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Soy Sauces - Essential for Japanese Cuisine

Soy Sauces - Essential for Japanese Cuisine

The attractive bottles of spicy sauce made from soybeans are an essential part of any Japanese restaurant. They stand at the sushi bar, have their designated place at the teppanyaki, and can be found in every well-stocked supermarket. Japanese soy sauce is considered particularly high-quality and is traditionally used to give fish, meat, rice, or vegetables a flavorful and slightly salty touch. The foods are either soaked in the sauce or marinated with it just before consumption. Whether for dipping delicious sushi or as an ingredient for teriyaki skewers - this sauce offers an incredible variety of uses.

How is soy sauce actually made?

Traditionally made Japanese soy sauce, also known as Shoyu, is crafted from soybeans, wheat, salt, and water. The soybeans are first ground and steamed. After that, they are mixed with roasted and crushed wheat, which, depending on the proportion, imparts a subtle sweetness and a lightly caramelized flavor to the sauce. The master brewer then introduces specific microorganisms to this dry mash, initiating the desired fermentation process. Salt and water are added and thoroughly mixed with the mash. The sauce matures in special barrels, where the proteins from the soybeans break down. Depending on the duration of fermentation, ambient temperature, and storage conditions, the end product acquires its unique taste. The aging process takes several months and, for particularly high-quality products, can extend up to five years. In the past, Shoyu was homemade in many Japanese households using basic ingredients and stored as an essential supply in barrels or beautiful clay jugs.

Soybeans on the table

What types of soy sauce are there?

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Japanese soy sauce is available in various variants, including:

  • Dark Soy Sauce (Koikuchi Shoyu)
  • Light Soy Sauce
  • Sweet Soy Sauce
  • Teriyaki Sauce
  • Tamari Soy Sauce
  • Gluten-free Soy Sauce

The most well-known brand is likely the soy sauce from Kikkoman. Other brands such as Pearl River Bridge or products from small artisanal producers can be found in Asian shops or directly from the manufacturers. There are also distinctions in varieties such as Koikuchi, Usukuchi, Tamari, Shiro, and Saishikomi, which differ in taste, the proportion of wheat, and their intensity. The most common is the dark sauce Koikuchi Shoyu, which has a very intense flavor, a dark brown color, and relatively low sugar content.

Not only in Japan, but throughout Asia, you can find high-quality soy sauces. Producers like Healthy Boy from Thailand offer a wide range of soy sauces. They should not be confused with fish sauce or Worcestershire sauce, which are made from completely different ingredients and often contain even more salt in comparison.

Soy sauce on a wooden board with vegetables

Japanese recipes with soy sauce

If you want to cook healthily, you can confidently use soy and all products made from this versatile bean. The vegan product is characterized by a delicate flavor that adds an interesting note to any otherwise bland dish. Instead of salt, many Asian chefs use soy sauce in their recipes. However, it's essential to be careful with its use to avoid overpowering the taste of other ingredients.

Recipe with beef or pork with soy sauce

No. of persons2 personsNo. of persons
Total Timeca. 45 minutesTotal Time
Level of difficultyeasyLevel of difficulty
Dishmain mealDish
Caloriesca. 350kcal per portionCalories
MeatMeat
AlcoholAlcohol
Sojasauce auf Löffel
List of ingredients
1/2 tsp mustard powder
30ml mirin (rice wine)
30ml soy sauce
30ml clear poultry stock
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp food starch
200g beef fillet or pork fillet
Kochende Miss Oryoki
Preparation
Step 1

Mix the mustard powder with 1 tsp hot water and leave to soak for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, pour the mirin into a pan and reduce over a high heat for five minutes.

Step 2

Then add the soy sauce, chicken stock and sugar and bring everything to the boil briefly. Dissolve the cornflour in a little water and add to the sauce while stirring.

Step 3

Bring to the boil again to allow the starch to set. Now stir in the prepared mustard paste and leave the mixture to cool.

Step 4

Cut the meat into slices about 1 cm thick and marinate in the prepared sauce for a few minutes, drain and fry very hot for one minute on each side.

Step 5

Remove the pieces from the pan and leave to rest briefly. Serve with a fresh salad. Green salad, baby spinach and sprouts would be particularly healthy.

Recipe Chicken with soy sauce

No. of persons2 personsNo. of persons
Total Timeca. 45 minutesTotal Time
Level of difficultyeasyLevel of difficulty
Dishmain mealDish
Caloriesca. 350kcal per portionCalories
MeatMeat
AlcoholAlcohol
Zutatenliste
400g chicken breast fillet
1 garlic clove
1 piece ginger
1 red chili
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp ketchup
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp peanut oil or sunflower oil
a pinch of sugar
Kochende Miss Oryoki
Preparation
Step 1

Place the diced chicken in a bowl. Finely dice the garlic, ginger and chilli and add to the bowl.

Step 2

Add the light soy sauce, sesame oil and sugar and mix well. Marinate for 30 minutes to two hours in a cool place.

Step 3

Just before frying, put the honey in another bowl and mix with the ketchup and 1 teaspoon of soy sauce.

Step 4

Now fry the marinated chicken in the oil until it is almost cooked. Stir constantly to prevent it from burning.

Step 5

At the very end, pour the honey and ketchup mixture over the meat and allow to glaze over a reduced heat while tossing. This dish goes well with rice and steamed vegetables.

Recipe for refining soups

Dark soy sauce goes well with all vegetable soups and also with meat broth. It can subtly enhance the flavor of a miso soup or add an exotic touch to a pumpkin cream soup. It tastes great in an Asian noodle soup that requires little to no additional salt. If you want to cook healthily, be mindful of the salt content when using shoyu. Also, be aware that gluten may be present in the sauce due to the wheat used in its production.

Recipe with vegetables and tofu

No. of persons2 personsNo. of persons
Total Timeca. 45 minutesTotal Time
Level of difficultyeasyLevel of difficulty
Dishmain mealDish
Caloriesca. 250kcal per portionCalories
MeatMeat
AlcoholAlcohol
List of ingredients
250g smoked tofu
1 small zucchini
100g mung bean sprouts
150g sugar snap peas
100g spiked cabbage
1 tbsp peanut oil
1 tbsp unsalted peanuts
1 vegetable peppers
1 bunch coriander
3 tsp soy sauce
salt
Kochende Miss Oryoki
Preparation
Step 1

First cut the tofu into cubes. Then cut the zucchini into thin slices. Briefly scald the sprouts with boiling water and drain.

Step 2

Blanch the mangetout in boiling salted water for two minutes. Drain, rinse in cold water and drain well.

Step 3

Cut the cabbage into bite-sized pieces and the bell pepper into thin strips. Wash the coriander, shake dry and pluck off the leaves.

Step 4

Now heat the oil in a wok or large pan (preferably with a non-stick coating). Fry the peanuts and tofu over a medium heat for three to four minutes until golden brown, season lightly with pepper and then remove from the pan.

Step 5

Then add the vegetables to the pan and fry over a medium heat for five to seven minutes, turning occasionally.

Step 6

Add the tofu and peanuts and season to taste with the soy sauce and more pepper. Garnish with the coriander leaves and serve while still warm.

Brewed soy sauce offers an incredible variety to enrich a healthy diet with delicate flavors. Many recipes use this seasoning sauce to impart a fine umami taste to rice, vegetables, or tofu. It is also very popular for noodles. Those who value high quality can look for products with traditional production methods that provide a truly special flavor experience. Low-salt soy sauce, free from artificial colors (E-numbers!), is considered healthy. Give it a try and explore different soy sauces along with new exotic recipe ideas!

Japanese recipes read in the magazine »
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