White soy sauce is an excellent seasoning for many recipes that call for mellow and light flavors.
If you’re wondering what you can use when you’re out of white soy sauce, you’re in the right place. Here are 13 great alternatives you can try!
White Soy Sauce Substitute (13 Alternatives To Use)
1. Light Soy Sauce
Light soy sauce has a milder flavor than most soy sauces so it can work as a white soy sauce substitute.
Additionally, light soy sauce also has a lighter color than regular soy sauces, meaning you can use it to season food without coloring it.
However, light soy sauce is saltier than white soy sauce so you may want to add less of it.
2. Regular Soy Sauce
Regular soy sauce can mimic the flavors of white soy sauce but it has stronger flavors. So you should use a light hand when adding it to a recipe that needs white soy sauce.
You can also adjust the overall flavor of the recipe by adding sugar or honey to make up for the lack of sweetness.
3. Hoisin Sauce
One of the main ingredients of hoisin sauce is soy sauce, making it an acceptable substitute for white soy sauce in some recipes.
Hoisin sauce is sweet like white soy sauce but it also features tangy flavors and has a thick consistency. It can be a substitute if you need white soy sauce for a dip or a thick sauce.
4. Oyster Sauce
Oyster sauce is another thick condiment made from oyster extracts that feature salty, sweet, and umami flavors.
This alternative has a much bolder flavor than white soy sauce so you may want to use less of it in your recipe.
Moreover, diluting your oyster sauce in water can help make it less thick and prevent it from adding too much color to your dish.
5. Eel Sauce
Eel sauce is a brown sauce that has sweet, umami, and salty flavors, making it a decent substitute for white soy sauce.
However, eel sauce has a darker color and a stronger flavor than white soy sauce so you may need to add a little at a time to your recipe.
Moreover, you may balance out the flavors in your recipe by adding more salt or sugar accordingly to match white soy sauce.
6. Tamari Sauce
Tamari sauce is a wheat-free soy sauce that has deep and rich umami flavors but a slightly more mellow flavor, similar to white soy sauce.
Tamari soy sauce typically has a richer texture and color than white soy sauce so it may change the texture and color of your recipes.
Try to add a little tamari soy sauce to your recipe to see how much you need. You may add a bit of honey or sugar if you want to make it sweeter.
7. Coconut Aminos
Coconut aminos taste a lot like regular soy sauce because it has salty and umami flavors. But its hint of sweetness makes it a decent substitute for white soy sauce.
However, coconut aminos have a stronger flavor than white soy sauce so you may need to use less or add sugar to adjust it to your recipe.
Moreover, coconut aminos are a lot darker in color than white soy sauce. As a result, you may notice your dish has a different color.
8. Liquid Aminos
Liquid aminos make an excellent alternative to white soy sauce because it tastes like a mild soy sauce with savory and salty flavors and a touch of sweetness.
Liquid aminos can be used interchangeably with regular soy sauce so if you’re adding it in as a white soy sauce substitute, you may use a bit less than needed.
9. Miso Paste
If you are making an Asian dish, miso paste can be a good option as a substitute for white soy sauce. It is also made from fermented soybeans but it features a much earthier flavor.
When you use miso paste, you may want to mix it with water first for it to easily blend into your recipe.
Moreover, you may want to mix your miso paste with some honey or sugar to add a bit of sweetness.
10. Balsamic Vinegar
Balsamic vinegar has sweet flavors to it and may do as a white soy sauce substitute if your back is against the wall.
However, this is not the ideal option because it is still vinegar, meaning it is sour. Moreover, it is a lot darker than white soy sauce so it can easily darken your food.
If you have to use balsamic vinegar in your recipe, add only a little at a time or dilute it in water before using it.
11. Double Black Soy Sauce
Double black soy sauce has the same sweet flavor as white soy sauce but it is significantly stronger and darker than white soy sauce.
Ideally, you should use a light hand when adding double black soy sauce as a replacement for white soy sauce to avoid coloring your dish.
Moreover, you may need to balance out the flavors with other ingredients like rice wine vinegar or salt.
12. Kabayaki Sauce
Kabayaki sauce is similar to teriyaki sauce because it is salty, tangy, and sweet. It may not be a perfect replacement for white soy sauce but it can work for certain dishes.
For instance, Kabayaki sauce can work well in marinades and dips but it will not be a good seasoning to add to recipes.
13. Dark Soy Sauce
Dark soy sauce has a sweeter flavor than regular soy sauce which is similar to white soy sauce, but it is also richer.
Dark soy sauce has a stronger flavor than white soy sauce so you may need to add a little at a time and adjust the flavor as needed.
If you want to learn more about soy sauce, you can see our related posts on dark soy sauce substitutes, light soy sauce substitutes, and sweet soy sauce substitutes.
Conclusion
White soy sauce has a more delicate and sweeter flavor than most regular soy sauces. But if the situation calls for it, you may find yourself having to use a different sauce in its stead.
In such a case, any of the 13 alternatives in this article should be able to get you out of that fix.