Soy Sauce is used all over the world. It can be used in soups stir-fries, stews, and salads. If you are cooking one of these types of recipes/dishes and you run out of Soy Sauce, you get frustrated sometimes. It is common and happens to everyone. Sometimes, we need to face a situation we don’t want. You don’t need to worry about not having Soy Sauce because every ingredient has its substitutes. We have a list of Soy Sauce substitutes so that you can use them in your recipe without ruining it.
Before going to know about its substitute, you need to know what is Soy Sauce actually so that it would be easy to choose a good substitute for your recipe.
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What is Soy Sauce, Actually?
Soy Sauce is the most important seasoning in Japan. It is known as Shoyu in Japanese. It is made when soybean and roasted cracked wheat are combined, mashed with salt and water, then transferred to vats to ferment and left for 18 months, then strained and poured into a bottle. It can be used in soups to stir-fries, stews, and salads. There are two types of Soy Sauce is available in the market. Light Soy Sauce and Dark Soy Sauce.
Nutrient Profile of Soy Sauce:
- Calories: 8
- Carbohydrates: 1 gram
- Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
- Sodium: 902 mg
Health Benefits of Soy Sauce:
- Soy Sauce is a good source of sodium.
- It helps to increase the secretion of gastric acid to improve digestion.
- It has anti-oxidant and anti-allergenic properties.
- Soy Sauce is high in Monosodium glutamate (MSG) Which is a flavor enhancer. It’s found naturally in some foods and often used as a food additive.
What can You Substitute for Soy Sauce?
As we know that every ingredient has its substitutes. Now, we also know that Soy Sauce has substitutes too. If you have stopped cooking and are worried about not having Soy Sauce, you can check the list of best substitutes for Soy Sauce right here. You can choose accordingly what you have right now in your kitchen.
1. Tamari:
Tamari is also made from Soybeans. It is a gluten-free Soy Sauce alternative for people who love Soy Sauce. It has a rich umami flavor that is not salty. The thick texture of Tamari makes it unique from Soy Sauce. Tamri is perfect for soups, stir-fries, stews, sauces, marinades, or as a dipping sauce.
2. Worcestershire Sauce:
Worcestershire Sauce is tangier and a little sweeter than Soy Sauce. It has a long list of ingredients that includes vinegar, tamarind, molasses and/or sugar, garlic, onion, anchovies, and spices. A good blend of these ingredients gives rich umami taste similar to Soy Sauce. For meat recipes, this soy sauce substitute can a good option around you.
3. Coconut Aminos:
Coconut Aminos is a type of sauce that is made from coconut sap. The twist is that it doesn’t taste like coconut, but it gives the same umami flavor as Soy Sauce. It is gluten-free and best for vegetarians/vegans. If you want a soy-free substitute for Soy Sauce. Coconut Aminos would be the best.
4. Oyster Sauce:
Oyster Sauce is a caramelized Oyster Sauce. It has a salty, earthy, and slightly sweet flavor. It is mostly dark brown in color with a thick consistency than the Soy Sauce. It is best to use in vegetable, stir-fry recipes as well as meat recipes. Take a similar quantity of Oyster Sauce as you take Soy Sauce.
5. Liquid Aminos:
Liquid Aminos is a protein concentrate that is not fermented but made from soybeans. Liquid Aminos are also gluten-free but low in sodium. It is really very similar to Soy Sauce but it is lighter and sweeter in taste. You can use it as a Soy Sauce alternative in many recipes/dishes.
6. Dried Mushrooms:
Dried Mushrooms can be a good Soy Sauce replacement. Mushrooms need to be rehydrated in water to achieve a liquid texture. It is not closer to Soy Sauce as much as the other listed foods. It is also gluten-free, soy-free, and low in sodium. Still, it can be used as an easy Soy Sauce substitute.
7. Fish Sauce:
Fish Sauce is made from fermented fish. It takes up to 2 years to get fermented well. It gives a strong umami flavor to the recipe/dish which is stronger than the Soy Sauce. This sauce is perfect for use in meats, salads, and stir-fries recipes/dishes.
8. Hoisin Sauce:
Hoisin Sauce is popular in Asian cuisines. It can go great with beef, duck, chicken, and pork marination. You can use it in vegetarian recipes too because it’s a plant-based sauce which means it is vegetarian. You may expect a variety of flavors because Hoisin Sauce contains garlic, chili pepper, and sesame seeds.
9. Umeboshi Vinegar:
Umeboshi Vinegar is basically a plum vinegar that is made from sour plums that are salted and weighed down to produce brine. The product is then sun-dried and bottled. The end product is vinegar. Vinegar doesn’t have a rich umami flavor, but it has a salty flavor that makes it a great alternative to Soy Sauce.
10. Liquified Miso Paste:
Miso Paste is similar to dark Soy Sauce in terms of taste. You can find the Miso in a paste form. This is the biggest challenge of using the Miso Paste converting it into a liquid form. You can achieve the liquid state by adding water, amino, and vinegar. Red Miso Paste is more flavorful and ideal as compared to the Soy Sauce substitute. The yellow and white Miso is not as effective in flavor as Red Miso.
11. Teriyaki Sauce:
Teriyaki Sauce is one of the best substitutes for Soy Sauce we have listed here. It is the same dark and glossy color that will make your food looks good and appealing. The taste of Teriyaki Sauce is very similar to Dark Soy Sauce. Teriyaki Sauce ginger, garlic, and Soy Sauce as well.
12. Anchovies:
Anchovies have a similar salty taste when compared to Soy Sauce until it is chopped. Anchovies wouldn’t work well as a dipping sauce or marinade unless it is mixed with a sauce to make a liquid sauce. It can be added to a stir fry to get a similar taste.
13. Shoyu Sauce:
As you can recognize it is with the name. It is a Japanese Sauce (Soy Sauce) that is found in both light and dark varieties. It is made from similar ingredients such as soybeans, wheat, salt, and water. Wheat gives a thicker texture to the Shoyu Sauce as compared to the Soy Sauce. It has a fruity smell and is slightly sweet in taste.
14. Balsamic Vinegar:
Balsamic Vinegar is not one of the great substitutes we have listed here. But, it can save your recipe if you run out of Soy Sauce and you don’t have any other Soy Sauce replacement. It is sweet and sour with a dark color as you want in your food. Don’t use it directly, you add some water so that it won’t be more acidic. Balsamic Vinegar is good for salads and recipes that are cold. Use Balsamic Vinegar as a substitute for Soy Sauce when you don’t have any other substitutes listed above.
FAQ:-
Can you use vinegar instead of Soy Sauce?
Yes, you can use vinegar instead of Soy Sauce. It would be more tangy and salty with less umami flavor. You can add some water to reduce its saltiness.
How do you make Light Soy Sauce from Dark Soy Sauce?
You can easily make Light Soy Sauce from Dark Soy Sauce. Take 1 part of regular Soy Sauce and 1 part of Dark Soy Sauce with 2 parts of water.
What can I use instead of Soy Sauce in fried rice?
If you want Soy Sauce free substitutes, you can use Tamari and Coconut Aminos. The other thing you can do is rely on savory ginger, vinegar, and garlic to make Asian dishes come alive.
Now, you know the best Soy Sauce Substitute. You can choose according to what you have in the kitchen or you can also buy from amazon. Please! comment down below your questions, and let us know how much informative is this article for you. 🙂
