The 10 Best Soy Sauce Substitutes for Sauces & Stir-Fries

What do you do when you reach for an ingredient, only to find you don't have it? Improvise, that's what. Even if you're not making Asian food, many recipes call for soy sauce. It has an unmistakable umami flavor that's utilized in everything from marinades and BBQ sauce to broth, glazes and dipping sauce and it works for meat, fish, veggies and pasta. That's why it's a staple ingredient in most kitchens around the world.

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Healthy Substitutes for Soy Sauce

Soy sauce can be high in sodium though (like 1,000 milligrams of sodium in one tablespoon high) and it's made from soybeans and wheat, therefore it's not gluten-free and can't be used if you're following a keto or paleo diet—or trying to keep your blood pressure in check. So, what are the best soy sauce substitutes? This list of seven breaks them down, from Tamari and Fish Sauce to Coconut Aminos and Miso Paste.

Keep in mind that any substitute ingredient is going to give you a similar flavor to soy sauce, but not an exact match. Soy sauce has a definite salty profile, which means some soy substitutes may require a little more (or less) of the ingredient than the amount of soy sauce called for in the recipe. Many of these soy sauce substitutes are vegan, gluten-free, cholesterol-free and much lower in sodium, for a healthy alternative in dishes and dipping sauces.

10 Best Soy Sauce Substitutes

1. Tamari

Tamari is the soy sauce substitute that mimics soy sauce the most on this list, as the recipes for both are similar in how they are made and fermented. Soy sauce is made with soybeans and wheat, however, and Tamari is simply soybeans so it tends to be smoother and richer—and gluten-free. It's in the same flavor profile as soy sauce, but less salty.

San-J Tamari 28% Less Sodium Soy Sauce - Tamari Sauce, Gluten Free Soy Sauce Less Sodium, Vegan, Non-GMO - 10 Fl Oz, 2-Pack

2. Coconut Aminos

It is often said that you eat with your eyes first. If you're swapping in Coconut Aminos for soy sauce, it's a pretty close match visually, with a dark color to the liquid. This is a staple ingredient for people following a gluten-free or paleo diet. Coconut Aminos also have a more pronounced molasses flavor, so you will probably want to adjust the ratio of salt in the dish accordingly. If you want to be soy-free, Coconut Aminos is a great choice for this.

Kevala Organic Coconut Aminos, 35 Fluid Ounce

Related: Is Soy Sauce on the Whole30 List?

3. Liquid Aminos

This product is made with soybeans so it makes it a worthy stand-in for soy sauce in a recipe. Liquid Aminos is a common ingredient used in recipes for those who are looking for seasonings that are vegan and gluten-free. This swap also requires balancing a slightly sweeter flavor with additional amounts of salt.

Bragg - All Natural Liquid Aminos All Purpose Seasoning - 10 oz.

4. Worcestershire Sauce

What ingredients are in a bottle of Worcestershire Sauce? The famous brown paper bag-covered bottle usually contains vinegar, tamarind, molasses and/or sugar, garlic, onion, anchovies and spices. It has a bit of a tang and sweetness that you won't find in soy sauce, but with adjustments in ingredients, you can make it work when no soy sauce is available. Note: While Worcestershire Sauce is typically not gluten-free, Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce is gluten-free, in addition to being cholesterol-free, fat-free, preservative-free and having 80 percent less sodium than soy sauce.

Lea & Perrins The Original Worcestershire Sauce (15 fl oz Bottle)

5. Fish Sauce

Fish Sauce has similar characteristic flavors to soy sauce, but a much more concentrated and strong presence when used in dishes. Fish Sauce has a fermented profile (like soy) and is usually made of anchovies. Go easy with this ingredient and slowly add to taste. Depending on the brand Fish Sauce can be gluten-free, but many contain gluten so double-check the label. Best tip? Flavor to taste rather than blindly tossing 1/4 cup of fish sauce into a stirfry that calls for 1/4 cup of soy sauce.

Red Boat Fish Sauce, 17 fl oz

6. Umeboshi Vinegar

You can find Umeboshi Vinegar in the store labeled Ume Plum Vinegar. This vinegar is the result of umeboshi-making when sour plums are salted and weighed down until a brine forms. This substitute works well as a soy sauce replacement due to the saltiness of the brine in the vinegar, which will mimic the flavor notes of soy sauce. It can also be described as sour or fruity tasting.

Eden Ume Plum Vinegar, Authentic Traditionally Made, No Chemical Additives, 10 oz Amber Glass Bottle

7. Miso Paste

Miso Paste is a fermented soybean product widely used in Japanese cuisine. The paste can be added to soups, ramen, vinaigrettes and glazes and the best part about it is it's ready to use the second you pop the lid off the tub. Miso Paste can be thinned out with some water and vinegar to take the place of soy sauce for a slightly tangy, more savory dipping sauce. A little goes a long way, however, since it can be strong, and most formulas are vegan and gluten-free unless otherwise stated on the label.

Japanese Organic Miso Paste, White, 17.6 oz

8. Anchovy paste

If it’s hard to wrap your head around adding anchovies to a recipe that calls for soy sauce, think again. “It adds umami and salt, so it can play that role,” Lipton says.

Cento Anchovy Paste 100% Italian

Related: The 13 Best Oyster Sauce Substitutes

9. Dried Mushrooms

Your favorite pizza topping can be useful when your last drop of soy sauce is gone. When you soak dried mushrooms in water, reserve the liquid excluding any sediment, then sprinkle with salt and add to stir-fries as a flavoring agent, according to Carnivore-ish author Beth Lipton. She recommends porcini mushrooms which are often available at grocery stores.

VIGOROUS MOUNTAINS Dried Porcini Mushrooms 3 OZ

10. Tomato paste

Surprise: The stuff you use to thicken sauces and tomato-based stews will give you an umami hit, Lipton says. While tomato paste is much sweeter than soy sauce, less salty, and uncommon in typical Asian dishes, it makes a stellar stand-in, according to Lipton—especially when you heat it, which deepens the flavor.

Tuscanini Premium Double Concentrated Tomato Paste Tube, 7.5oz (3 Pack) Made with Premium Italian Tomatoes

Up next, the best Sticky Ginger Soy Sauce Chicken recipe.