What is teriyaki sauce primarily made of?

Teriyaki sauce is primarily characterized by its sweet and savory flavor profile, which is achieved through a specific combination of ingredients. The correct answer highlights that it is made of soy sauce, sake, mirin, and sugar.

Soy sauce serves as the base of teriyaki, providing the salty and umami flavor, while sake and mirin contribute not only additional sweetness but also complexity to the sauce. Sugar enhances this sweetness, helping to create that signature glaze that teriyaki is known for when it is cooked. This combination is a traditional method used in Japanese cuisine and is essential for achieving the right balance of flavors in teriyaki dishes.

The other options present combinations of ingredients that do not align with the traditional recipe for teriyaki sauce, thus they lack the fundamental elements that define its taste and texture.