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Yum Yum Sauce

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Yum Yum Sauce is the pale pink sauce that you have probably enjoyed at your local hibachi restaurant.

This sauce is packed with flavor and is perfect to pair with seafood, veggies, chicken, and fried rice.

spoonful of pink sauce

Hibachi Sauce

Once you realize how easy it is to make homemade sauces at home, you’ll be making them all the time. I love making Jack Daniels sauce, honey BBQ sauce, and now this yum yum sauce.

It plays nicely with chicken, pork, steak, vegetables, and fried rice.

No matter what you choose to dip, you’ll love the flavor. You’re gonna want to put it on everything.

Why you’ll love this homemade Yum Yum Sauce recipe

Perfect Dipping Sauce – From shrimp, chicken, broccoli, to french fries, you can dip just about anything into it.

Restaurant Quality at Home – The same flavor as Japanese hibachi restaurants made at home with pantry staples.

Affordable – Many people have pointed out that you can buy this sauce premade at the market but I have all the components on hand so I don’t need to buy another sauce when I can just whip up a batch whenever I want some.

white cup of yum yum sauce in front of fried rice

Never heard of Yum Yum Sauce? Let me tell you what’s in it

Each restaurant will have slight variations, but it will always start with a mayo base. Specifically Japanese mayo (which is made with only egg yolks & apple cider vinegar), but “regular” will work as well (western mayo uses whole eggs and distilled vinegar).

I find that a store brand mayo works best in this sauce because the big guys (i.e. Hellman’s) has a stronger flavor.

It only takes about five minutes to prepare and is made with basic pantry essentials.  

To get the pale pink hue, you’ll add either ketchup or tomato paste. If you want to control the sugar, opt for tomato paste, or a no sugar added ketchup.

Many people have told me it is similar to fry sauce, which is popular in Utah, but I haven’t personally tried it.

ingredients laid out to make pink sauce

Below is a list of ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card.

  • Mayonnaise
  • Water
  • Ketchup
  • Sugar
  • Garlic Powder
  • Paprika or Smoked Paprika
  • Salt
  • Ginger
  • Onion Powder

If you want a bit of heat, add a dash of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper.

whisk in bowl of sauce

What is the real name of Yum Yum Sauce?

Depending on which restaurant you go to, you’ll hear this sauce called yum yum sauce, Sakura sauce, white sauce, seafood sauce, or sometimes Japanese vegetable sauce.

What to serve with it

Besides fried rice, it goes well with noodles, potstickers, sweet potato fries, on a burger…really the possibilities are endless. It’s a really versatile and yummy sauce.

Drizzle on eggs, potatoes, and the list goes on. This pink sauce can be used on any and everything. 

How long does this sauce last?

You can keep this sauce in the refrigerator in an airtight jar for 7-10 days.

After that, you will want to toss out any leftovers you have as it could be spoiled. 

Can I make this sauce ahead of time?

Absolutely! If you want to make this a day ahead of time, go right ahead. Just whip it up and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve. Stir well and then serve as you normally would. 

This sauce has to be made at least 1 hour in advance. It needs time to let the flavors come together. 

Can I freeze it?

Unfortunately no you can’t freeze this sauce. Since it takes just 5-10 minutes to make, it is easy enough to make when you get to craving it. 

Can I double it?

Absolutely! You can easily double or triple this recipe. Simply whip up as much as you want in a bowl or mixer. Then store in the fridge until you are ready to serve. 

Click here to view my entire collection of sauces.

spoonful of yum yum sauce

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spoonful of pink sauce

Yum Yum Sauce

Melissa Williams | Persnickety Plates
Yum Yum Sauce is the pale pink sauce that you have probably enjoyed at your local hibachi restaurant. This sauce is packed with flavor and is perfect to pair with seafood, veggies, chicken, and fried rice.
4.72 from 117 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Chinese, Japanese
Servings 8 servings
Calories 212 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup water
  • ¼ cup ketchup or tomato paste
  • 2 Tablespoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • teaspoon ground ginger
  • teaspoon onion powder

Instructions
 

  • To a small mixing bowl, whisk together the mayo, water, ketchup, sugar, garlic powder, paprika, salt, ginger, and onion powder.
  • Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour for the flavors to come together.
  • After an hour, give the sauce a stir and serve.

Notes

  • Use a store brand mayo instead of name brand (Hellman’s, etc.) because they will have milder flavor and lend better to this sauce.
  • If you’re using tomato paste instead of ketchup, you may need to add more sugar for balance. Taste as you go.
  • Store covered in the fridge for 7-10 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 212kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 1gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 392mgPotassium: 29mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 118IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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  1. Angela says

    5 stars
    So easy with simple ingredients. The best!

  2. Lori says

    5 stars
    Tastes better than store bought! And so EASY to make!!!

  3. Michelle says

    5 stars
    This was delicious! Better than what you get at the hibachi restaurants, for sure. I made it for a family gathering to serve with chicken and it was a big hit. I also put it on my broccoli and rice for lunch the next day and it really made eating a boring meal much tastier! I had all ingredients on hand already and it was so easy to make, too!

  4. Jeanette says

    Love your recipes as they are doable for a limited income. Thanks

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