7 Soy Sauce Substitutes That Are As Good As the Real Thing (2024)

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.

Just don’t forget to add soy sauce to your grocery shopping list for the future.

7 Soy Sauce Substitutes That Are As Good As the Real Thing (1)

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. Try it in stir fries, sauces or dressings, noodles, and more.

Coconut Aminos

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.

Miso Paste

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.

Oyster Sauce

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.

7 Soy Sauce Substitutes That Are As Good As the Real Thing (2024)

FAQs

7 Soy Sauce Substitutes That Are As Good As the Real Thing? ›

Tamari or liquid aminos instead of soy sauce

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.

What is better for you than soy sauce? ›

Tamari or liquid aminos instead of soy sauce

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.

What are soy alternatives? ›

12 Soy Sauce Substitutes
  • Avoiding soy.
  • Coconut Secret coconut aminos sauce.
  • Red Boat fish sauce.
  • Maggi seasoning sauce.
  • Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce.
  • Ohsawa White Nama shoyu sauce.
  • Bragg Liquid Aminos.
  • 6 Sauces to make at home.
Dec 19, 2018

Is there fake soy sauce? ›

I learned that most of the soy sauce at grocery stores is fake; it's basically caramel and other flavoring in water. It lacks the maturity and nuance that you can only find in a far more expensive (and far harder to acquire) bottle of the good stuff.

What is real soy sauce called? ›

Shoyu is the term broadly given to Japanese style soy sauces that are made from fermented soybeans, wheat, salt and water. In general, they are quite thin and clear and are a good all-purpose cooking and table sauce.

What's a healthy substitute for soy sauce? ›

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.

What is the healthiest soy product? ›

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.

Why do people say to avoid 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 ). Thyroid function.

What can you use instead of soy sauce if you are allergic to soy? ›

For soy sauce: Olive brine, balsamic vinegar, or soy-free miso sauce -- with some additional salt. For soy margarines: Real butter is always an option, although you only want to use a little. If you also have a dairy allergy, there are some soy- and dairy-free margarines.

Why do men avoid soy? ›

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.

Why avoid soy sauce? ›

The main reason that soy sauce is bad for your health is that it contains so much sodium. Over time, large amounts of sodium can lead to high blood pressure. When your blood vessels have high levels of sodium, it draws water out of your cells. This increases the amount of fluid in your blood vessels.

Is Kikkoman soy sauce fake? ›

Color and viscosity. Please also try holding the thin part of the bottle up to a light source. If the product is Kikkoman Soy Sauce, you will be able to see a thin, freely-flowing, clear and bright reddish-brown liquid.

What is the Kikkoman soy sauce scandal? ›

For more than 15 years, Kikkoman has conducted experiments in which animals were cut open, force-fed soy and other food products, blasted with radiation, and decapitated just to make dubious health claims—including about sexual behavior—even though authorities have clearly stated that animal experiments cannot be used ...

What sauce also taste like soy sauce? ›

You can substitute Worcestershire sauce for soy sauce using a one-to-one ratio in most recipes. However, it's important to note that Worcestershire sauce has a more complex flavor. To replicate the umami flavor of soy sauce more closely, mix Worcestershire sauce with a small amount of tamari.

What is pure soy sauce? ›

Authentic Chinese soy sauces tend to be made mostly from fermented soybeans with few add-ins except for the bacterial cultures. Pure soybean, sometimes called “thin,” soy sauce is light in color and mellow in flavor. It's perfect when you need to add a slightly salty twist to your cuisine.

What is the #1 soy sauce in Japan? ›

Koikuchi shoyu is the most commonly used soy sauce in the Japanese kitchen, and it's likely what you think of when you think of soy sauce. Most major supermarket brands available in the US, like Kikkoman's All-Purpose Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce, don't indicate a type on the label, but they are koikuchi shoyu.

What is the healthiest sauce option? ›

What is the healthiest condiment?
  • Guacamole.
  • Mustard.
  • Balsamic Vinegar.
  • Salsa.
  • Hot sauce.
  • Tzatziki.
  • Hummus.
  • Pesto.
Mar 17, 2024

Is liquid aminos better for you than soy sauce? ›

Liquid aminos contain less sodium than soy sauce, meaning you can use them as a milder and healthier alternative for soy sauce if you are on a low-sodium diet.

Is soy sauce healthy or unhealthy? ›

Soy sauce contains significant amounts of amines, including histamine and tyramine (3, 35). Too much histamine is known to cause toxic effects when eaten in high quantities. Symptoms include headaches, sweating, dizziness, itching, rashes, stomach problems and changes in blood pressure (34, 36 ).

Which is healthier tamari or soy sauce? ›

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).

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