Can I make this vegetarian?

Absolutely! Swap oyster sauce for hoisin sauce or a vegetarian “oyster” mushroom sauce.

How do I make it gluten-free?

Use gluten-free Worcestershire and oyster (or hoisin) sauce. Double-check your labels.

Can I freeze katsu sauce?

Technically, yes, but it’s so quick to make, just whip up a fresh batch when you need it.

What’s it good with?

Everything crispy and dippable—chicken katsu, pork cutlets, shrimp tempura, fries, onion rings, even roasted veggies!

Japanese Sauce Recipe

Name: Japanese Sauce Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 1/4 cup ketchup; 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 2 tablespoons sugar; 2 tablespoons oyster sauce; 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/8 teaspoon onion powder

Description

Thick, sweet, tangy, and packed with umami—this quick Japanese Katsu Sauce is the perfect dip for all your crispy favorites. Ready in just five minutes with pantry staples, it’s your new go-to condiment.

Ingredients

Scale

1/4 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon onion powder

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

In a medium bowl, add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, oyster sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Whisk until smooth and glossy.
Taste and adjust to your liking—add more sugar for sweetness or more Worcestershire for extra tang.
Serve immediately as a dip or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, substitute hoisin sauce for oyster sauce. Letting the sauce rest in the fridge helps flavors meld. Add toasted sesame seeds for extra crunch.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Sauce
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: Japanese

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 portion
Calories: 80
Sugar: 8g
Sodium: 500mg
Fat: 1g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 1g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 18g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 1g
Cholesterol: 0mg