Yum Yum Sauce (2024)

• Mayonnaise:Mayo is commonly used as the base in sauces because it binds the ingredients together and prevents them from separating. It also adds creamy richness. Please use real mayonnaise like Hielamans or Dukes and not Miracle Whip.
• Greek yogurt or sour cream: These lighten and brighten the sauce so it’s creamy but not heavy. You can use full fat or reduced fat.
• Ketchup:This adds a subtle tangy sweetness but I promise it won’t make your Yum Yum Sauce taste remotely like ketchup!
• Rice wine: This adds a sweetness and depth of flavor. I use“Kikkoman Aji-Mirin: Sweet Cooking Rice Seasoning”which is commonly found in the Asian section of most grocery stores or you canAmazon it.I highly suggest you google image before you head off to the grocery store so you know exactly what you are looking for. The best substitute for rice wine is pale dry sherry with ½ teaspoon sugar.
• Rice vinegar: This is different than rice wine. It is tangy without any sweetness. It is usually located by the other vinegars near the salad dressings at your grocery store. Make sure to use unseasoned rice vinegar.If you don’t keep it stocked, you may substitute with white vinegar.
• Sriracha: A kick of heat awakens, balances and complements the rest of the flavors. So, if you feel like your Yum Yum Sauce is missing something, it is probably heat! I use sriracha but you can use your favorite chili sauce or cayenne pepper to taste.
• Seasonings: Garlic powder, ground ginger, smoked paprika, ground mustard, onion powder, salt, and pepper awaken all the flavors. Use more or less to taste.

• Make it lighter:Swap the mayonnaise for light mayo and the sour cream for Greek yogurt. You can also use all Greek yogurt, but this will make it tangier, so you may wish to reduce the rice vinegar.
• Make it vegan: Swap the mayonnaise and sour cream for a vegan kind like Vegenaise.
• Keep itketo: Yum Yum Sauce is already low carb, but if you’re following a keto diet, be sure to use mayonnaise that is free of soybean oil such as avocado oil mayo.
• Spice it up: Add additional Sriracha, or use your favorite chili sauce or cayenne pepper to taste.
• Make it tangier: Add additional rice vinegar.
• Make it sweeter: Add additional rice wine vinegar or a teaspoon or so of sugar or honey.
• Make it more tomato-forward: Add additional ketchup.
• Use tomato paste: Some recipes use tomato paste instead of ketchup which will make your sauce extra tomato-y, whereas ketchup will give you a sweeter tomato flavor. If you use tomato paste, add a little sugar to taste, anywhere from 1-2 teaspoons.
• Control the consistency: While I like the sauce uber creamy so it really sticks to the chicken, steak or veggies, you can make it runnier by adding either water, oil, or rice vinegar one teaspoon at a time.
• Add butter: I find butter overkill with the rich and creamy mayo, but feel free to stir in a couple tablespoons of melted butter if you like. Please note that if butter is used, the dip tends to firm up if not at room temperature.

• Step 1: Mix everything together. Whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, ketchup, rice wine, rice vinegar and all seasonings.
• Step 2:Chill. Time permitting, chill the Yum Yum Sauce for 2 hours before serving.
• Step 3:Enjoy! See below for all sorts of serving options!

• Adjust to taste. This recipe is so incredibly simple, you really can’t mess it up! The only way it won’t taste right is if you don’t play with it to make itright for you.Feel free to add more or less ketchup, sriracha or rice wine to your taste. See above section for variations.
• Chill in the fridge.Refrigerate the sauce for at least 30 minutes, even better if you have 2 hours, or overnight! This will give the flavors a chance to meld together.
• Rice wine substitute: Mix 1tablespoonwhite wine, dry sherry or vermouth with 1teaspoonsugar.
• Meal Prep: The recipe is made with ingredients with a long shelf life, so it’s great to make ahead to have on hand!

• Any protein: Dunk or drizzle any protein from steak to chicken to pork in homemade Yum Yum Sauce for instant YUM. It’s especially good with protein hot off of the grill.
• Grilled or roasted veggies:Dunk your grilled, roasted, steamed, or sautéed vegetables in this recipe and you’ll never have bland veggies again! The recipe is also fabulous on grilled veggie kabobs,corn on the cob,grilled zucchini,roasted carrots,roasted Brussels sprouts,roasted broccoli,roasted cauliflower,roasted asparagus,etc.
• Fried seafood:Yum Yum Sauce is tasty with fish sticks (check out myoven/air fryer recipe!),crab cakes,salmon patties, fish and chips, fried shrimp, fried clams, fried calamari and fried oysters to compliment the crunchy, crispy texture.
• Crispy baked or fried chicken:Try it withpopcorn chicken,baked fried chicken,orchicken strips.
• Fried rice and noodles: Drizzle some sauce over top for an instant punch of flavor.
• Asian appetizers: Use it as a dipping sauce for potstickers, wontons, egg rolls, sushi and rice balls.
• French fries and onion rings: Think of it as fry sauce with more flavor!
• Crispy baked or fried appetizers: Fried pickles, fried green tomatoes,hushpuppies, zucchini fries, etc. love a dunk in the silky sauce.
• Crudité platter: Serve the Yum Yum Sauce recipe as a dip with your favorite fresh veggies (celery sticks, carrot sticks, cucumber sticks, bell pepper strips, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, baby corn, asparagus spears, sugar peas, cucumber slices, etc.), on a platter along with some pita bread.
• Potatoes:Drizzle, dollop or dunk roasted potatoes,smashed potatoes,baked potatoesandmashed potatoes with the sauce.
• On burgers, sandwiches and wraps:Swap your mayo,hummusortzatzikifor this Yum Yum Sauce recipe instead. We especially love it inclassic burgers,Greek burgers,chicken gyros,doners,and po’ boy sandwiches.
• Egg condiment: Top your scrambled, fried, sunny side ordeviled eggswith this sauce and sink your teeth into an explosion of flavor.
• Salad:Use it as the dressing in tuna salad, lobster salad, crab salad, ham salad or egg salad.

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