12 Best Soy Sauce Substitutes You Might Already Have

Soy sauce provides a signature taste to Asian dishes. It has a rich umami flavor that can be described as savory and salty.

It works well with a variety of dishes including stir-fries, dumplings, and more.

But what if you’re out of soy sauce? Or what if you have a wheat allergy or other allergies that make it difficult to eat soy sauce?

Best soy sauce substitutes you might already have

Or maybe you’re watching your sodium intake and would rather not deal with soy sauce’s high sodium content.

Well, in these instances, you may want to try one of the many soy sauce substitutes.

There are many foods that make good soy sauce substitutes. This article will take a look at some soy sauce alternatives so you can decide which are most suitable for your dishes.

I’ll quickly go through them so you have an idea and I’ll cover when to use them more in a bit.

Substitute When to use

Tamari The perfect gluten-free substitute

Worcestershire Sauce Worcestershire sauce may be from the other side of the world, but you would be amazed to find how much it tastes like soy sauce

Coconut Aminos Coconut aminos don’t taste like coconut and have that great umami flavor

Liquid Aminos This protein concentrate is also made from soybeans

Dried Mushrooms Rehydrate dried mushrooms in water to get that signature umami taste

Fish Sauce Fish sauce has a strong umami flavor

Maggi Seasoning Maggi seasoning has glutamic acid that is synonymous with umami flavoring

Umeboshi Vinegar Umeboshi vinegar’s salty taste makes it a good soy sauce substitute

Liquified Miso Paste Miso paste is a great soy sauce substitute because it’s made with fermented soybeans

Salt Salt may be the easiest substitute for soy sauce and it’s definitely salty!

Anchovies Finely chopped anchovies provide a salty taste so you won’t miss the soy sauce

Shoyu Sauce Shoyu sauce is very similar to soy sauce but it has a slightly lighter taste

Make Your Own There are plenty of ingredients you can mix to get a terrific soy sauce substitute. A recipe will be listed later on in the article.

What is soy sauce?

I’ll get into these some more, and even a recipe for the perfect substitute that covers all of these bases, but before looking at the best soy sauce substitutes, let’s take a look at what soy sauce contains.

The better you understand what soy sauce is, the more you’ll know what to substitute for in your dishes, because as we saw earlier some substitutes work better in one situation than another.

Soy sauce is made from fermented soybeans, brine (or saltwater), roasted grains, and a mold called koji. This is what makes it both salty and umami.

So soy sauce is added to dishes for its saltiness and its umami.

Best soy sauce substitutes

Now that we know what soy sauce is, let’s take a closer look at those ingredients that can make good substitutes.

Tamari

Tamari is a great alternative for people that love the taste of soy sauce but would rather do without the wheat.

It’s the perfect gluten-free soy sauce alternative.

Like soy sauce, tamari is also made with soybeans. Therefore, it produces a similar umami taste.

However, it has a richer flavor that isn’t as salty.

In general, tamari will taste great in almost any dish you might use soy sauce in. It’s especially good for dipping.

Worcestershire sauce

Worcestershire sauce may come from a completely different part of the globe (it’s British in origin) but its fermented qualities make it a terrific soy sauce substitute.

It is much lower in sodium so it’s perfect for those looking to reduce salt intake. However, it is not recommended for people with shellfish or seafood allergies.

The sauce is made from malt vinegar, spices, sugar, salt, onions, garlic, anchovies, tamarind extract, and molasses.

These ingredients give it a rich umami taste similar to soy sauce. However, it is a bit tangier and sweeter.

It’s perfect when used as a soy sauce substitute in meat dishes.

Coconut aminos

Coconut aminos is a sauce made from fermented coconut sap.

Contrary to its name, it does not taste like coconut. As compared to soy sauce, it has a similar umami taste but it’s a bit sweeter.

It’s also lower in sodium and gluten-free. It can be used to replace soy sauce in just about any recipe.

Liquid aminos

Liquid aminos is a liquid protein concentrate. Like soy sauce, it’s made from soybeans but it is not fermented.

It is gluten-free but it contains soy and it is not low in sodium.

Tastewise, liquid aminos is very similar to soy sauce but it is slightly sweeter and lighter. It can be used as a soy sauce substitute in most dishes.

Dried mushrooms

Dried mushrooms can also be a good soy sauce alternative. Shiitake mushrooms, in particular, will produce the closest taste.

The mushrooms will need to be rehydrated in water to achieve a liquid texture and, in comparison to other foods mentioned on the list, they may not be as close taste-wise, but they will do in a pinch.

They are also gluten-free, soy-free and low sodium.

Dried mushrooms can be used in just about any dish you would add soy sauce to but they do not provide as rich of a flavor.

Fish sauce

Fish sauce is a condiment that’s made from fish or krill fermented in sauce for up to two years.

It produces a strong umami flavor. In fact, the flavor is way stronger than soy sauce. Therefore, it’s best to use it in moderation.

In spite of the name, fish sauce does not produce a fishy flavor. It works well on meats, salads, and stir-fries.

In case you are wondering: Is Anchovy Sauce the Same as Fish Sauce?

Maggi seasoning

Maggi seasoning is made from a fermented wheat protein with lots of glutamic acid added.

It is decidedly not gluten-free, but the acids give it a rich umami flavor. It has been called a ‘second cousin to soy sauce’.

While the seasoning is effective in producing a umami flavor, it is the salty taste that will stand out. It’s also extra concentrated so use it to taste.

Maggi seasoning can give any food a flavorful depth but it is most commonly used in soups, sauces, and stews.

Umeboshi vinegar

Umeboshi vinegar is made from sour plums that are salted and weighed down to produce a brine which is then sun-dried and bottled. The end product is the vinegar.

The vinegar has a salty taste that makes it a great soy sauce substitute, but it does not have as much of a rich umami flavor.

Some recommend combining it with aminos to get the best of both worlds.

Although umeboshi tastes good on most foods, it is recommended for its ability to add taste to cooked vegetables. It can also enhance the taste of salad dressings.

Liquefied miso paste

Miso paste is very similar to soy sauce. Like soy sauce, it is also made from fermented soybeans and it is also inoculated with koji.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that it makes a good substitute in recipes.

The biggest challenge in using miso paste will be converting it into a liquid substance. This can be achieved with the addition of water, vinegar and aminos.

The type of paste you use will affect the flavor profile. Red miso is deep and flavorful making it an ideal soy sauce substitute as compared to milder varieties like yellow or white miso.

Because miso is so similar to soy sauce, it will make an ideal alternative in any meal.

Also read: Can I use red or brown instead of white miso paste? [How to substitute]

Salt

Sure, salt doesn’t have the same umami taste soy sauce does, but it definitely brings the saltiness.

The best part is, almost everyone has salt in their kitchen cabinets so it makes the easiest substitute if nothing else.

Sea salt is another option. Sea salt differs from regular salt in both texture and processing.

Some say the two have slightly different tastes while others say it is barely detectable.

All the same, if you prefer one to the other, use your preference as your soy sauce alternative.

Anchovies

Anchovies have a salty rich flavor that can be compared to soy sauce. When finely chopped, they can be added to a stir fry or sauce to achieve a similar taste.

However, because anchovies can’t be made into a liquid, they will not work well as a dipped sauce or marinade unless they are mixed in with a sauce beforehand.

Anchovies can also be overbearing when used in recipes so go easy when adding them to your dishes.

Shoyu sauce

Shoyu sauce is the name for Japanese-style soy sauce.

There are light and dark shoyu varieties. It is made from similar ingredients including soybeans, wheat salt, and water.

Shoyu tends to be thinner and lighter than other types of soy sauce but, essentially there are few differences between shoyu and soy sauce.

Therefore, it makes an ideal substitute for any dish.

Make your own soy sauce substitute

If you have a soy allergy, or you can’t eat wheat, there’s this great recipe that you can make.

15 min homemade soy sauce substitute

Soy sauce can make or break a recipe. If you don’t have any on hand, it can be disappointing, but fortunately, this one is very delicious. Course SauceCuisine Japanese Cook Time 15 minutesTotal Time 15 minutes Servings 1 cup Calories 59kcal Author Joost Nusselder Cost $0.90

Ingredients

4 tbsp. beef bouillon
2 tsp. dark molasses
4 tsp. Balsamic vinegar
1 pinch white pepper
½ tsp. ground ginger
1 ½ cups water
1 pinch garlic powder

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Mix all ingredients together in a saucepan.
Stir them together over medium heat. Let the mixture come to a boil.
Let it boil until it's reduced to one cup. This should be achieved after about 15 minutes.

Notes

This recipe will yield one cup or 8 ounces of soy sauce. The smaller bottles you buy at a grocery store are typically 5 oz so this will give you plenty to use in your recipes and for your condiment needs. In terms of cost, the entire recipe will cost about 90 cents which is a lot cheaper than any bottle of decent soy sauce you can buy in the market. Considering you’ll have plenty of leftover ingredients to use in other recipes, you will come out ahead by a long shot.

Nutrition

Now, most of those ingredients you’ll probably have, but if you’re thinking

“He, I was looking for a substitute for soy sauce because I don’t have any at hand, but I don’t have molasses at hand either!”

I know, it is the best substitute though because it has the right color as well, but you can also use 2 teaspoons of corn syrup, the dark kind if you have it, honey, or maple syrup.

You might not get the same thickness of the makeshift soy sauce or the right color but you’ll be on the right track for the perfect fit in your dish.

Conclusion

Soy sauce can make or break a recipe. If you don’t have any on hand, it can be disappointing, but fortunately, there are many substitutes that can work in a pinch.

Which do you prefer using when your bottle is empty?

Read next: All about Kikkoman, the brand is best known for its soy sauce.

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