Even if you are not a big fan of Asian food, you probably still use dark soy sauce often or have tasted it at some point. After all, it is no longer exclusively used in Asian cuisine but instead is now incorporated into many global dishes and used all over the world.
The diversity and accessibility of dark soy sauce make it a staple in any home. You never know when a recipe may call for a sudden umami boost, so it helps to have a bottle on hand.
On these occasions that you have run out of dark soy sauce, there are a few other ingredients that you can use instead.
Our 3 Substitutes for Dark Soy Sauce
Its deep, rich flavour sets dark soy sauce apart from other soy sauce varieties. It strikes the perfect balance of salty, sweet and savoury.
Like all soy sauces, dark soy sauce is made using fermented soybeans, which is where soy sauce gets its savoury flavour.
Here are our top 3 substitutions for dark soy sauce:
1) Light Soy Sauce
Though many people tend to use light and dark soy sauce interchangeably, if you pay attention to the two separately, you will realise some clear differences.
Light soy sauce is lighter in both colour and density. It is not as thick as it has a much lower salt content, affecting its taste but only slightly.
The intense savoury flavour that is typical of soy sauce replaces the lack of saltiness. So, you will not have to worry about your meal being any less delicious.
Due to the umami focus of light soy sauce, it is better at targeting the umami within the meal and enhancing its flavour. This makes it a more effective ingredient in rich meat dishes.
Rebalance Light Soy
Not only does light soy sauce have less salt, but it is also not as sweet. To make light soy sauce taste more like dark soy sauce, add a drizzle of honey and a pink more salt into your meal.
2) Teriyaki Sauce
You have probably had a teriyaki flavoured dish from your local Chinese takeaway. It is a very common sauce used in a range of Asian dishes, both as a condiment and a marinade.
The sauce does have a soy base but is it much sweeter than soy sauce. The sweetness is the main selling point of teriyaki sauce though it is not overwhelming.
As a sauce, teriyaki sauce includes soybeans and a mix of spices and flavouring to make a more complex dish. Because of this, the sauce will not taste exactly like dark soy sauce though it carries many of the same flavours.
Loosen the Sauce
If you buy pre-made teriyaki sauce, then it will be much thicker than dark soy sauce. To make it the same consistency, simply add some water and thoroughly combine with the sauce until the right consistency.
3) Miso Paste
Like dark soy sauce, miso paste is made using fermented soybeans and so has a robust, savoury flavour. In fact, it is the most predominant flavour of miso paste with very little sweetness.
There are two types of miso paste: red and white. Red miso paste has a more intense, deeper flavour that will work with richer meats.
However, you should use white miso paste instead. Technically, red miso paste has the closest taste to dark soy sauce, but it is not as advisable because it is such an intense flavour.
White miso paste still has the same flavours as dark soy sauce, just on a much milder level. This makes it easier to use across many dishes, like dark soy sauce.
Can You Use Miso Soup Instead?
Miso soup will be a more diluted version of white miso paste and will work better as a broth. However, if you want a quick umami hit, then use any type of miso you have to hand.
Other Substitutes for Dark Soy Sauce
If you are a fan of seafood or richer meats and want a dark soy sauce substitute that will work well with more specific proteins, here are a few specialised dark soy sauce substitutes:
- Oyster Sauce – It is sweet and salty like soy sauce but, as the name would suggest, has a flavour profile more suited for seafood dishes.
- Hoisin Sauce – Much like teriyaki sauce, hoisin sauce is thicker than dark soy sauce. It uses a combination of sesame and spice that pairs best with duck and rich meats.
Summary
There are plenty of other products widely used in Asian foods that can replace dark soy sauce without changing the flavour of your dish too much. However, the best substitutes can be a little harder to find.