Some dinners just need a sauce that does the heavy lifting. This honey soy glaze is exactly that: sweet, salty, and a little tangy, and it comes together in about 15 minutes with pantry staples. Brush it on salmon, chicken, roasted carrots, or tofu, or keep a jar handy for drizzling over rice bowls.
What You’ll Need
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil (optional)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water
How to Make It
- In a small saucepan, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil if using. Keep the heat on medium-low for now; honey can scorch if the pan gets too hot too quickly.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Let it bubble softly for about 3 minutes so the flavors meld. Stir once or twice.
- Give the cornstarch slurry a quick stir, then pour it into the saucepan while whisking. Continue simmering for 1 minute, until the glaze thickens enough to lightly coat the back of a spoon.
- Take the pan off the heat. The glaze will thicken more as it cools, so don’t be tempted to boil it down far.
💡 Note: If you’re glazing chicken or salmon, brush it on during the last few minutes of cooking. The natural sugars in the honey can burn if exposed to high heat for too long.
How to Use and Store It
Use the glaze warm or at room temperature. It’s thick enough to cling to food but thin enough to drizzle. A little goes a long way, so start with a spoonful and taste as you go.
Store leftovers in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to a week. If it thickens too much after chilling, stir in a teaspoon of warm water before using. For a gluten-free version, swap the soy sauce for tamari. No rice vinegar? Use apple cider vinegar or a splash of fresh lemon juice instead.
Keep a small jar of honey soy glaze in the fridge, and busy weeknights get noticeably easier. It turns plain fish, chicken, and roasted vegetables into something you’ll actually look forward to eating.
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