11 Best Soy Sauce Substitutes for Cooking

Looking for delicious soy sauce substitutes that don’t wreck the flavor profile of your dish? Explore easy soy sauce substitutes you probably already have available in your pantry. Soy sauce is a common cooking ingredient popularized by Asian cuisine. 

Soy sauce, also known as shoyu, dates back to 206 B.C. This salty brown liquid is made with fermented soybeans, roasted grains, brine and a koji mold. Soy sauce is known for its salty umami taste that pairs well with fresh fish, stirfry and fried rice. This popular cooking ingredient can be found in many different iterations including light soy sauce, dark soy sauce and sweet soy sauce. Fortunately, for those of you who use it regularly and are therefore likely to run out when you need it most, there are many alternatives to soy sauce available for any dish.

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• What Is the Purpose of Soy Sauce in Cooking?
• The 11 Best Substitutes for Soy Sauce

What Is the Purpose of Soy Sauce in Cooking?

Soy sauce is an easy way to season a dish while adding an intriguing depth of flavor with umami. Commonly used in Asian cuisine, cooking with soy sauce can have a steep learning curve. Explore cooking classes near you and learn to cook with soy sauce like a professional. Gain hands-on skills in the kitchen while making dazzling dishes such as hibachi fried rice or hand-rolled sushi.

If going out isn’t your style, stay in and choose from various online cooking classes. Upgrade your culinary skills from the comfort of your own home while having a blast.

The 11 Best Substitutes for Soy Sauce

1. Worcestershire Sauce

This tongue twister sauce is a great soy sauce substitute for people looking to avoid excessive sodium. Worcestershire sauce is a fermented sauce from Britain containing malt vinegar, anchovies, sugar, spices, onions, garlic, tamarind extract and molasses. The lower sodium content coupled with the umami flavor makes Worcestershire sauce a great soy sauce substitute for any dish. Worcestershire sauce can replace soy sauce in a 1:1 ratio when cooking.

2. Tamari

Tamari and soy sauce have similar flavor profiles but are made differently. Tamari originates in Japan and is made by straining off the liquid from fermented miso paste. Soy sauce is Chinese in origin and is made from fermented soybeans. Because tamari is fermented for much longer than soy sauce it has a richer, deeper umami flavor that pairs well with fresh sushi. Check out this authentic okonomiyaki sauce that is ideal for dipping sushi.

Tamari is typically gluten-free and soy-free making it a great choice for those with allergies. Using tamari as a soy sauce substitute will elevate your dish with a more complex and aromatic flavor with less saltiness. Because it is so rich and flavorful, tamari is a great dark soy sauce substitute. Tamari can replace soy sauce with a 1:1 ratio when cooking.

3. Coconut Aminos

Explore vegan soy sauce substitutions with coconut aminos. This plant-based sauce is made from fermented coconut sap giving it a pleasant umami flavor that is sweeter than soy sauce. Coconut aminos are a great substitute for soy sauce for people avoiding high sodium because it contains 90 milligrams per teaspoon compared to 290 milligrams per teaspoon in soy sauce. Add coconut aminos to vegetable lo mein for a hearty vegan entrée. Coconut aminos can replace soy sauce in a 1:1 ratio.

4. Liquid Aminos

Liquid aminos are marketed as a natural soy sauce substitution. Made from soy beans that have not been fermented, this substitute for soy sauce is milder than soy sauce with similar sodium content. Liquid aminos have a slightly sweeter taste and they are vegan and gluten-free. Try liquid aminos as a natural soy sauce substitution for grilled mahi mahi for a healthy mid-week meal. Liquid aminos can replace soy sauce in a 1:1 ratio.

5. Fish Sauce

Fish sauce is a flavor-packed sauce made from fermented krill, fish or squid that has been fermented in brine for up to two years. This soy sauce substitute packs a major umami punch. Due to the powerful flavor, it is not recommended to substitute fish sauce for soy sauce in a 1:1 ratio. Instead, use one part fish sauce with two parts lemon juice for a delicious soy sauce substitute.

6. Dried Shiitake Mushrooms

Looking for a healthy soy sauce substitute that is low sodium, vegan and gluten-free? Dried shiitake mushrooms pack a yummy umami punch without any of the unhealthy additives. Simply rehydrate the dried mushrooms before straining the liquid. This flavorful juice can be used in a 1:1 ratio as a soy sauce substitution.

7. Miso Paste

Miso paste is a thick paste made from fermented soybeans, koji and salt making it very similar to soy sauce in taste but different in texture. To use miso paste as a soy sauce substitute simply mix it with a little water and stir until smooth. The substitution ratio is 1:2.

8. Balsamic Vinegar 

Using balsamic vinegar as a soy sauce substitute is a great idea in recipes that use a small amount of soy sauce. Swap soy sauce for balsamic in things like brines, marinades and condiments. Balsamic vinegar is more acidic than soy sauce and doesn't have any sodium so don’t forget the salt. Use balsamic vinegar for soy sauce in a 1:1 ratio.

9. Maggi Seasoning 

Maggi seasoning is a Swiss condiment made from fermented wheat proteins which gives it a similar umami flavor to soy sauce. Maggi is a concentrated form of Vegemite making it a strong soy sauce substitute, so use it sparingly. Because it is so strong Maggi is an effective dark soy sauce substitute. Use half as much Maggi seasoning if substituting it for soy sauce in a recipe.

10. Anchovies

Switching anchovies for soy sauce doesn't work in every recipe but it can come in handy for certain dishes. Using a salty tin of fish can add a flavorful punch to recipes like curry. Finely chopping or blending the anchovies is a great way to add an intriguing flavor to a dish without using soy sauce. 

11. Homemade Soy Sauce Substitute

Looking for a homemade alternative to soy sauce? If you prefer to make your own soy sauce substitute when cooking, try this innovative recipe that mimics a traditional soy sauce. Combine two tablespoons of beef bouillon, one teaspoon of molasses, one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and a pinch of ground ginger, garlic powder and black pepper in a saucepan. Add a third of a cup of water and bring the mixture to a boil, cooking for 10 to 12 minutes. The result will be a homemade soy sauce substitute that lasts in the fridge for up to five days. If you don’t have molasses handy you can use any other type of sugar to sweeten your homemade soy sauce substitution. 

Cooking is an art form and recipes are meant to be followed, but as most of us have experienced, sometimes we run out of key ingredients just when we need them the most. This makes knowing what substitutions work best for a given ingredient extremely useful, and the best thing about it is that you may just decide the the substitution tastes better! After all, taste is such a personal thing! Supposing that soy sauce is a key ingredient on your home cooking roster, whether you are in a pinch and forgot to grab some at the grocery store or you have dietary restrictions, there are many soy sauce substitutions available for any dish.

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