Are you a fan of Asian food but allergic to soy? Well then, having soy sauce is definitely not an option for you. But, the good news is, there is a good replacement for soy sauce.

I am talking about coconut aminos, of course. In this article, I will tell you all about the best coconut aminos substitutes. While coconut aminos is a great replacement for soy sauce, there can be situations where you are not able to find the same anywhere.

This is because coconut aminos has very recently gained popularity. But, in situations like these, you can easily use the best substitute for coconut aminos. 

Now comes the main question of this article. What are the best substitutes for coconut aminos? The best coconut aminos substitutes are soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, tamari sauce, Worcestershire sauce, liquid aminos, miso paste, and fish sauce. 

However, coconut aminos is not a popular ingredient, even among people with a soy allergy. So, let me tell you some more about this wonder of a sauce that works in all recipes very efficiently. 

Quick Peek: Coconut Aminos

In this section, you will find all the information about coconut aminos. You will get to understand what exactly the ingredient is, how it is used in different recipes, what it tastes like, and about its nutritional value. 

What Is Coconut Aminos?

Coconut aminos is a salty and savory seasoning sauce. It is made from the fermented sap of coconut palm and has added salt in it. It’s most often used as an alternative to soy sauce in various Asian recipes. 

Coconut aminos is usually fermented before salt is added to it. So, once the sap is removed from the coconut tree, it is left to ferment for a while, as it contains natural sugars. The final result of coconut aminos does not have a taste like coconuts at all. 

This ingredient was not as popular a while ago, as it was not really well known. However, with the rise of people with soy allergies and, in general, people looking for a healthier alternative for soy sauce, coconut aminos is now quite popular. 

Describing Coconut Aminos: Flavor And Texture

Coconut aminos has a thin consistency, which is quite similar to that of soy sauce. When we talk about the color, coconut aminos is light brown in color and looks quite similar to light soy sauce. This is among the reasons people use it as an easy substitute for the same. 

The flavor of coconut aminos, however, is much milder than that of soy sauce. It has a sweeter flavor due to the less sodium content in it, as compared to soy sauce. Moreover, despite the fact that it is made from coconut sap, it has no lingering flavor of coconut. 

Uses Of Coconut Aminos

Coconut aminos is traditionally used in Asian recipes. However, due to its gaining popularity across the world, it is now used in various other cuisines too. Although, the best fit cuisine for using coconut aminos is still various types of Asian cuisines. 

Coconut aminos is used as a dipping sauce and also for cooking. It is added to soups, sauces, rice, noodles, and stews to add extra flavor to them. Other than that, it also makes a great addition to salad dressings and can be used in marinades to add an umami flavor. 

Coconut Aminos On The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope

As mentioned earlier, coconut aminos is a soy-free and gluten-free sauce. It is suited for people who are looking for an alternative to use, in place of soy sauce, as soy sauce is not allergen-free. Other than that, coconut aminos is also very low in sodium content. 

So, it also works really well for people who want a flavor like soy sauce in their food, but want to control their sodium intake. Other than that, coconut aminos is usually used in very minute quantities. So, for this reason, it does not really impart any obvious health benefits. 

However, there are certain health benefits that have been linked to coconut aminos. But, other than it being allergen-free and having low sodium content, no other substantial research has been carried out related to its health benefits. 

Why Use A Substitute For Coconut Aminos?

I know; I have told you so many great things about coconut aminos. So, this question might seem unnecessary to many. What is the need to use a substitute for an ingredient that is so great in so many ways?

While there are many reasons to use coconut aminos in a recipe, there still are certain reasons why you probably can consider using a substitute for the same. To start off, coconut aminos is not very readily available. 

The concept of using coconut aminos is still a little new, as compared to other similar sauces. So, there are high chances that you will not be able to find it as easily at supermarkets near you.

In situations like these, you can use a substitute for the same that is more easily available. Other than that, the flavor of coconut aminos is mild umami, as compared to the highly salty and umami flavor of soy sauce.

Some people may prefer using soy sauce or any other ingredient that has a sharper flavor than coconut aminos. If you are in a situation like this but are also allergic to soy, you can try using a substitute that has a more pungent flavor, but is also allergen-free.

Lastly, in case you just seem to be out of coconut aminos, you can save a lot of time by using a substitute. Quite a lot of the substitute options given in this article are very easily available and usually stocked in most home pantries.

So, using one of those options will definitely save you some time as compared to going to the supermarket to buy coconut aminos!

I think we have reached a point where I probably have told you enough about coconut aminos. Now that you already know so much about it let me not waste any time further and directly take you to the best substitutes you can use in its place. 

8 Best Coconut Aminos Substitutes

In this section, you will find a list with a description of all the substitute options you can use in place of coconut aminos. You will get to understand what the substitute tastes like, what recipes they work best in and also the ratio of substitution for each ingredient. 

1. Soy Sauce

The most obvious substitute of them all! Soy sauce has the same consistency as coconut aminos and also the same color. As coconut aminos is used as a substitute for soy sauce, that makes these two ingredients very interchangeable. 

With using soy sauce in place of coconut aminos, you will have no complaints about the color or texture. However, soy sauce is very salty as compared to coconut aminos. So, there is a very obvious difference when it comes to flavor. 

Moreover, it is not suited for people with allergies. But, the good news is that if the flavor seems too sharp, you can always use half the quantity of soy sauce as compared to coconut aminos. You can used it as a dipping sauce and in cooked recipes. 

2. Tamari Sauce

Tamari sauce is a by-product of soy sauce. However, it is gluten-free as it is made from Miso. It is less salty as compared to soy sauce and has a slightly similar flavor profile to that of coconut aminos and hence can be used as a substitute for the same. 

As tamari sauce does not contain wheat in it, it is a suitable substitute for those looking for a gluten-free option. However, as it still is a by-product of soy sauce, it is advisable to have a look at the ingredients first, to make sure you buy a product that is completely allergen-free. 

Other than that, tamari sauce is great as a dipping sauce and also works well in most cooked recipes. You can use it in various marinades and salad dressings too, which are not necessarily Asian in origin. Follow a 1:1 ratio for substitution. 

3. Liquid Aminos

Liquid aminos is quite similar to coconut aminos, just that it is made with soybeans. This sauce has a similar consistency and color to that of coconut aminos, just a higher salt content. It still makes a good substitute for coconut aminos. 

The name might confuse many. However, it is important to remember the big allergen present in liquid aminos. In case soybeans are not an issue for you, liquid aminos is a great option as it has lesser sodium content than varieties of soy sauce. 

So, for those of you who are not allergic to soy, but looking to consume lower amounts of sodium, liquid aminos is a great option to use.

It goes well in all sorts of cooked recipes and as a dipping sauce. Although, the salt content is still higher than coconut aminos, so just use half the quantity during substitution. 

4. Teriyaki Sauce

Teriyaki sauce is an Asian sauce made with a combination of various ingredients. This sauce has a brown color and a sweet, yet umami flavor that is perfectly balanced. So, you can use it as a substitute for coconut aminos in certain recipes. 

Teriyaki sauce is made with soy sauce, sake, sugar, and ginger. These ingredients give it a balance of flavors which is somewhere between umami and sweet. This combination generally works, as coconut aminos is also not as salty. 

However, a big thing to consider is that teriyaki sauce is very thick, as compared to coconut aminos. So, it will not work too well as a dipping sauce. But, it can be added to cooked recipes. Use it in a 1:1 ratio as a substitute. 

5. Worcestershire Sauce

Unlike various other options given in this article, Worcestershire sauce is not Asian in origin. However, it still has a characteristic umami flavor that you find in coconut aminos. So, Worcestershire sauce can be used as a substitute for the same. 

Worcestershire sauce is actually a British condiment. However, this sauce has gained so much popularity all across the world that it is now easily available in every supermarket possible. So, you definitely will not have trouble finding it. 

The flavor of Worcestershire sauce is balanced in a way that it can work in almost all recipes in place of coconut aminos. The best way to use it, still is in marinades and stir-fried dishes. You can do a swap following a 1:1 ratio of substitution. 

6. Miso Paste

Miso paste is a product resulting from fermenting soybeans. Though it has a very thick consistency, miso paste has an umami flavor that is quite similar to that of coconut aminos. So, it can be used as a substitute in certain recipes. 

Miso paste will definitely not work as a substitute when it comes to dipping sauces or any form of uncooked recipes, due to its thick consistency. Miso paste is best used for recipes like noodles, rice, stir-fried vegetables and meat preparations. 

However, even before using miso paste in cooked recipes, you will have to dilute it with some amount of water. So, while using it as a substitute for coconut aminos, use the same quantity of miso paste, but dilute it with some water before adding it to a recipe. 

7. Fish Sauce

Fish sauce is made by fermenting fish. It has a salty, rich and umami flavor. Though there is a lingering flavor of fish, fish sauce can still be used as a substitute for coconut aminos, due to their similar consistency. 

One downside of fish sauce is that it is not suitable for vegetarians looking for a substitute for coconut aminos. Moreover, you can only use fish sauce in recipes, if you are okay with the lingering flavor of fish. 

However, since the consistency is similar to that of coconut aminos, you can use it as a dipping sauce and in any form of cooked recipe. If the flavor is not a bother for you, you can follow a 1:1 ratio for substitution. 

8. Shiitake Mushrooms

This may seem strange, but dry shiitake mushrooms actually do work as a substitute for coconut aminos. Once they are done hydrating in water, the leftover water is packed with flavor and works well as a substitute. 

The water leftover once you hydrate the mushrooms actually has an umami flavor similar to coconut aminos, however, it may not be as concentrated. Also, this substitute can usually only be used in cooked recipes, rather than raw. 

In cooked recipes too, the best place to use this option is in liquid recipes, where the thin consistency will not be a bother. Generally, soaking the mushrooms in boiling water for 1 hour works while making this substitute. 

Short Recap For Best Coconut Aminos Substitutes

Those were definitely some good substitutes that you can use in place of coconut aminos. Most of you may have already picked what would work best for your recipe. But, I think I want to break it down even further, just to make it easier for everyone. 

Best Coconut Aminos Substitutes In Terms Of Flavor And Texture:

1. Liquid Aminos
2. Tamari Sauce
3. Soy Sauce

Substitutes That Are Not Soy-Based:

1. Worcestershire Sauce
2. Fish Sauce
3. Shiitake Mushrooms

Substitutes You Should Consider Using Last:

1. Teriyaki Sauce
2. Miso Paste
3. Fish Sauce (Because of the flavor of fish.)

How To Substitute Coconut Aminos In A Recipe

Final Word

As we have come to the end of this article, I hope you found all the information about coconut aminos useful. Other than that, with the help of the short recap, I also hope everyone of you that was confused has found the perfect substitute. 

Coconut aminos is a great tasting condiment for sure. Moreover, it is also gluten and soy-free, which makes it extremely suitable for those with certain allergies. However, this gem of a condiment has very recently gained popularity. 

So, there are very high chances of not being able to find it everywhere in the world. That being said, all the substitute options given above work very well in its place.

Use them as per the recipe they are made for. So, next time, try using one of the substitutes and I am sure you will cook a delicious meal! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)