Benihana Yum Yum Sauce Recipe: Add a Dash of Flavor to Your Dishes

Benihana’s Yum Yum sauce, Japanese cuisines' gift to the rest of the world, is perhaps one of the most unique condiments out there right now, waiting to be discovered.

The perfect combination of eight different and simple ingredients, all it takes to make this one is to gather them in a bowl, give them a good mix, and chill them for a few hours. We haven’t forgotten to give some tips on the best ways to enjoy your Yum Yum sauce. Make sure to check it out.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Pro Tips
• Benihana Yum Yum Sauce Recipe
• Comments

Ingredients

• Mayonnaise — 1 cup
• Rice vinegar — 2 tsp.
• Butter — 1 tbsp., melted
• Ketchup — 1 tbsp.
• Garlic powder — 1 tsp.
• Paprika — ⅓ tsp.
• Granulated sugar — 1 tbsp.
• Water — 1 tbsp.

Instructions

1. Thoroughly combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl.

2. Cover and transfer to your refrigerator.

3. Let the mixture cool for at least 2 hours.

Substitutions

• Mayonnaise — A high-quality mayonnaise is the cornerstone of Benihana’s Yum Yum sauce recipe. Still, if you’re short on it, you could always use sour cream. Greek yogurt is another option and one that is definitely healthier. Lastly, if you don’t have any problems with the different flavors, pesto could be considered as well. Miracle Whip is always an option.

• Ketchup — Although you probably have enough ketchup for this recipe, if you’d wish to make a change, tomato sauce would be the obvious substitute. Salsa would work, and while you are at it, you might also want to use BBQ sauce too!

• Paprika — Paprika brings some much-needed heat, so it’s no surprise that it’s included in Benihana’s Yum Yum sauce recipe. Cayenne pepper is likely to give you a similar taste. Bell peppers and black pepper would also be just fine.

• Rice vinegar — Vinegar works as a great improvement in your condiment, mostly because of the complex flavor and the acidity it brings. While the original Benihana’s Yum Yum sauce recipe calls for rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar will also do, as well as lemon juice.

Variations

• Vegan — Our recipe for Benihana’s Yum Yum sauce could be made vegan. While your average mayonnaise won’t likely be vegan, you could try vegan mayo if available. Hummus and avocado would also work.

• Keto — You can make Benihana’s Yum Yum sauce recipe without using sugar. Ketchup would be another problem as it includes sugar, but tomato sauce would definitely solve this problem.

• Spicy — When it comes to Benihana’s Yum Yum sauce ingredients, paprika plays an important role. It brings the heart, but that might not be enough for everyone. If that’s the case with you, a drop of Sriracha or Tabasco sauce would solve the problem for you. 

Equipment

• Measuring cup

• Measuring spoons

• Large mixing bowl

Storage

• Transfer the leftover Yum Yum sauce into an airtight container, or a jar with a lid.

• Stored in your fridge, it will last for up to a week.

Pro Tips

• The chilling — While you could definitely get away with chilling your Yum Yum sauce for a few hours, let’s say two, for the best results we would actually recommend chilling the condiment overnight.

• The serving — One of the things that makes Benihana’s Yum Yum sauce recipe is that it is a fairly flexible one, especially when it comes to serving. While traditionally this delightful condiment is served with steak, that shouldn’t stop you from experimenting. Try it with shrimp, salads, or with grilled chicken.