Worcestershire sauce substitute

Also called Worcester sauce (UK).

For each tablespoon, mix 2 teaspoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar and a pinch of red pepper flakes. It is fish-free but contains soy and wheat.

6 options, scored for what you are making · Checked

Out of worcestershire sauce mid-recipe?

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What are you making?

  1. Soy sauce + cider vinegar + red pepper flakes

    Great fit

    2 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp apple cider vinegar and 1 pinch red pepper flakes

    For this dish: Salt, tang and savory flavor do most of what Worcestershire does in a mix.

    How: Stir together and use in place of the Worcestershire sauce.

    What changes: Salty and tangy, but without Worcestershire's sweetness, tamarind or anchovy depth.

    Contains soy, wheat.

  2. Soy sauce + tamarind + white vinegar

    Great fit

    1 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp tamarind paste and 1 tsp white vinegar

    For this dish: Salt, sour and fruity depth match the original well.

    How: Whisk together until smooth and use in place of the Worcestershire sauce.

    What changes: Closest fish-free match because tamarind is a key flavor in Worcestershire.

    Contains soy, wheat.

  3. Fish sauce + tamarind paste

    Great fit

    1½ tsp fish sauce and 1½ tsp tamarind paste

    For this dish: Fermented fish and tamarind echo the original's savory base.

    How: Mix equal parts and use in place of the Worcestershire sauce.

    What changes: Gives the fermented fish depth that Worcestershire gets from anchovies. Not fish-free.

    Contains fish.

  4. Balsamic vinegar + tamarind

    Works

    1½ tsp balsamic vinegar and 1½ tsp tamarind paste

    For this dish: Adds tang but needs salt and a savory ingredient.

    How: Mix equal parts and use in place of the Worcestershire sauce. Add salt to taste, since this mix is not salty.

    What changes: Sweet and sour, with little salt and no savory depth.

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

  5. Soy sauce + apple juice

    Works

    1½ tsp soy sauce and 1½ tsp apple juice

    For this dish: Salt and sweetness are there, but it needs acid.

    How: Mix equal parts and use in place of the Worcestershire sauce.

    What changes: Salty and slightly sweet, but not tangy.

    Contains soy, wheat.

  6. Coconut aminos

    Works

    1 tbsp coconut aminos

    For this dish: Adds savory-sweet flavor but is less salty and sharp.

    How: Swap 1:1. Add a splash of vinegar if you want tang.

    What changes: Milder, sweeter and less salty than Worcestershire, with no anchovy flavor.

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

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

What worcestershire sauce does in a recipe

Worcestershire sauce is a fermented sauce of vinegar, molasses, sugar, anchovies, onion, garlic, spices and tamarind. It brings salt, tang, sweetness and savory depth in one splash. A substitute needs both salty umami and sour-sweet balance.

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 worcestershire sauce."

Sous Chef edits the recipe

1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
2 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp apple cider vinegar and 1 pinch red pepper flakes
Added to the steps: Stir together and use in place of the Worcestershire sauce.
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When not to substitute

Skip substitutes in recipes where Worcestershire is the main flavor, such as a Caesar-style dressing or a classic Welsh rarebit. If you are cooking for someone with a fish allergy, check every ingredient, since Worcestershire is often hidden in other sauces.

Common questions

What can I use instead of Worcestershire sauce?

Mix 2 teaspoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar and a pinch of red pepper flakes for each tablespoon. Soy sauce with tamarind and vinegar is a close alternative.

Does Worcestershire sauce contain fish?

Usually yes. It is made with anchovies, and the US Lea & Perrins label says Contains: anchovy. Some brands also contain soy, so check any bottle you buy.

Is there a fish-free Worcestershire substitute?

Yes. Soy sauce with vinegar, soy sauce with tamarind, or balsamic with tamarind all contain no fish. Check labels for soy and wheat.

Is Worcester sauce the same as Worcestershire sauce?

Yes. Worcester sauce is a common UK name for Worcestershire sauce, so every swap here works for it. The original Lea & Perrins sauce contains anchovies, so check the label if you avoid fish.

Related

Sources

Cook with what you have.

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