🍯 Sauces & Condiments

Vegan Soy Sauce Substitutes: Complete Guide

Discover the best vegan soy sauce substitutes including tamari, coconut aminos, and liquid aminos. Learn proper ratios and cooking tips for delicious plant-based cooking without animal products.

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Quick Answer

The best vegan soy sauce substitutes are tamari (1:1 ratio), coconut aminos (1:1 ratio), and liquid aminos (1:1 ratio). All are plant-based and provide similar umami flavor. Avoid Worcestershire sauce and fish sauce as they contain animal products.

Best Substitutes

Tamari

1:1

Tamari is the best vegan substitute for soy sauce. Made from soybeans only (no wheat), it provides the same umami flavor and saltiness as traditional soy sauce while being naturally gluten-free and vegan.

Best for:

stir-friesmarinadessaucessushiteriyakivegan cooking

Closest flavor match, naturally gluten-free, made from soybeans only

Coconut Aminos

1:1

Coconut aminos are made from coconut sap and are naturally vegan, soy-free, and gluten-free. They provide a similar umami flavor but are slightly sweeter and lower in sodium than soy sauce.

Best for:

stir-friesmarinadessaucessoy-free dietsPaleo cookingvegan cooking

Soy-free and gluten-free, slightly sweeter, made from coconut sap

Liquid Aminos

1:1

Liquid aminos are made from soybeans and are naturally vegan. They contain all essential amino acids and provide a similar flavor profile to soy sauce without any animal products.

Best for:

stir-friesmarinadessaucessalad dressingsvegan cooking

Contains all essential amino acids, vegan, similar flavor profile

Bragg Liquid Aminos

1:1

Bragg Liquid Aminos is a popular vegan brand of liquid aminos that provides a similar flavor to soy sauce. It's made from soybeans and contains all essential amino acids.

Best for:

stir-friesmarinadessaucessalad dressingsvegan cooking

Popular vegan brand of liquid aminos, contains amino acids

Mushroom Sauce

1:1

Mushroom sauce is made from mushrooms and is naturally vegan. It provides rich umami flavor similar to soy sauce and works well in many plant-based dishes.

Best for:

vegetarian cookingstir-friessaucesmarinadesvegan cooking

Plant-based, rich umami flavor, may be thicker than soy sauce

Homemade Vegan Soy Sauce

1:1

Make your own vegan soy sauce substitute by combining plant-based ingredients like nutritional yeast, miso paste, and herbs. This gives you complete control over the ingredients and flavor profile.

Best for:

complete control over ingredientscustomized flavorvegan cooking

Make your own with plant-based ingredients and flavor enhancers

Cooking Tips

  • 💡Always check labels to ensure products are certified vegan
  • 💡Avoid Worcestershire sauce and fish sauce as they contain animal products
  • 💡Tamari is the closest flavor match to traditional soy sauce for vegan cooking
  • 💡Coconut aminos are ideal for those avoiding both soy and animal products
  • 💡Vegan substitutes work best when combined with other plant-based flavor enhancers
  • 💡Store vegan substitutes in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
  • 💡Vegan substitutes can be used in all the same applications as regular soy sauce

Frequently Asked Questions

Is regular soy sauce vegan?

Most regular soy sauce is vegan as it's made from soybeans, wheat, salt, and water. However, some brands may contain additives or processing agents that aren't vegan, so always check the label.

Is tamari vegan?

Yes, tamari is naturally vegan as it's made from soybeans only (no wheat) and doesn't contain any animal products. It's also gluten-free.

Are coconut aminos vegan?

Yes, coconut aminos are naturally vegan as they're made from coconut sap and don't contain any animal products. They're also soy-free and gluten-free.

Can I use Worcestershire sauce as a vegan soy sauce substitute?

No, traditional Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies and is not vegan. However, there are vegan Worcestershire sauce alternatives available that can work as substitutes.

What's the best vegan soy sauce substitute for Asian cooking?

For authentic Asian cooking, tamari is the best vegan substitute as it provides the closest flavor profile to traditional soy sauce while being naturally vegan and gluten-free.

Are liquid aminos vegan?

Yes, liquid aminos are naturally vegan as they're made from soybeans and don't contain any animal products. They contain all essential amino acids and provide a similar flavor to soy sauce.

How do I make vegan soy sauce at home?

Mix 1 cup of water with 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast, 1 tablespoon of miso paste, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of onion powder. Add herbs and spices to taste and simmer for 10 minutes.

Summary

Find the best vegan soy sauce substitutes including tamari, coconut aminos, and liquid aminos. Learn proper ratios and cooking tips for delicious plant-based cooking without animal products.