🍯 Sauces & Condiments

Fish Sauce Substitute for Kimchi: Best Alternatives

Find the best fish sauce substitutes for making kimchi including soy sauce, miso paste, and seaweed alternatives. Perfect for vegetarian and vegan kimchi recipes.

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Quick Answer

The best fish sauce substitute for kimchi is soy sauce with rice vinegar and sugar. Use 1 tablespoon soy sauce + 1 teaspoon rice vinegar + 1/2 teaspoon sugar for 1 tablespoon fish sauce. Miso paste with water also works well, providing umami depth without fish products.

Best Substitutes

Soy Sauce + Rice Vinegar + Sugar

1 tbsp soy sauce + 1 tsp rice vinegar + 1/2 tsp sugar = 1 tbsp fish sauce

Balanced combination that mimics fish sauce's salty, tangy, and slightly sweet profile in kimchi

Best for:

kimchikorean picklesfermented vegetablesasian pickles

This combination provides the saltiness and umami that fish sauce contributes to kimchi

Miso Paste + Water

1 tsp miso paste + 2 tbsp water = 1 tbsp fish sauce

Fermented soybean paste diluted to create umami-rich liquid for kimchi

Best for:

kimchifermented vegetableskorean picklesvegetarian kimchi

Provides deep umami flavor without fish products, perfect for vegetarian kimchi

Mushroom Soy Sauce

1:1

Enhanced soy sauce with deeper umami flavor for authentic kimchi taste

Best for:

kimchikorean picklesfermented vegetablesasian pickles

Provides more complex umami than regular soy sauce, closer to fish sauce

Seaweed + Soy Sauce

1 tsp seaweed flakes + 1 tbsp soy sauce = 1 tbsp fish sauce

Ocean-derived umami from seaweed combined with soy sauce saltiness

Best for:

kimchikorean picklesfermented vegetablesasian pickles

Use nori, kombu, or wakame flakes for authentic ocean umami flavor

Tamari + Rice Vinegar

1 tbsp tamari + 1 tsp rice vinegar = 1 tbsp fish sauce

Gluten-free alternative with authentic Asian flavor profile

Best for:

gluten-free kimchikorean picklesfermented vegetables

Tamari has richer flavor than regular soy sauce and works well in kimchi

Coconut Aminos + Rice Vinegar

1 tbsp coconut aminos + 1 tsp rice vinegar = 1 tbsp fish sauce

Soy-free alternative with natural sweetness and umami

Best for:

soy-free kimchikorean picklesfermented vegetables

Coconut aminos are naturally sweet and soy-free, perfect for sensitive diets

Cooking Tips

  • 💡For authentic kimchi flavor, use soy sauce + rice vinegar + sugar as it most closely matches fish sauce
  • 💡Miso paste works exceptionally well in kimchi as it provides deep umami without fish products
  • 💡When using seaweed, let it steep in warm water for 10-15 minutes to extract maximum umami
  • 💡Mushroom soy sauce provides deeper umami that's closer to authentic fish sauce
  • 💡For vegetarian kimchi, miso paste or mushroom soy sauce are the best options
  • 💡Always taste your kimchi paste before adding to vegetables - it should be salty and umami-rich
  • 💡The fish sauce substitute should be added to the kimchi paste, not directly to the vegetables
  • 💡Consider the fermentation time - stronger substitutes like miso work well for longer fermentation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best substitute for fish sauce in kimchi?

The best substitute for fish sauce in kimchi is soy sauce combined with rice vinegar and sugar. Use 1 tablespoon soy sauce + 1 teaspoon rice vinegar + 1/2 teaspoon sugar for every tablespoon of fish sauce needed.

Can I make kimchi without fish sauce?

Yes, you can make kimchi without fish sauce by using substitutes like soy sauce + rice vinegar + sugar, miso paste with water, or mushroom soy sauce. These provide the umami depth that fish sauce contributes to kimchi.

What can I use instead of fish sauce for vegetarian kimchi?

For vegetarian kimchi, use miso paste with water, mushroom soy sauce, or seaweed + soy sauce. These provide umami depth without any fish products and work well in kimchi fermentation.

Is miso paste a good substitute for fish sauce in kimchi?

Yes, miso paste is an excellent substitute for fish sauce in kimchi. Mix 1 teaspoon miso paste with 2 tablespoons water to create a liquid with similar umami depth that works well in kimchi fermentation.

Can I use Worcestershire sauce in kimchi?

Worcestershire sauce can work in kimchi as it has similar umami characteristics to fish sauce. However, it's not as commonly used in Korean cooking as soy sauce combinations.

What's the difference between fish sauce and fish sauce substitute in kimchi?

Fish sauce provides salty umami depth and helps with fermentation. Fish sauce substitutes should provide similar saltiness and umami, but may not have the same fermentation benefits. The key is maintaining the salty, umami flavor profile.

Summary

Find the best fish sauce substitutes for making kimchi including soy sauce, miso paste, and seaweed alternatives. Perfect for vegetarian and vegan kimchi recipes.