dipping.
Kimberly Killebrew says
Awesome, Dee, I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
Deb says
Wonderful sauce recipe!!!
Kimberly Killebrew says
Thank you, Deb!
Jay says
Can you substitute ginger powder?
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Jay, it really won’t be the same. It’s the fresh ginger that really gives this its characteristic kick and, well, freshness!
Angie Messina says
I’m going to try this recipe. Just wondering if you can use ginger paste instead?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Yes you can, Angie. Happy cooking! :)
April says
Can you freeze the sauce?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi April, yes you can.
Nereida Cruz says
Amazing!! I just made it for my mussels and added extra ginger…..DEEEEELIIIIICIIOUUUSSSSSS!!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Awesome, Nereida, I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
Violet says
This sauce is very good. However it did come out a little lighter than would like. I added a little fish sauce and soy in addition to the tamari. I used ginger paste I think fresh ginger would have been tastier as you recommended! Good recipe!
peter corwin says
The recipe seems too easy. What about preparing the ginger? Should I peel it?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Peter, you don’t have to peel it but most people do, including myself (better texture). No other preparations needed for the ginger.
Joyhere says
I made this and it turned out lighter then the picture. Did I do something wrong?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Joyhere, that has to do with the type/brand of soy sauce or tamari you used. Being lighter is not an issue.
Adrienne says
Just wondering about adding fresh garlic.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Adrienne, hibachi-style ginger sauce doesn’t typically have garlic in it as it detracts from the “fresh/zingy” flavor element that’s particularly desirable for seafood. But there are most definitely ginger-garlic sauces and you are more than welcome to add some garlic to yours.
Sabrina Stokes says
I absolutely love ginger so I knew this was perfect for me!
Jen says
Talk about flavor!! I can’t believe I’ve never had this before. So delicious.
Eden says
Made this last night and it was fantastic! Thanks for sharing it, look forward to making it with steak again :)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Eden, thank you!
Sarah Jhonson says
Yum! I love this recipe.
Tamara says
Thank you so much for this recipe! Any chance that you have the Ginger Salad Dressing that Japanese steakhouses serve on salads….?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Tamara, I do and it’s on my to-do list to post! :)