This Shrimp Tempura Dipping Sauce is perfect for any tempura appetizer. Sweet, salty, and savory, it sets off the delicate flavors of your shrimp tempura or tempura vegetables.
Try this dipping sauce with our Shrimp Tempura, or with any tempura dish you like.
Tempura sauce
Usually, shrimp and vegetable tempura are accompanied by a special dipping sauce that is full of flavor. It tastes a little sweet, a little salty, and a little umami – which roughly translates to savory. While it’s relatively thin, the sauce is also very rich in flavor. It goes great with vegetable or shrimp tempura, enhancing their flavors and complementing the crispy tempura outsides. This dipping sauce is the finishing touch to a delicious dinner or light appetizer.
What is it made of?
- Dashi powder– enhances the flavor, especially the savory notes
- Warm water- to be mixed with the dashi powder
- Soy Sauce (low-sodium)- balances the salty and savory flavors
- Granulated sugar- adds some sweetness
- Mirin– a sweet rice wine that complements the saltiness of the soy sauce
Dashi soup stock substitute
Typically, tempura dipping sauce is made with dashi soup stock. However, this can be hard to find. The quickest and easiest way to replace it is by dissolving hon dashi powder with water. Hon dashi powder is easier to find in grocery stores and can be purchased on amazon.com
How to make tempura sauce
- Boil the dashi and sugar. In a small saucepan, mix together the dashi powder, warm water, and sugar. Then bring it to a boil and let it cook for about 2 minutes.
- Add the soy sauce and Mirin. Take the sauce off the heat. Add in the Mirin and the soy sauce.
- Mix. Thoroughly mix it until all the ingredients are well-incorporated. Then serve it alongside shrimp tempura or the tempura of your choice.
What else goes with tempura sauce?
Pretty much anything that you have fried with tempura batter will taste amazing with this dipping sauce. But here are a few suggestions:
- Vegetables- sweet potatoes, carrots, asparagus, green beans, and cauliflower, to name a few
- Seafood- try shrimp, squid, salmon, or white fish
- Flowers- like zucchini blossoms
- Sushi rolls- try it with this California shrimp roll
How to store it
This tempura dipping sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week in an airtight container.
Shrimp tempura Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
- ¾ cup warm water
- 1 tsp Hondashi powder
- 3 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp Mirin
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
Instructions
- In a small saucepan add 1 teaspoon of Hon Dashi powder, 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar, and 3/4 cups water. Bring it to a boil for about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat then pour in 3 tablespoons of low sodium soy sauce and 2 tablespoons of Mirin. Give it a good thorough mix and serve with shrimp tempura or make your own tempura batter for fried vegetables.
Notes
Nutrition
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Gia says
Super easy and delicious!
simplyhomecooked says
Thank you Gia! Glad to hear that this shrimp tempura sauce was a hit! I hope you find many more recipes from my blog that you will enjoy 🙂