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dipping grilled salmon in homemade ponzu sauce

Trader Joes Ponzu Sauce Copycat Recipe

This homemade version of Trader Joe’s Ponzu Sauce is light, citrusy, savory, and perfect on everything from crispy potstickers, tempura, to salmon rice bowls.
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Course: Condiment, Sauce
Cuisine: Japanese
Keyword: bonito flakes, condiment, dipping sauce, dried seaweed, ponzu, sauce, trader joes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 1 cup
Calories: 379kcal

Equipment

  • Measuring spoons and cups
  • Small saucepan
  • Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
  • mixing bowl
  • Whisk or spoon
  • Glass jar or bottle with lid (for storing sauce)
  • Citrus juicer (optional, for yuzu and lime)

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup soy sauce Regular soy sauce not low sodium
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 3 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp hot water
  • ½ tbsp yuzu juice or substitute with lemon
  • squeeze of fresh lime juice
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 ½ cup water Necessary to make bonito broth instructions below
  • ½ cup bonito flakes
  • ½ cup dried seaweed

Instructions

Make Bonito Broth

  • Heat water to very hot, but not boiling. Add the seaweed and soak for 20 minutes.
    ½ cup dried seaweed, 1 ½ cup water
  • Add bonito flakes and warm the water again for 15 minutes. Do not boil.
    ½ cup bonito flakes
  • Remove from heat and let steep for 5 minutes.
  • Strain with a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth. Let it cool before using.

Make the Ponzu Sauce

  • Take the sugar and add 1 tbsp of hot water to it to make it dissolve.
    3 tsp sugar, 1 tbsp hot water
  • Then, in a bowl or jar, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, yuzu juice, lime juice, and salt.
    ¼ cup soy sauce , 1 tbsp rice vinegar , ½ tbsp yuzu juice, squeeze of fresh lime juice, Pinch of salt
  • Add in 1/4 cup of your cooled bonito broth and mix well.
  • Taste and adjust if needed: Add more yuzu or lime for tang, A bit more sugar for sweetness, A splash more soy sauce or bonito broth for saltiness
  • Transfer to a glass jar and refrigerate for at least 30-45 minutes to let the flavors meld and then serve.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Trader Joes Ponzu Sauce Copycat Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
379
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
0.1
g
0
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.01
g
0
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.03
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
0.01
g
Cholesterol
 
71
mg
24
%
Sodium
 
3374
mg
147
%
Potassium
 
1115
mg
32
%
Carbohydrates
 
10
g
3
%
Fiber
 
0.5
g
2
%
Sugar
 
13
g
14
%
Protein
 
45
g
90
%
Vitamin A
 
0.1
IU
0
%
Vitamin C
 
3
mg
4
%
Calcium
 
25
mg
3
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.