Fish sauce substitute

Also called nam pla (Thai) and nuoc mam (Vietnamese).

Use 1 tablespoon of soy sauce for each tablespoon of fish sauce. It is saltier and less complex, so taste and adjust. Soy sauce contains soy and usually wheat.

7 options, scored for what you are making · Checked

Out of fish sauce mid-recipe?

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What are you making?

  1. Soy sauce

    Great fit

    1 tbsp soy sauce

    For this dish: Brings salt and umami, which is most of what fish sauce does in a stir-fry.

    How: Swap 1:1. Taste before adding any more salt.

    What changes: Saltier and less complex, with no fishy funk.

    Contains soy, wheat.

  2. Soy sauce + anchovy

    Great fit

    1 tbsp soy sauce and 1 anchovy fillet, minced

    For this dish: Anchovy supplies the fermented fish note that soy sauce lacks.

    How: Mince the anchovy to a paste and stir it into the soy sauce. Use in place of the fish sauce.

    What changes: Closer to fish sauce's fishy depth than soy sauce alone.

    Contains soy, wheat, fish.

  3. Tamari

    Great fit

    1½ tsp tamari

    For this dish: Salty, savory and strong, so a smaller amount works.

    How: Start with half the amount of fish sauce called for, then adjust to taste.

    What changes: Rich and salty, with no fishy flavor. Many tamari brands are wheat-free, but some are not, so look for a gluten-free label if you avoid wheat.

    Contains soy, wheat.

  4. Store-bought vegan fish sauce

    Great fit

    1 tbsp vegan fish sauce

    For this dish: Designed to replace fish sauce directly.

    How: Swap 1:1.

    What changes: Made to mimic fish sauce, typically from shiitake mushrooms, liquid aminos and soy sauce. Flavor is close but not identical. Ingredients vary by brand, so check the label.

    Contains soy, wheat.

  5. Coconut aminos

    Works

    1 tbsp coconut aminos

    For this dish: Savory, but sweeter and less salty, so add salt.

    How: Swap 1:1 and add salt to taste.

    What changes: Slightly sweet and much lower in sodium than fish sauce, so the dish may need extra salt. Free of soy and wheat.

    No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.

  6. Mushroom and soy sauce broth

    Works

    2 tbsp shiitake and soy sauce broth

    For this dish: Savory, but thin, so it adds less punch.

    How: Simmer dried shiitake mushrooms with soy sauce in water, then strain. Use 2 parts broth for each 1 part fish sauce.

    What changes: Earthy and savory. Takes time to make and gives less funk than fish sauce.

    Contains soy, wheat.

  7. Worcestershire sauce

    Works

    1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

    For this dish: Savory and fishy, but the sweet-sour taste changes the dish.

    How: Swap 1:1.

    What changes: Thicker, sweeter and tangier, with less sodium. It is made with anchovies, so it is not fish-free, and some brands also contain soy.

    Contains fish, soy.

Scores are our editorial judgement from the sources below, not lab tests.

What fish sauce does in a recipe

Fish sauce is made from salted anchovies or other fish fermented for up to two years. It adds salt and a deep, savory umami with a funky, fishy note. A substitute has to bring salt and savory depth, and ideally a little of that sea flavor.

Swap it in your recipe with Sous Chef

A substitution is more than one ingredient line. The steps that use it change too. Sous Chef edits both on a working copy of your recipe, so the original is always one tap away.

You ask Sous Chef

"I don't have fish sauce."

Sous Chef edits the recipe

1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
Added to the steps: Swap 1:1. Taste before adding any more salt.
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When not to substitute

When fish sauce is the main flavor, as in nuoc cham or a simple dipping sauce, no swap will taste the same. Do not use anchovy or Worcestershire if anyone has a fish allergy.

Common questions

What is the best substitute for fish sauce?

Soy sauce at 1:1 is the easiest. Adding one minced anchovy fillet per tablespoon of soy sauce gets closer to the flavor, if you can eat fish.

Is there a fish-free substitute for fish sauce?

Yes. Soy sauce, tamari, coconut aminos and store-bought vegan fish sauce contain no fish. Check labels for soy and wheat.

Can I use Worcestershire sauce instead of fish sauce?

You can, at 1:1, but it is sweeter and tangier. It also contains anchovies, so it is not fish-free.

What is a low-sodium substitute for fish sauce?

Coconut aminos, 1:1. Healthline puts it at around 90 to 130 mg of sodium per teaspoon, against 320 to 600 mg for fish sauce. It is free of fish, soy and wheat. Add salt to taste if the dish needs it, and skip it for anyone allergic to coconut.

Is nam pla the same as fish sauce?

Yes. Nam pla is Thai fish sauce, and nuoc mam is the Vietnamese name. Both are fish fermented with salt, so the swaps here work for either.

Related

Sources

Cook with what you have.

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