This Shiso Garlic Soy Sauce is a most flavorful, all-purpose condiment to go with your savory dishes! Everyone in Japan went wild for it when the recipe was first introduced. It is so easy to make and great with everything. You can also repurpose the marinated perilla leaves to enjoy with steamed rice and to make onigiri rice balls.
If you’ve been following Just One Cookbook for a while, you are most likely familiar with shiso. It is my favorite and the most popular Japanese culinary herb that we use to garnish and flavor many dishes, including sushi and tempura.
Shiso has been getting a lot more attention outside of Japan these days because of its unique aroma and ease of growing. I have had many readers who grow shiso with much success, and they always ask me what other ways to make the best of the herb. So, here I am, bringing you another EASY yet AMAZING recipe—Shiso Garlic Soy Sauce.
Not only is it an all-purpose sauce that can be used in many ways, it is also brilliant in preserving fresh shiso for a longer time.
What is Shiso Garlic Soy Sauce?
It’s basically soy sauce infused with shiso and garlic, and the original recipe was introduced by this lady who shared it on her food blog and Cookpad Japan in 2006. The word started to spread and everyone in Japan was making shiso garlic soy sauce and using it on everything they eat!
Without a doubt, the sauce is ridiculously simple, but sometimes it takes an ingenious cook to pair basic flavors and create something fresh and new that everyone loves.
I too have been making this sauce, especially in the summertime when shiso leaves are abundant.
More on Shiso
Shiso, also known as perilla leaves, has a very distinct and refreshing taste, with notes of mint, basil, cloves, and cinnamon. Your local Japanese and Korean markets should carry them. If not, you can always try growing your own shiso from seeds! They can be grown in the garden or in the pot and are fairly low maintenance. Once they start growing, you can almost guarantee a bountiful harvest.
Is it worth growing shiso? Yes, if you like Japanese food:)
Here’s our pantry page about shiso and how to use it.
How to Make Shiso Garlic Soy Sauce
The Ingredients You’ll Need
- Green shiso leaves (perilla) – New to this Japanese herb? Read more here.
- Garlic
- Soy sauce
- Sesame oil
The Cooking Step
- Combine the salt and water in a bowl or a liquid measuring cup. Soak shiso leaves in salted water for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cut the garlic into thin slices. Then, combine the garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil in a container.
- Pat dry the shiso leaves, making sure there is no moisture left. Then submerge one leaf at a time in the soy sauce mixture.
- You can keep the shiso garlic soy sauce in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. Enjoy the marinated shiso leaves with steamed rice and use the shiso garlic soy sauce to replace your regular soy sauce in cooking or drizzling over various dishes!
Notes: As you use a few of the shiso leaves, you can keep adding some fresh ones and replenish more soy sauce as needed too.
Ways to Use Shiso Garlic Soy Sauce
Use the shiso and garlic-infused soy sauce to:
Use the marinated shiso leaves to:
- Wrap the rice balls.
- Enjoy it with steamed rice.
- Top julienned shiso on Japanese-style pasta.
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Shiso Garlic Soy Sauce
This Shiso Garlic Soy Sauce is a most flavorful, all-purpose condiment to go with your savory dishes! Everyone in Japan went wild for it when the recipe was first introduced. It is so easy to make and great with everything. You can also repurpose the marinated perilla leaves to enjoy with steamed rice and to make onigiri rice balls.
Servings: 1 batch (½ cup, 120 ml per batch)
Ingredients
Prevent your screen from going dark
Instructions
To Prepare the Shiso Leaves
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Add 2 cups water and 1 Tbsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt to a liquid measuring cup or bowl and mix it well.
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Submerge 10 shiso leaves (perilla/ooba) in the salted water for 10 minutes. Tip: Salt water removes the astringency from the shiso leaves and preserves their green color after marinating.
To Prepare the Shiso Garlic Soy Sauce
To Serve
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Use the flavored soy sauce, garlic slices, or shiso leaves as you like. Take out the portion you need with a clean utensil and make sure to keep it refrigerated at all times. I like to enjoy the marinated leaves with steamed rice or to wrap around onigiri.
To Store
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You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. As you use a few of the shiso leaves, you can keep adding some fresh ones and replenish more soy sauce as needed, too.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Shiso Garlic Soy Sauce
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on April 25, 2011. It’s been republished with more information and new step-by-step and final images.
