What Is Yuzu Sauce?

Been introduced to Yuzu sauce somehow but not sure what it is, what it is made from, and what it tastes like? Absolutely no problem. I will be sharing all you need to know today.

So, what is yuzu sauce? Yuzu sauce is an Asian Condiment that is popular in Japanese and Korean cuisine. It is based on the Yuzu fruit, a citrus fruit originating from East Asia which is like a grapefruit and has a tart, aromatic flavour. It is commonly eaten with grilled meat or fish.

Sounds good, right?

And it really is.

But what is this sauce made of exactly, and what can you expect in taste?

Let’s find out!

What Is Yuzu Sauce Made From?

Yuzu sauce is based on the Yuzu fruit, but most brands and recipes of the sauce (often referred to as a dressing) contain vinegar, soy sauce, a sweetener (such as high fructose corn syrup) among other flavorings.

First and foremost you have the Yuzu fruit itself.

It looks like a lemon in color (vibrant yellow) when ripe, but it resembles a grapefruit in shape and size.

From there, a combination of different ingredients elevates the sauce.

For instance, here is the full ingredient list of a popular, best-selling brand:

Distilled vinegar, Soy sauce, High-fructose corn syrup, Salt, Yuzu, Seasoning (amino acid), Dried bonito, Honey, Spice, Artificial flavour. Product contains Wheat, Soybean, Fish, Mustard

You obviously get variations between brands.

And if you follow a recipe and decide to make it yourself, you can make substations too.

For instance, I have commonly seen this sauce sweetened with honey instead of high fructose corn syrup.

Nevertheless, most brands and recipes do call for a vinegar of some kind, salt, and a sweetener.

What Does Yuzu Sauce Taste Like?

Yuzu sauce is sweet, sharp, and salty. It’s also somewhat zesty, light, and refreshing.

In fact, it tastes like a blend of the citrus fruits lemon, orange, and grapefruit, but it also possesses a herbal quality too.

As such, you can expect a citrusy tart flavor that is somewhat acidic.

A little generally goes a long way and you do not need to use a lot to benefit from its flavor.

What To Eat Yuzu Sauce With

Yuzu sauce is wonderfully versatile, but it is often paired with grilled meat, fish, as a salad dressing, and as a dipping sauce, particularly for a traditional Japanese beef dish called shabu shabu.

The fact that this sauce is often referred to as a dressing says a lot about its intended use.

That being said, that does not mean it should only be used on salads.

Quite the contrary.

In fact, this is not how it is mostly used in Asian cuisine.

Some other popular uses for yuzu include:

• With fish, such as scallops, rockfish and crab among others.
• With meat, such as chicken
• As a dipping sauce for sushi,
• A dressing for sorbet,
• Mixed into drinks, such as Cocktails, Mocktails and Slushies,
• Mixed into soups,
• With Oysters,
• Mixed into other sauces, such as Marinades, Mayonniase or Ponzu,
• Mixed with jellies and custards

As you can see, it is used with both sweet and savory dishes, whether those be start, dinner, or dessert-based dishes.

Where Can You Buy Yuzu Sauce?

You can purchase bottled Yuzu sauce at Japanese and Korean grocery stores. Alternatively, you can also purchase it online on platforms such as Amazon.

In fact, that is where I get mine – on Amazon, and this is the best-selling brand I get.

One thing to mention here is that you need to check carefully whether you are purchasing sauce (dressing), or just yuzu juice.

Yuzu juice is simply just the juice, nothing else. And therefore, you would need to either make your own sauce from it or use it more like lemon juice.

So just be mindful there.

Finally

Yuzu sauce is a wonderfully fragrant, aromatic sauce found of East Asian origin.

It really packs a punch, so while you should absolutely give it a try, do use it sparingly.

At least to begin with.

See if you like it, test it with a few dishes, and take it from there.

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