Soy Sauce Substitute: What Can You Use and Make?

When it comes to cooking condiments, soy sauce is a staple ingredient. Not just in restaurants, but many home cuisines call for soy sauce also. Soy sauce is something you can’t avoid in Asian cuisine, and we’ve seen it used in other recipes as well recently.

But what happens when you don’t have soy sauce at home? Or when you want to use gluten-free soy sauce? Well, luckily for you, there are several soy sauce substitute options you can try. Here are some alternatives to the savory taste of soy sauce.

Why avoid soy sauce?

Before we get to the soy sauce substitute options, let’s discuss why you want to eliminate the savory sauce at the first place. The first reason is to avoid the main ingredient of the sauce: soy. Some children are allergic to soy, which is a good enough reason to make your dishes soy-free. Some children outgrow the allergy, but others don’t.

The second big reason to avoid soy sauce is gluten, which is another common allergen, especially for people with Celiac disease. In the past few years, gluten intolerance has become a popular topic. And with that, we are all looking for new and creative ways to cook without gluten.

Last, but not least, soy sauce is rich in sodium. Therefore, when you want to lower your sodium intake, ditch the soy sauce.

Store-bought soy sauce substitute options

I will give you some store bought alternatives, but also a way to make your own soy sauce at home. Let’s start with the store-bought options.

Tamari sauce

Tamari is a Japanese sauce that is very close to the taste and flavor of soy sauce. And since it comes from Japan, you can easily use it in Asian cuisine. You can replace equal parts of tamari sauce for equal parts of soy sauce. The sauce is darker in color, but very similar in taste.

The main difference is that tamari sauce contains little to no wheat, which makes it a gluten-free option. However, make sure to check the label. Think of it as the Japanese version of soy sauce, traditionally made from miso paste. Tamari sauce is great for dips, since it has a richer flavor without the harsh bite of soy sauce.

When you prepare savory dishes that are meant to be extremely salty, add salt to the dish, since Tamari sauce contains very little sodium.

Worcestershire sauce

Another popular sauce you can find in stores is Worcestershire. If you want to use it as a soy sauce substitute, you mix it with water. The recipe is three tablespoons of the sauce with one tablespoon of water, which is enough for ¼ cup of soy sauce. If your recipe calls for more soy sauce, adjust the measurements accordingly.

You will notice a difference in taste, since Worcestershire contains ingredients like onions, chili pepper extract, garlic, and vinegar, all of which are absent in soy sauce.

However, if your goal is to avoid soy, this sauce won’t help you much, since soy is also the main ingredient in Worcestershire sauce.

Coconut aminos

This is a secret ingredient not many will tell you about. Coconut aminos is a sauce that you can use as a healthy soy sauce substitute. Since it’s gluten-free, coconut aminos is a great alternative. Made from coconut trees with some sea salt, coconut aminos contain far less sodium than soy sauce. The downside is that this sauce is tad more expensive than soy sauce. The flavor is a bit sweeter as well.

Maggi seasoning sauce

For more than one century, this sauce has been used in Europe for enhancing the flavor of any food dish. The thing you need to pay attention to is the region; the company tailors the recipe and flavors to the local cuisine.

Check the ingredients list. Maggi can contain both soy and wheat, but in smaller amounts than soy sauce. However, if you’re looking for a different flavor enhancer to try, Maggi is a great option.

Red boat fish sauce

The good news is that this sauce is also good for Asian cuisine dishes, since it originates from Thailand. There are no soybean proteins in it. In addition, the sauce is gluten-free.

The bad news is that the sodium amount is high, much higher than in soy sauce. So if you’re looking to cut down on sodium, this won’t be the best option. But if you want a gluten- and soy-free alternative to soy sauce, this is it.

Make your own soy sauce

I said at the beginning that I would also give you options to make your own sauce. This option contains soy, but if you want a homemade sauce that is better than the store-bought version, try this recipe.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces of flour (preferably organic)
• 8 ounces of salt
• 4 quarts of water

How to make it

1. Cook the soybeans and then chop them using a knife. If you have a food processor, it’s even easier. Once you have a soybean paste, add it to a large mixing bowl.
2. Add flour and mix the two ingredients. Once you have a smooth, fine mixture, turn it out onto a flat surface. Form it into a log shape.
3. Cut the log into ¼-inch thick slices. Moisten paper towels with water and lay them all out flat. Start layering with a towel layer, and then add the dough disks between the paper towels, making sure to finish with a towel paper. Wrap in plastic wrap, and place the package on the baking sheet.
4. Place the package in an inconspicuous area, and let it stay there until the package is completely saturated in mold. Usually, it takes 7-10 days. Unwrap the package, and place the slices on clean baking sheets, 1-2 inches apart. Let them dry out completely. You’ll notice that they’ll turn brown. If possible, put them in direct sunlight
5. Mix salt and water in a large pot, and add all of the disks. Cover the pot with plastic wrap, and let the mixture ferment. Once per day, stir the mixture with a wooden soon. The fermentation is complete when all the disks are completely dissolved (a process which takes a few weeks to a few months).
6. Strain the liquid and pour into a container. You now have your very own homemade soy sauce.

Soy-free homemade sauce

Speaking of homemade soy sauce substitutes, you can make one without any soy. And it will take you no more than 15 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 cup homemade or store-bought beef stock
• 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
• A pinch of garlic powder, ground ginger, and white pepper
• Salt (optional)

How to make it

1. Place all the ingredients, except for the salt, in a small pot and bring to a simmer. You will notice small bubbles on the surface.
2. Simmer until the mixture is reduced to about 2 cups. Season with salt if you want, or avoid adding salt altogether.
3. Pour into a jar, refrigerate for 10 days, and you have a homemade, soy-free, soy sauce substitute.