Place all of the ingredients in a small saucepan. (1/2 cup cold water, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp vinegar, 1 tbsp sesame oil, minced garlic, ginger root, garlic chili paste, and 1 tbsp corn starch)
Stir well with a whisk, then turn on the heat to medium.
Stirring frequently, heat the sauce until it begins to boil and thicken.
Allow to slowly boil for about 30 seconds and then remove from heat.
Notes
Teriyaki marinadeIf you want a teriyaki sauce to use as a marinade for tofu, veggies, or anything else you choose, simply omit the cornstarch from the recipe. This will make a sweet and savory sauce that is thin enough to use as a marinade, and it won't stick when heated. You can make a second batch of teriyaki sauce with the starch for a thicker glaze to pour over your cooked items.Spicy TeriyakiFor extra flavorful spicy teriyaki, add 1 tsp of Thai garlic chili paste or sriracha.Gluten-Free TeriyakiTo make it gluten-free teriyaki simply swap out the soy sauce for Tamari or Bragg's Liquid Aminos. All other ingredients are naturally gluten-free.Refined-Sugar FreeSimply swap out the brown sugar for equal amounts of maple syrup for a refined sugar-free teriyaki sauce.