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Soy Sauce Substitute

January 12, 2021 by Sharon 29 Comments

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Soy Sauce Substitute pinterest graphic

This easy, homemade recipe for low sodium Soy Sauce Substitute is the BEST. Healthy and gluten free. Use it for stir-frying or in sauces.

a white ceramic pouring container holding homemade soy sauce substitute

Soy sauce is such a popular condiment. It is listed in numerous recipes and packs a nice salty punch to many dishes. But if you have gluten intolerance or need to lower your sodium intake then soy sauce may not be good for you.

Wondering if you can make your own soy sauce? How about without the soy, gluten, and sodium? The answer is yes!

This recipe is what can be used in place of soy sauce, especially if you are looking for a low sodium and gluten free option.

a white ceramic pouring container holding homemade soy sauce substitute

I will be completely honest that it doesn’t taste exactly like your typical soy sauce, but it comes close.

It’s not so great on its own, as say a dipping sauce, but when added to stir-fries and sauces, it adds a tasty element similar to its super salty counterpart.

INGREDIENTS TO MAKE THIS SOY SAUCE SUBSTITUTE

A few pantry items are all that is needed to make this easy recipe.

  • chicken broth
  • balsamic vinegar
  • water
  • molasses
  • ground ginger
  • garlic powder
  • freshly ground pepper
a bottle of balsamic vinegar, a bottle of molasses, a container of chicken broth, a jar of garlic powder and ground ginger on a kitchen counter.

HOW TO MAKE A SOY SAUCE SUBSTITUTE

When I said easy, I meant it!

All that is needed is to combine all the ingredients, bring to a boil and then simmer until reduced.

Done!

a small saucepan with a dark liquid mixture inside
a wooden spoon stirring a dark liquid in a small saucepan

Once the mixture has reduced, let it cool on the counter. This takes about 15 minutes.

a dark liquid inside a ceramic dish with steam coming off of it.

Once it has cooled, transfer it to a small mason jar for storage.

Try not to spill it all over the counter as I did. 😉

a glass jar on a counter with a dark liquid inside and slops on the counter

Keep it refrigerated and give it a good shake before using.

Faux "Soy" Sauce - Soy & Gluten Free

This recipe could easily be made vegan friendly by using vegetable stock. Click for the Vegan Soy Sauce Substitute .

I use a gluten free stock so make sure you read your labels if avoiding gluten is something you do.

a white ceramic pouring container holding homemade soy sauce substitute

I have seen the question asked – can I use vinegar instead of soy sauce? And I can see why. It is a tad sweet. This recipe includes balsamic vinegar and there is a good reason behind it. Like in this recipe for Homemade Balsamic Glaze, when balsamic vinegar is reduced it becomes even sweeter and we see that same effect with this soy sauce substitute recipe – the vinegar adds that dimension of sweetness to give the sauce another layer.

So if you are trying to lower your sodium intake and are thinking, what can I use instead of soy sauce in fried rice, this is a great alternative.

Enjoy!

a white ceramic pouring container holding homemade soy sauce substitute

MORE HOMEMADE SAUCE RECIPES:

  • Spicy Dipping Sauce
  • Vegan Alfredo Sauce
  • Homemade Enchilada Sauce
  • Vegan Salted Caramel Sauce
  • Walnut ‘Bolognese’ Spaghetti Sauce – Vegan & Gluten Free
  • White BBQ Sauce
a white ceramic pouring container holding homemade soy sauce substitute

Originally posted September 16, 2013. Updated January 12, 2021.

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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

5 from 14 votes
a white ceramic pouring container holding homemade soy sauce substitute
Print
Soy Sauce Substitute
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Cool
15 mins
Total Time
45 mins
 

This easy, homemade recipe for low sodium Soy Sauce Substitute is the BEST. Healthy, gluten free, and vegan.

Course: Sauce, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: low sodium soy sauce substitute, soy sauce substitute
Servings: 6
Calories: 21 kcal
Author: Sharon
Ingredients
  • ¼ cup chicken stock *low sodium and gluten free
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 1 tbsp molasses
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • fresh ground pepper
Instructions
  1. Add all of the ingredients into a small saucepan, give it a good stir and bring the mixture to a boil.

  2. Lower the heat to medium and simmer for approximately 20 minutes until the liquid is reduced to one cup. Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool in the pan for about 15 minutes.

  3. Transfer the mixture to a glass jar and store covered in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

  4. Shake well before using.

Nutrition Facts
Soy Sauce Substitute
Amount Per Serving
Calories 21 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 10mg0%
Potassium 69mg2%
Carbohydrates 5g2%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 1g2%
Calcium 11mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Filed Under: Gluten Free, Recipes, Side Dishes Tagged With: dairy free, fast & easy, gluten free, Side Dishes

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lori

    September 16, 2013 at 10:38 am

    5 stars
    This is brilliant–thank you. I love soy sauce in many recipes but the sodium content is very concerning. How long will it keep in the fridge?

    Reply
    • Sharon

      September 16, 2013 at 12:16 pm

      Hi Lori! I would say about 2-3 weeks … Since it’s a small-ish batch ( 1 cup ) it shouldn’t be hard to use up 🙂

      Reply
      • Lori

        September 19, 2013 at 10:17 pm

        Thank you Sharon. Going to make up a batch this weekend!

        Reply
        • Sharon

          September 19, 2013 at 10:19 pm

          Watch for tomorrow’s post! I have a great recipe going up using this sauce 🙂

          Reply
  2. Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health

    September 16, 2013 at 3:22 pm

    5 stars
    How creative! I usually try to limit how much soy sauce I use because of the outrageous sodium content. It’s nice to know that there are alternative ways to make you own.

    Reply
    • Sharon

      September 16, 2013 at 4:00 pm

      Outrageous is the right word! I know the saltiness is what makes it tasty but I find your taste buds will adjust to lower levels of sodium over time. You blood pressure will thank you 🙂

      Reply
      • Alan Stingley

        December 8, 2020 at 9:44 am

        The nutrition label that is at the bottom of the recipe does show or say what the serving size is for that nutrition levels?

        Reply
        • Sharon

          December 8, 2020 at 10:11 am

          The recipe makes approximately six servings and the nutrition breakdown is for one serving.

          Reply
  3. Molly

    November 29, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    5 stars
    Hi!
    I made your Smokey BBQ Sauce, and it was a big hit!

    I’m excited to try this “soy” sauce, but was wondering if you could substitute anything for the balsamic vinegar? Maybe ACV and something else?? I just don’t have any on hand and was going to try to whip this up today!

    We’ve been using Liquid Aminos, but I’m trying to stay away from soy, so this will be perfect!
    Thanks so much for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Sharon

      November 29, 2013 at 2:45 pm

      Thanks so much. Molly! I’m glad you liked the BBQ sauce 🙂 The faux soy sauce is great also. I haven’t tried it with anything other than the balsamic which I think adds colour. The ACV could work but perhaps cook it a little longer? Let me know how it works out …

      Reply
    • Aaron

      January 6, 2015 at 4:09 pm

      From what I have tested, you can replace the Balsamic with ACV as long as you add a touch more molasses (for sweetness).

      Reply
      • Sharon

        January 6, 2015 at 4:26 pm

        Good to know! Thanks Aaron. 🙂

        Reply
  4. Mavis

    July 11, 2014 at 4:15 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for this recipe as well as the BBQ sauce recipe. I plan to try both tonight.

    I recently went from being a borderline vegetarian to full vegetarian / vegan. You are so right in that a lot of the vegan/vegetarian recipes call for soy sauce. As a person with high blood pressure, I definitely keep an eye on the sodium content of foods. I always buy the low sodium soy sauce but even it still has a ton of sodium in it.

    Reply
    • Sharon

      July 11, 2014 at 4:24 pm

      You’ll love this sauce. I use it all the time. Thanks so much for your comment. 🙂 Have a great weekend, Mavis!

      Reply
  5. Vera Eads

    March 13, 2017 at 5:10 pm

    5 stars
    You have made life much better in our home! I’m allergic to soy and am a breast cancer survivor so I’m not able to have soy. My son is GFCFSF, dye and preservative free because of Autism. My father-in-law has to limit sodium. We were really missing Chinese food. Thank you for developing this recipe! I have fooled my extended family into thinking they were eating food with soy sauce. We have all acclimated to your faux soy sauce. My husband ate some real Chinese food with soy sauce and couldn’t take it because it was too salty. Thank you again!

    Reply
    • Sharon

      March 13, 2017 at 10:21 pm

      Thanks so much Vera! This comment has made my day. What a fabulous mom/wife/daughter in law you are to take care of your family this way. I’m so happy this recipe has been helpful and your family can enjoy their old favourites. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Kristen

    March 15, 2017 at 10:50 pm

    Do you think this will freeze well? I was thinking of pouring it up into TBSP servings in an ice cube tray, but will it hold up? I tried it and it was delicious btw! 🙂

    Reply
    • Sharon

      March 16, 2017 at 11:03 am

      I haven’t tried freezing it, but the ice cube trays sound like a great idea!

      Reply
  7. Linda

    January 26, 2021 at 10:06 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve never thought we can make soy sauce at home. This is such a cool recipe that will help people with dietary restrictions.

    Reply
    • Sharon

      January 27, 2021 at 11:52 am

      Right? So many people need to lower their sodium.

      Reply
  8. Choclette

    January 29, 2021 at 9:56 am

    5 stars
    What a great idea. I use far too much soy sauce and it is ever so salty. Making an alternative sauce isn’t something I’d even thought about – until now!

    Reply
    • Sharon

      January 29, 2021 at 12:44 pm

      I’m glad it’s piqued your interest! I use this recipe all the time.

      Reply
  9. Megan Stevens

    February 2, 2021 at 5:55 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for this recipe!! I am soy AND coconut-free, so I can’t use coconut aminos. This is either a life-saver or a game-changer, ha! SO lovely to have this on hand now for yummy, easy dinners!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Sharon

      February 3, 2021 at 12:16 pm

      Good point! Coconut aminos is a go-to substitute but there are a lot of coconut allergies out there also. I am glad this is helpful for you! 🙂

      Reply

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