If you're looking for a creamy, tangy, and vegan-friendly sauce that can take your dishes to the next level, look no further than a delicious Vegan Yum Yum Sauce! It's ready in 5 minutes.
As a child, we often went to a Japanese steakhouse in Miami called Samurai, which was similar to Benihana.
It offered a teppanyaki experience where chefs cooked and performed right at your table. The atmosphere was fantastic, and I was obsessed with the ‘pink’ sauce - I’d smother it all over the vegetable fried rice…drool-worthy!
If you’re a fan of American-Japanese cuisine or Japanese steakhouses, you’ve likely encountered this sauce, known as yum yum sauce, shrimp sauce, Japanese white sauce, or hibachi sauce, at places like Benihana.
As a vegan, you might think this sauce is off-limits—but fear not! Here is a vegan version you can enjoy. This vegan yum sauce is creamy, tangy, and versatile, perfect for adding flavor to various dishes.
If you're looking for other creamy sauces to liven up your dishes, try Nut Free Vegan Cheese Sauce, Easy Vegan Cashew Cheese Sauce, and Vegan Ranch Dressing to spice up any dish. But if you enjoy experimenting with sauces at home, I have a quick and easy method for making hundreds of vegan sauces in How to Make Homemade Vegan Sauces.
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Recipe Ingredients
This is a super easy recipe with simple ingredients. See the recipe card for quantities.
- Vegan Mayo - Many vegan mayonnaises are on the market, both in the refrigerated section and shelves, so experiment to find the one you love. I haven't met one that I don't like, but their flavors do vary slightly.
- Paprika - If you do not like sweet paprika, use smoky paprika.
- Vegan Butter - This adds richness, creaminess, and overall flavor, making the sauce more indulgent and smooth. I always aim to prioritize flavor in all my recipes without too much attention to the indulgence factor so I have to include it in the recipe but if you need to leave this ingredient out, I can look the other way.
- Cashew Cream—The traditional yum yum sauce adds heavy cream for a delicious texture. I substitute it with homemade cashew cream, which gives it a creaminess and richness and creates a smooth, luxurious texture that I think is missing if you leave it out. You can also substitute it with store-bought cashew cream or an unsweetened vegan creamer.
Variations
- For a spicy kick, mix in a bit of cayenne, sriracha or another hot sauce.
- Add smoked paprika instead of sweet paprika for a deeper, smoky flavor.
- Add a splash of rice vinegar or mirin for a tangier flavor. Use about 1 tablespoon, then adjust to taste.
- Double the garlic powder or add finely minced fresh garlic for a more intense flavor.
How To Make Vegan Yum Yum Sauce
This is an easy sauce but you'll need cashew cream to prepare. It is a great substitute for heavy cream in this sauce. See the recipe card for details.
Step 1: Combine the vegan mayo, cashew cream, ketchup, and vegan butter in a medium-sized bowl.
Step 2: Stir until well combined. It will be a very light pink.
Step 3: Add the sugar, dried mustard, black pepper, white pepper, garlic powder, and salt.
Step 4: Stir to combine well. The sauce will be a slightly deeper color now. The more paprika you add, the more orange it will be with a slightly pink hue. Adjust to taste.
Top Tips
Blend the cashew cream until smooth to avoid chunks in the sauce. Even if you have a high-powered blender, I always recommend soaking the cashews for the cream because it adds a slightly more silky texture.
Store vegan Yum Yum Sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Serving Suggestions
- This is a great dipping sauce for Everything Bagel Crispy Tofu or Smoked Tofu.
- Spread it on a veggie burger bun or use it as a topping like in Chipotle Black Bean Burger.
- Vegan yum yum sauce makes an excellent dip for roasted potatoes, sweet potato fries, or Delicious Air-Fryer Fries.
- Pair vegan yum yum sauce with fresh spring rolls, fried spring rolls, or Vegan Summer Rolls.
- Use it as a sauce in Jackfruit Tacos, burritos, or wraps.
Vegan Yum Yum FAQS
No, this vegan sauce is not spicy. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a tablespoon or two of sriracha to make it spicy.
You can freeze vegan yum yum sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator before using it.
Related Recipes
Vegan Yum Yum Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup vegan mayonnaise
- ½ cup cashew cream
- 4 teaspoons ketchup
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- 4 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon paprika
- pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Cashew Cream: To make cashew cream, blend 1 cup of softened cashews with ¾ cup of water in a high-speed blender.* Add a squeeze of lime juice if desired.
- Combine the Ingredients: Add the vegan mayo, cashew cream, ketchup, and melted vegan butter in a medium bowl and mix well until combined.
- Add the Spices: Add the sugar, dried mustard, garlic powder, salt, white pepper, paprika, and black pepper. Mix until well combined and smooth.
- Optional: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the sauce for at least two hours to allow the flavors to meld.
- Final Adjustments: Once the sauce is chilled, give it a good stir and taste for seasoning.
Anonymous says
So good!