No soy sauce? No problem. We all know that moment when you’re reaching for the next ingredient in your recipe and it just isn’t there. Don’t panic. Don’t pay a fortune for a rush grocery delivery order. We’ve got you. Even if your lifetime supply of little soy sauce takeout packets has disappeared, you can still continue cooking as if your soy sauce supply is plentiful thanks to these easy soy sauce substitutes that mimic the beloved condiment’s viscosity, saltiness, and umami flavors.
You can swap soy sauce for tamari with an equal, 1:1 ratio. Tamari is known as soy’s older, smoother sibling, with more depth of flavor, and less saltiness. Typically made without wheat (soy sauce can use wheat), tamari can be gluten-free, and is a common substitute for soy. Try it in stir fries, sauces or dressings, noodles, and more.
A bottle of coconut aminos looks like soy sauce and has a similar salty, umami flavor. Made by fermenting coconut palm sap plus sea salt, coconut aminos is a natural swap. You can use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce with an equal, 1:1 ratio, though you may need to add extra salt. Try coconut aminos in fried rice, dipping sauces, marinades, and more.
Fish Sauce
If you’re swapping in fish sauce, start by using half the amount of soy sauce called for in the recipe, as fish sauce can be quite salty and also have some fish-like salinity. Taste and season as necessary. Fish sauce is a nice swap in soup recipes, because it brings out all the flavors and incorporates nicely.
Creamy miso paste isn’t the same texture as soy sauce, but it’s made from soy and fermented for wonderful funkiness, umami, and salt. Use a 2:1 ratio, and mix the miso with some water. For example, for a recipe that calls for 1 teaspoon of soy sauce, use 2 teaspoons of miso. This will work best in warm, cooked recipes, rather than sauces, so the miso can incorporate
Balsamic Vinegar
If soy isn’t the preliminary ingredient in your recipe, balsamic vinegar can work in a pinch. It’s tangy, dark hued, and adds some brininess, perhaps even brightening up your recipe. Use it in an equal ratio, and you may need to add a bit more salt to the recipe. This substitute would work well in brines, marinades, and condiments, like salad dressings that call for soy sauce.
Worcestershire Sauce
Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce can be substituted in equal ratios, thanks to Worcestershire’s salty, umami flavors made from vinegar, anchovies, alliums, and seasoning. This sauce works well for barbecuing, or if you’re making a cooked dish where the sauce will melt and coat the food, such as fried noodles or sautéed meats.
If you have a bottle of oyster sauce, this works as a 1:1 swap for soy sauce in cooked dishes, because of oyster sauce’s thicker consistency. Note that oyster sauce is sweeter than soy sauce, because it includes sugar, so you’ll want to cut any additional sugar from the recipe before tasting the substitute.
Liquid aminos is a gluten-free, soybean-based seasoning. Coconut aminos are non-soybean option that come from the sap of a coconut tree. Brands to try: San-J Reduced Sodium Tamari, Braggs Liquid Aminos, Coconut Secret Organic Coconut Aminos.
Liquid aminos is a gluten-free, soybean-based seasoning. Coconut aminos are non-soybean option that come from the sap of a coconut tree. Brands to try: San-J Reduced Sodium Tamari, Braggs Liquid Aminos, Coconut Secret Organic Coconut Aminos.
Tamari is extremely versatile and can be used just about anywhere you would use an all-purpose soy sauce. Though it's a popular gluten-free substitution for soy sauce, some brands may contain wheat, so be sure to check the manufacturer's label.
Maybe you have liquid aminos or coconut aminos from that time you went on a paleo kick? Both are gluten-free. Liquid aminos are made from soybeans, while coconut aminos are made from feremented coconut sap. Both taste very similar to soy sauce and make great substitutes.
Tamari. You can swap soy sauce for tamari with an equal, 1:1 ratio. Tamari is known as soy's older, smoother sibling, with more depth of flavor, and less saltiness. Typically made without wheat (soy sauce can use wheat), tamari can be gluten-free, and is a common substitute for soy.
Some people believe that soy isoflavones may raise the risk of breast or endometrial cancer. Yet, most studies find no negative effect. In some cases, they may even offer some protection against certain cancers ( 12 , 39 , 40 , 47 , 48 ).
Soy contains isoflavones, which are converted in the body to phytoestrogens, similar to human estrogen that occurs naturally in both men and women. Theoretically, a high isoflavone intake could stimulate production of estrogen and decrease production of testosterone, with one result being enlarged breast tissue.
Soy sauce also contains wheat, which some people may be allergic to. People who have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder caused by eating gluten, should avoid soy sauce that has gluten. Most soy sauces contain wheat, but some brands produce gluten-free soy sauces.
San-J No Soy Tamari is a soy sauce alternative that tastes like real soy sauce. It is made without soy, wheat, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, and sesame. This soy-free sauce is certified gluten free, vegan, kosher, Fodmap Friendly, and Non-GMO Project verified.
Liquid aminos are wheat-free and are often used as a soy sauce substitute by those following a gluten-free diet. The flavor of liquid aminos is similar to soy sauce but is slightly sweeter. Unlike soy sauce, the soybeans in liquid aminos are not fermented, so the umami flavor is not as pronounced as it is in soy sauce.
On the plus side, it's high in dietary antioxidants and it has some antimicrobial properties, says Schmidt. "At high levels of consumption, soy sauce can also have an anti-inflammatory effect," she adds. But such nutritional value is minimal, so soy sauce should primarily be enjoyed for taste or as a salt substitute.
Which Is Healthier? Tamari and soy sauce have similar nutritional make-up, including a high sodium content, so be sure to moderate your consumption. If you have celiac disease or are sensitive to gluten, opt for tamari since it's not made with wheat (though be sure to double check labels).
Choose whole soy foods like soymilk, tempeh, soy bread and tofu. Check ingredient lists to make sure the soy foods you buy are made from whole soybeans and not soy isolates. Make sure products (such as cereals) contain soy protein and not just added isoflavone.
Introduction: My name is Corie Satterfield, I am a fancy, perfect, spotless, quaint, fantastic, funny, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/substitute-soy-sauce-GettyImages-1254948983-8bcb1a62d4b84b39b7d59f09cf030b7d.jpg "7 Soy Sauce Substitutes That Are As Good As the Real Thing (1)")
