Condiments

Vegan substitute for Fish sauce

Fish sauce brings salt, umami and funk. Seaweed and fermented soy reproduce all three without anchovies.

Options, ratios and best uses

Kombu soy sauce

1:1

Simmer kombu in soy with sugar, cool and strain.

Best for: curries, dressings, dips

Vegan fish sauce

1:1

Pineapple or seaweed based; widely available now.

Best for: anything

Miso + lime

1 tsp miso + 1 tsp lime per tbsp

Whisk into liquid before adding.

Best for: dressings

Mushroom seasoning

1 tsp per tbsp

Very salty — adjust other salt down.

Best for: stir-fries, broths

Tips

  • Add a pinch of sugar to mimic the sweetness
  • Dried shiitake stock deepens the umami
  • Season at the end so salt doesn't concentrate

Avoid

  • Using dark soy sauce alone — too bitter
  • Forgetting curry pastes may already contain shrimp

Questions people ask

Does vegan fish sauce taste the same?

Very close in cooked dishes; side by side raw, it is slightly less pungent.

What about oyster sauce?

Mushroom "oyster" sauce is a direct 1:1 substitute.

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