Description
This Easy Yum Yum Sauce recipe is a creamy, tangy, and slightly smoky dipping sauce inspired by Japanese hibachi restaurants. Made with simple ingredients like mayo, ketchup, melted butter, and spices, it comes together quickly with no cooking required besides melting butter. Perfect for drizzling over grilled meats, seafood, vegetables, or using as a flavorful dip.
Ingredients
Scale
Yum Yum Sauce Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise (use Japanese mayo for authentic flavor)
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 dash hot sauce (optional)
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
- Water (as needed to thin)
Instructions
- Melt the Butter: Microwave 1 tablespoon of butter in a small bowl until melted, then allow it to cool slightly for a few minutes to avoid cooking the other ingredients.
- Mix Ingredients: In a medium bowl or measuring cup, combine 1 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons ketchup, the cooled melted butter, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, a dash of hot sauce if using, and salt and pepper to taste. Whisk or stir thoroughly until smooth and well combined.
- Adjust Consistency: Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings as needed. Add water a tablespoon at a time to thin the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Store and Chill: Transfer the sauce to a sealed container and refrigerate. Let it rest for at least a few hours or preferably overnight to allow the flavors to meld beautifully. The sauce will keep for about one week in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Using Japanese mayo (like Kewpie) gives a richer, slightly sweeter flavor, but regular mayo works fine.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce depending on your heat preference or omit it altogether.
- The sauce can be thinned with a little water to achieve the perfect dipping consistency.
- Store in a sealed container in the fridge and consume within one week for best freshness.
- This sauce pairs well with grilled meats, seafood, rice dishes, and veggies.
