This rich Yum Yum Sauce recipe is smooth, sweet, and easy to make. It only takes a few minutes and then you can enjoy it on your favorite grilled chicken, seafood, or fried rice dishes.
Table Of Contents
Recipe Details
I am a huge fan of Yum Yum Sauce so I just had to create this recipe. This pale pink dipping sauce was often found in Japanese hibachi restaurants, but nowadays it can be found on everything from vegetables to sushi to salads. It is thick, but you could also thin it out, depending on what you’ll be using it for. With such a distinctive flavor, this sauce goes well on many meat and vegetable dishes.
- TASTE: It tastes like a mixture of sweet, savory, and rich thanks to the uniquely flavored ingredients and spices.
- TEXTURE: This sauce is thick and creamy. You can also thin it out with more water if you want.
- TIME: This hibachi sauce recipe will only take a total time of 3 minutes of prep time.
- EASE: It’s a breeze to whip up with simple ingredients and can be stored in the fridge for days.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Mayonnaise- Rich, full-fat mayo is the base for this tasty sauce.
- Unsalted butter- You will want it to be melted for this recipe.
- Tomato paste- A tablespoon of this will add color and a little flavor to the yum yum sauce.
- Sugar– For a touch of sweetness.
- Garlic powder- This adds pungent garlic flavor.
- Paprika- For some sweet smokiness.
- Salt- To taste.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Change the consistency- Depending on whether this will be used as a dipping sauce for steak, a drizzle over a sushi roll, or tossed in a salad, you can add more or less water to thicken it or thin it out.
- Make it smokier- For more flavor, use smoked paprika to give it a smokier taste.
- Go spicy- A dash of Sriracha, hot sauce, or red pepper flakes will add some spice if that’s what you’re looking for. Or try some sweet chili sauce.
How to Make Yum Yum Sauce
- Combine the ingredients. In a medium-sized bowl, add the mayonnaise, butter, tomato paste, sugar, garlic powder, paprika, and water. Mix well with a whisk.
- Salt to taste. Add a little salt to taste and whisk it again. If the salt level is where you want it, serve with your favorite meats, rice, and vegetables.
Pro Tip: Make sure you whisk the ingredients well for a smooth sauce.
Recipe Tips
- Use good quality mayo- Using full-fat mayo from a good brand that has great flavor will ensure that your yum yum sauce is yummy. Kewpie Japanese Mayo is a great choice.
- Don’t skip the melted butter- This adds luxurious note that you won’t want to leave out of your sauce.
- Adjust the flavor as needed- Salt your sauce to your preference. If you like it tangy, add some rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Mix in more sugar if you like it sweeter.
FAQs
Yum Yum sauce is quick and easy, made with basic ingredients like mayonnaise, sugar, tomato paste or ketchup, garlic powder, paprika, and butter. But there are lots of variations to tweak the flavor.
The closest thing to yum yum sauce is an aioli or a remoulade. These are both mayo-based sauces that are rich and creamy, but the flavors are a little different. Rich, sweet, and smoky, yum yum sauce is unique.
Serving Suggestions
This homemade yum yum sauce recipe is very versatile because its sweet and savory flavors can match those in other main dishes. Serve it with some seafood, meat, or veggies.
- Shrimp- This is the perfect foil for this incredibly flavorful sauce. Serve Yum Yum sauce with Crispy Shrimp Tempura, Air Fryer Shrimp, or Blackened Cajun Shrimp.
- Chicken- Make a chicken plate, sandwich, or salad with this sauce for a delicious dinner or lunch. Try Baked Breaded Chicken Cutlets, or Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (VIDEO).
- Vegetables- This is a great dipping sauce for veggies, like Roasted Air Fryer Vegetables, Garlic Asparagus, or Crispy Air Fryer French Fries.
Make This Recipe in Advance
Make ahead: You can store this yummy sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for days, so you can absolutely make this ahead of time.
Storing: This Yum Yum Sauce will need to be refrigerated to stay fresh. Place the leftover sauce in an airtight jar or container and it will last for 5-7 days.
Freeze: For a creamy sauce like this one, I don’t suggest freezing it as it won’t thaw well.
More Asian-Inspired Dishes!
Full Recipe Instructions
Yum Yum Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons water
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine 1 cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon paprika, and 2 tablespoons water.
- After everything is well combined, add a little salt to taste. Give it another whisk and then add more salt if needed.
- Serve with fried rice, shrimp, or chicken.
Nutrition
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bob says
great!!!! the yum yum sauce is mega yummy!!!
Dina says
Thank you, Bob! This recipe is definitely a keeper.