Substitutes for soy sauce
Soy sauce substitutes
Soy sauce brings salt and savoury depth. Tamari and liquid aminos are the closest; coconut aminos and mushroom broth are the soy-free choices.
What soy sauce does
Adds salt and savoury depth with a little colour. Regular soy sauce is brewed from soybeans and usually wheat, so it is not gluten-free or soy-free.
Quick reference
| Substitute | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tamari | 1 tbsp tamariper 1 tbsp soy sauce |
| Coconut aminos | 1 tbsp coconut aminosper 1 tbsp soy sauce |
| Liquid aminos | 1 tbsp liquid aminosper 1 tbsp soy sauce |
| Worcestershire sauce Sources vary | 1 tbsp worcestershire sauceper 1 tbsp soy sauce |
| Salted mushroom broth | 1 tbsp mushroom broth, seasoned with saltper 1 tbsp soy sauce |
When the substitute matters
- For dipping sauces and larger amounts, use tamari, coconut aminos or liquid aminos.
- For a soy allergy, use coconut aminos or salted mushroom broth; tamari and liquid aminos contain soy.
- Worcestershire works for a splash in a marinade or gravy, not as a dipping sauce.
- Coconut aminos are much less salty; taste and add salt.
The substitutes, in detail
Tamari
Amount: 1 tbsp tamari per 1 tbsp soy sauce
Equal amount. Food Network, PureWow and Cozymeal all say 1:1.
Best for
- dipping sauces
- stir-fries
- marinades
Not for
- soy allergy
What changes
Very close in flavour. Tamari is made from soybeans, so it is not soy-free. It is usually made without wheat, but check the label if you need it gluten-free.
- vegan
Coconut aminos
Amount: 1 tbsp coconut aminos per 1 tbsp soy sauce
Equal amount. Food Network, PureWow and Cozymeal all say 1:1.
Best for
- marinades
- stir-fries
- dressings
What changes
Milder, sweeter and much less salty, so taste and add salt if needed. Made from fermented coconut sap, so it contains no soy or wheat.
- vegan
- gluten-free
Liquid aminos
Amount: 1 tbsp liquid aminos per 1 tbsp soy sauce
Equal amount. Food Network, PureWow and Cozymeal all say 1:1.
Best for
- stir-fries
- marinades
Not for
- soy allergy
What changes
Close to soy sauce in taste. Liquid aminos are made from soybeans, so they contain soy.
- vegan
- gluten-free
Worcestershire sauce
Amount: 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce per 1 tbsp soy sauce
Sources vary
Food Network, Cozymeal and WebstaurantStore say 1:1. Food Network's substitution guide recommends it only for small amounts. The Saskatchewan Health Authority uses half as much: 1/4 cup Worcestershire mixed with 1 tablespoon water for 1/2 cup soy sauce.
Best for
- marinades
- stews
- gravy
Not for
- large amounts, such as a dipping sauce
- fish-free or vegan dishes
What changes
Tangier and sweeter. Standard Worcestershire is made with anchovies.
Salted mushroom broth
Amount: 1 tbsp mushroom broth, seasoned with salt per 1 tbsp soy sauce
Equal amount of broth, seasoned with salt to taste first. Food Network and PureWow agree.
- Soak dried mushrooms in hot water to make a broth, or use mushroom stock.
- Season it with salt to taste, then use it in place of the soy sauce.
Best for
- soups
- stir-fries
Not for
- recipes that need soy sauce's dark colour
What changes
Lighter and less salty, with savoury mushroom depth. Contains no soy or wheat when made from plain mushrooms.
- vegan
Don't use
- Fish sauce at an equal amount
Cozymeal does not recommend it at 1:1. Food Network replaces about a third of the fish sauce with lemon juice to cut its fishy tang.
How we source this
Each swap is backed by at least two independent sources, including a test kitchen, university extension service or product maker. The amounts replace one unit of the original ingredient and do not work in reverse. See the full source list.
Sources
- Food Network — Soy Sauce Substitutes
- PureWow — What's the Best Substitute for Soy Sauce?
- Cozymeal — Soy Sauce Substitutes
- Food Network — Ingredient Substitution Guide
- WebstaurantStore — Soy Sauce Substitutes
- Saskatchewan Health Authority (provincial government health agency, Canada) — Ingredient Substitutions (Food Mentoring Toolkit)