You’ll be surprised to learn that you don’t need soy sauce to enjoy your sushi or follow your favorite recipe of fried rice because there are a lot of options you can use as alternatives.
But is there a substitute for soy sauce that will work just as well as soy sauce, if not better?
Yes, there is! Not one, but many.
Here, we’ll take a look at five ingredients that can easily replace soy sauce in any recipe. But before that, let’s take a look at soy sauce and what makes it so unique.
Soy sauce is a salty-tasting, dark brown liquid used in dressings and sauces. It’s made from fermented soybeans, saltwater, a mold by the name of kōji, and grains that are roasted. But every brand includes different ingredients.
It serves as a condiment that’s used in many recipes all over the globe, like fried rice and noodles, and it’s also used as a dipping sauce with sushi.
If you’ve run out of soy sauce at home then take a look at our list of five ingredients that can be used as soy sauce substitutes.
1. Tamari sauce
Tamari sauce comes from Japan. It tastes similar to soy sauce, but the color is a lot darker. It goes great with Asian dishes, and you can use the same amount of Tamari sauce as you would soy sauce in any recipe that calls for it.
It’s also generally gluten-free, but every brand is different, so always check the labels. It’s made from miso paste (made of soy) and works great as a dipping sauce.
If you use this sauce in a recipe that’s supposed to be very salty, then you may have to add some salt to the dish because it’s low in sodium.
2. Coconut Aminos Sauce
Coconut Aminos is a great substitute for soy sauce. Besides, it’s gluten-free. It’s made from fermented coconut palm “sap” and sea salt.
It’s vegan, paleo-diet friendly, and soy-free. (Always check the labels.)
Before you can head to the store to buy it, you should note that it has a sweeter taste and it’s also a little bit on the pricier side.
3. Bragg Liquid Aminos
This soy sauce substitute is high in amino acids, but is labeled as a SOY PROTEIN SEASONING.
It contains about 320 mg of sodium in one teaspoon, and it’s extremely concentrated in flavor, so less is more with this one.
Dale’s Seasoning is gluten-free but not soy-free, used mostly for marinades, but can be used to create your own dipping sauces, or on its own.
5. Soy-Free Homemade Sauce
If you don’t want to get your hands on a store-bought alternative, then you can simply make a sauce at home within 15 minutes.
What You Need
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- A pinch of garlic powder, white pepper, and ground ginger
- 1 cup of store-bought or homemade beef stock (check the labels)
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- Salt
Instructions
- Add apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, ground ginger, white pepper, beef stock, and balsamic vinegar into a pot.
- Put the pot on the stove over medium heat, and wait until it starts to a simmer.
- Let it simmer until you notice that the mixture has been reduced to just 2 cups.
- Add salt to taste.
- Pour the mixture into a jar, store it in the refrigerator, and use it within 30 days.
Other cooking substitutions that may be helpful
- Use These 4 Paprika Substitutes in Almost Any Recipe
- What Are the Different Coriander Substitutes?
- The Best Tarragon Substitute: What You Need To Know
- Gochugaru Substitute — Best Alternatives to Get that Heat
- Are you out of cumin? 4 cumin substitutes to choose from
Final Words
You can also make a soy-free sauce at home if you don’t want to experiment with store-bought substitutes.
Did you find this blog post useful? Leave a comment below and let us know if there are any other sauces you use instead of soy sauce in your meals.
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Soy sauce substitutes
If you are out of soy sauce this is our best soy sauce replacement idea.
Ingredients
- Tamari sauce
Instructions
- Use it as a one to one substitution.
Notes
You may want to add a dash of salt but taste test first.