First, ensure you have all the ingredients mentioned above handy. Measure them out. Missing an ingredient? No worries—I’ll cover some substitutes later.

In a medium saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over low heat. Let it melt slowly so it doesn’t brown. We want a smooth base, not a nutty one.

Once the butter is melted, add the soy sauce, smoked paprika, dried thyme, garlic granules, onion granules, sea salt, and cracked black pepper into the pan. Stir thoroughly to combine all the flavors. The kitchen will start to smell divine!

Next, squeeze the juice from fresh lemons to fill a quarter cup. Add it to your sauce mixture and stir well. It should start to froth a bit—this is a good sign!

Simmer the sauce for about 5 minutes. Stir it occasionally. This step allows all the flavors to meld together beautifully. You’ll notice the color become a vibrant golden hue.

Remove from heat and let the sauce cool slightly before transferring it to a jar. It can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. Just wait until you toss it onto a dish—seriously, yum!