🍯 Sauces & Condiments

Homemade Soy Sauce Substitute

Learn how to make homemade soy sauce substitutes with simple pantry ingredients. Discover easy recipes for Worcestershire-based, coconut aminos-based, and miso-based soy sauce alternatives.

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Quick Answer

The best homemade soy sauce substitutes are Worcestershire sauce with water and sugar (1:1 Worcestershire + 1 tbsp water + 1 tsp sugar), coconut aminos with rice vinegar (1:1 coconut aminos + 1 tsp rice vinegar), or miso paste with water (1 tbsp miso + 2 tbsp water).

Best Substitutes

Worcestershire + Water + Sugar

1:1 Worcestershire + 1 tbsp water + 1 tsp sugar

Mix Worcestershire sauce with water and sugar to create a simple soy sauce substitute. This combination provides umami flavor with added sweetness and is perfect for quick cooking needs.

Best for:

general cookingmarinadessaucesquick substitutes

Simple combination using common pantry ingredients

Coconut Aminos + Rice Vinegar

1:1 coconut aminos + 1 tsp rice vinegar

Combine coconut aminos with rice vinegar to create a balanced soy sauce substitute. The vinegar adds acidity that balances the natural sweetness of coconut aminos.

Best for:

gluten-free cookingsoy-free dietsPaleo cookingAsian dishes

Gluten-free and soy-free, adds acidity to balance sweetness

Miso Paste + Water

1 tbsp miso + 2 tbsp water

Mix miso paste with water to create a rich, umami-packed soy sauce substitute. Miso provides the same fermented complexity as soy sauce and is available in gluten-free varieties.

Best for:

soupsmarinadessaucesvegetarian cookinghealth-conscious cooking

Rich umami flavor, naturally fermented, gluten-free option available

Beef Broth + Worcestershire + Sugar

1:1 beef broth + 1 tsp Worcestershire + 1 tsp sugar

Combine beef broth with Worcestershire sauce and sugar for a rich, meaty soy sauce substitute. This works well for marinades and meat dishes but isn't suitable for vegetarians.

Best for:

meat dishesmarinadessaucesWestern-style cooking

Rich flavor, not suitable for vegetarians

Vegetable Broth + Tamari + Sugar

1:1 vegetable broth + 1 tsp tamari + 1 tsp sugar

Mix vegetable broth with tamari and sugar for a vegetarian-friendly soy sauce substitute. This combination provides balanced flavor with umami from the tamari.

Best for:

vegetarian cookingsoupsmarinadessauces

Vegetarian-friendly, balanced flavor profile

Salt + Sugar + Vinegar + Water

1 tsp salt + 1 tsp sugar + 1 tsp vinegar + 2 tbsp water

Create a basic soy sauce substitute using only salt, sugar, vinegar, and water. This is the most basic substitute and works in a pinch when other ingredients aren't available.

Best for:

emergency substitutesbasic cookingwhen other ingredients aren't available

Basic substitute using only pantry staples

Cooking Tips

  • 💡Homemade substitutes work best when made fresh and used immediately
  • 💡Store homemade substitutes in the refrigerator for up to 1 week
  • 💡Adjust seasonings to taste - add more salt for saltiness, more sugar for sweetness
  • 💡Use homemade substitutes in the same applications as regular soy sauce
  • 💡For best results, let homemade substitutes sit for 10-15 minutes before using
  • 💡Homemade substitutes can be customized with additional herbs and spices
  • 💡Test homemade substitutes in small amounts before using in large recipes

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary

Learn how to make homemade soy sauce substitutes with simple pantry ingredients. Discover easy recipes for Worcestershire-based, coconut aminos-based, and miso-based soy sauce alternatives.