Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup Japanese soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup Mirin
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions:

  1. In a small saucepan, whisk together the soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and black pepper until the sugar is mostly dissolved.
  2. Place the pan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a gentle bubble, then immediately reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10–12 minutes until the sauce reduces by about 25% and becomes a deep, glossy mahogany color.
  3. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the toasted sesame oil.
  4. Pour the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer into a glass jar, pressing the solids with a spoon to extract all concentrated flavor.