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Homemade ponzu sauce in a small white bowl on a wooden table with lemon slice.
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5 from 3 votes

Ponzu Sauce

This Homemade Ponzu Sauce is a classic Japanese condiment that's both versatile and easy to make. This citrus-based sauce is perfect for both dipping and dressing and will add the perfect touch of umami to your favorite dishes.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: Japanese
Servings: 1
Calories: 280kcal
Author: Joyce Lee

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (approx. ½ large lemon)
  • 1½ tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2½ tablespoons mirin (or 1 teaspoon of sugar mixed with 2 tablespoons of water)
  • ¼ cup bonito flakes

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, squeeze 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice into the bowl.
    If you like it very lemony, you can also grate ¼ teaspoon of the lemon skin into the sauce as well. Make sure not to grate any of the white parts of the skin (the pith) it's bitter.
    Lemon juice squeezed into a small bowl
  • Mix in 1½ tablespoons soy sauce and 2½ tablespoons mirin into the bowl.
    (If you don't have mirin, mix 1 teaspoon of sugar with 2 tablespoons of water to substitute it.)
    Adding soy sauce, and mirin to the shishito dipping sauce
  • Add in ¼ cup bonito flakes and let it soak for at least 5 minutes.
    Adding bonito flakes to shishito dipping sauce
  • After the bonito flakes had time to soak in the sauce, you can remove it and discard it.
    Discarding bonito flakes from shishito dipping sauce
  • Do a taste test. If you like your ponzu sauce more sweet, sour or salty, adjust it with mirin, lemon juice, or soy sauce.
  • Enjoy as a dipping sauce or a dressing!
    Homemade ponzu sauce in a small white bowl on a wooden table with lemon slice.

Notes

  • This ponzu sauce recipe makes approximately ¼ cup of sauce.
  • Use Fresh Lemon: For a vibrant and tangy flavor, use fresh lemon juice. You can also add a hint of zest for an extra citrus punch, but be sure to avoid the bitter white part of the skin when you are grating it.
  • Substitute for Mirin: If you don't have mirin, a sweet Japanese rice wine, you can easily substitute it with a mixture of sugar and water.
  • Let Bonito Flakes Soak: Allowing the bonito flakes to soak in the sauce for at least 5 minutes will help infuse the sauce with a rich umami flavor.
  • Strain the Bonito Flakes: After soaking, remember to remove and discard the bonito flakes. This will prevent the sauce from becoming too strong or fishy in flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 1347mg | Potassium: 628mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.3mg