7 Best Substitutes for Clam Juice

Not everyone has a taste for clams or other fish stuff. There are also those who simply cannot eat seafood, as well as those who avoid meat and seafood altogether.

For these reasons, it’s always a good idea to be aware of substitution options for certain ingredients. When it comes to clam juice, there are many options that you can try.

Although clam juice is often used for the flavor it adds to things like baking, cocktails, and other dishes, there may be something keeping you from using it.

Clam juice is not always easy to find and there are a number of reasons why you might need an alternative option.

So what is the best substitute for clam juice?  The best substitutes for clam juice are fish sauce, chicken stock, vegetable stock, dashi, dry white wine, oyster sauce, and oyster liquor. Clam juice is incredibly versatile, so what you use as a substitute will largely depend on what you’re making.

It can be challenging to find the ideal substitute due to the versatile flavor of clam juice. Fortunately, there are a few great options.

You only have to take into account the flavor component that clam juice adds to the dish and you are sure to find a substitute that works perfectly for you.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the 7 best clam juice substitutes out there. We’ve researched the options to find out what works best and when it will too.

You can get pretty similar results with most of them and some work better for specific uses or types of builds.

Stay with us for the 7 Best Substitutes for Clam Juice and much more.

How to choose a substitute for clam juice

We know that clam juice has a very specific flavor. It’s also incredibly versatile. The downside is that it can be hard to find.

If you don’t eat seafood, maybe enjoy a lifestyle without meat or animal substances, or just can’t find it, that’s okay!

There are options and you don’t have to do without the dish when you can’t get clam juice.

Even if the results aren’t exactly the same, we can get pretty close overall, leaving you with a dish or drink you’ll love serving. 

But before you go out and pick an option from this list at random, here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting your replacement.

What are you going to do?

This is what happens. The substitute you choose may very well depend on what you are doing. Here’s a good example:

If you’re making a recipe that has mostly seafood or fishy flavors, you don’t want to use something that doesn’t contribute to that flavor in a similar way.

This is where you can look for a substitute that is fishy in nature. In this case, you should consider trying one of the more similar options to clam juice.

Fish broth or fish sauce could be a quality option in this specific situation.

You just have to think about what you are preparing and consider how the change might affect the dish or drink in question.

Can you make your own clam juice?

Yes, if you really want to get as close to your flavor and have no problem using clam juice, you can absolutely make your own.

You’ll need clams to make it, and it may cost a little more to make than just using a substitute, but it’s certainly a viable option that may work for you.

Clam juice is made by shelling clams and steaming them to create a broth in the process.

You’ll need to strain the broth to help remove any sediment or grit that may appear from steaming, but this will get you what you need!

What is clam juice used for?

If you’re wondering why clam juice is used, you might be surprised.

Clam juice is really a very versatile ingredient. It is used in a wide variety of dishes, but it can also be used in certain baking projects, as well as cocktails.

Clam juice is great for things like soups and chowder, it can be used to make dill sauce, or even used to cook salmon.

Additionally, pasta sauces also sometimes use clam juice.

Lastly, a good Bloody Mary will almost always have a touch of clam juice in the mix to perfect the flavor.

The 7 Best Substitutes for Clam Juice

Now, let’s cut to the chase and talk about the best options to try when you need a substitute for clam juice.

The purpose of this guide is mainly to share your substitution options and let you know how to use them. You’ll also find a few great product recommendations along the way.

There are quite a few options to try, so you should be able to find something here that fits your needs.

With this wide variety of options and the details of how they compare to clam juice, we hope you’ll keep coming back to this list for future adventures in the kitchen.

We’ve covered all the bases for any need you may have, from other seafood alternatives to vegan-friendly options and much more!

Below you will find our selection of the 7 best substitutes for clam juice.

1. Fish sauce or fish broth

You can use fish sauce or fish stock as an alternative when you want to keep that seafood flavor.

Either one will do in this case, so you can use whichever is easier for you to get, or if you have something on hand that will also work.

Fish broth is very similar to meat or chicken broth. It is made by simmering parts of the fish, including the bones and meat.

Some people also do it by adding things like celery, onion, fennel, and parsley. You can also buy fish broth.

If you are looking for a substitute for clam juice that has a seafood flavor, this is your best option.

We think fish sauce is much easier to find and use in general, so we recommend starting there, but we want to make sure you know that fish stock is an option as well.

2. Chicken broth

If you want a good alternative that doesn’t taste like shellfish or anything remotely related to it, chicken broth might be a good choice.

Chicken broth will be a suitable alternative for the dishes you cook to prepare. You probably don’t want to add chicken broth to your Bloody Mary, as it won’t be the same.

Chicken broth enhances the flavor, but will taste like chicken.

However, if you perhaps don’t like seafood flavors or have a shellfish allergy, it works great.

The flavors are light, but the texture and versatility are still there, making it a good substitute for cooking.

Chicken broth is incredibly easy to find and make. In fact, if you do a lot of cooking, you probably already have chicken broth on hand, so you should be prepared!

Chicken broth is also affordable, so it’s an easy substitute that you can’t argue with.

3. Vegetable broth

Perhaps you are looking for a substitute that does not contain meat or any type of animal by-product. You’re lucky!

In this case, you can use vegetable broth instead of fish sauce or chicken broth.

Vegetable broth works much like chicken broth and will be best for cooking recipes that call for clam juice.

It can be a good vegan or vegetarian alternative. You will be surprised by the flavor of the vegetable broth.

It is almost slightly sweet, but the flavor is also very light. You can perfectly use it for soups and chowders or even for sauces and other similar needs.

Vegetable broth is another option that you can also easily make in a pinch.

Most versions use a mixture of things like celery, carrots, mushrooms, and dry white wine.

If you decide to make it yourself, it will take quite a while to simmer, so be prepared for it.

4.Dashi

Dashi is a Japanese substitute that works very well in Asian dishes and sauces.

It’s a type of broth, so it easily has the same texture and comparable flavor in the end.

Dashi is used in most Japanese dishes, such as miso or noodles. It has quite a strong umami flavor and is a form of fish stock.

Dashi is made from fish that is similar in color and flavor to clam juice, making it a great substitute.

Dashi can be used as a substitute for almost any dish. From Asian foods to dips to Bloody Mary’s, it can cover your bases.

It also works well in soups and stews.

While you may or may not have dashi in your pantry, you can often find it in Asian markets and grocery stores, and you may even be able to find it in the Asian section of your local grocery store.

It is one of the most similar and versatile substitutes you can use.

5. Dry white wine

There is no shortage of white wines in a wide variety of prices at almost any grocery store.

It’s a great substitute for pastas, chowders and soups, or for your cocktails that call for clam juice. Also, you can drink the leftovers.

It’s an easy substitute, but it does contain alcohol, so keep that in mind.

Of course, if you cook with it, you won’t have to worry about the alcohol content.

Dry white wine or even dry sherry will work as a substitute for clams for a lot of different uses, rather than one or two different recipes.

If you store wine at home, you may have some of this on hand, making it quick and easy to find or add when you need it.

Using wine or sherry can be helpful because it will give you a similar flavor effect and provide the same liquid component in the recipe.

It will also offer much less sodium to your overall recipe or creation.

6. Oyster sauce

This is another fish flavored sauce that you can use. Oyster sauce is a good substitute for clam sauce when you still want the fishy flavor.

Also, oyster sauce tastes very close to clam sauce with the hint of saltiness. They are similar resources, so the overall result will be very similar.

You can use oyster sauce as a suitable substitute for anything you can use clam sauce on.

It’s quite versatile and is primarily an Asian sauce, so look for it in Asian stores and markets or in the Asian aisle of your favorite grocery store.

This is not limited and you will find that you can get almost identical results with things like soups, stocks, sauces and drinks.

7. Oyster liqueur

If you only plan to make a Bloody Mary, oyster liqueur is a really great option. It’s not actually a liqueur at all, so don’t be scared by the terminology.

However, it is best used in cocktails as a substitute.

Oyster liquor is produced from raw oysters that are not in the water. It’s very similar to clam juice, but, also like clam juice, it can be just as hard to find around.

If you can get your hands on this substitute, you’ll find the consistency and flavor profile to be very similar.

It is only slightly thicker and may need to be thinned with water if you plan to add it to a recipe and want similar results.