The 9 Best Dark Soy Sauce Substitutes

Soy sauce has been a favorite in many households for years. If you’re a fan of Asian cooking, you’ll understand why this spicy seasoning is a key ingredient in many Chinese and other Asian recipes.

But if you’re missing this amazing ingredient, what’s the best substitute for dark soy sauce?

You can use similar-tasting savory or oriental sauces as a substitute for dark soy sauce. If you need an ingredient that tastes as close to dark soy sauce as possible, light soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, or oyster sauce is your best bet.

Are you cooking a recipe that calls for dark soy sauce, but your pantry shelves are empty? Don’t panic, we have some great substitutes that will keep your dinner tasting delicious.

Let’s look at the 9 best dark soy sauce substitutes and how to use them.

What is dark soy sauce?

Most of us take it for granted that dark soy sauce is a rich, salty condiment that you throw on your food without even thinking about it. But what exactly is in this little miracle seasoning?

Soy sauce is a very ancient ingredient, originally created over 2,000 years ago.

Originally from China, soy sauce has been used for thousands of years as a condiment and dressing. Now popular around the world, soy sauce is a staple ingredient in Asian cuisine.

Soy sauce is a liquid seasoning that can come in different varieties. In its most basic form, soy sauce is created from the by-product of fermented soybeans. It is mixed with brine to create the rich, salty sauce we all know.

Like any old recipe, soy sauce has been modified and adapted over the centuries. Many soy sauces are made with wheat in addition to soybeans, and some Japanese adaptations also contain rice wine.

Dark soy sauce is a Chinese version of soy sauce, the color of which is much darker than the more widely used light soy sauce. Dark soy sauce also has a thicker texture and is used for cooking only.

The fermentation process for dark soy sauce is traditionally much longer than that for light. Sometimes it also contains added sugar or molasses.

What does dark soy sauce taste like?

Many of us are unlikely to enjoy the taste of dark soy sauce straight from the bottle. Its counterpart, light soy sauce, has a more delicate flavor and is often used as a base for dipping sauces.

Dark soy sauce is too rich and punchy to consume this way and would overwhelm the taste buds.

Dark soy sauce is very thick and thick, although it doesn’t taste as salty as light soy sauce.

Interestingly, dark soy sauce does not contain less salt than light, but the stronger soy flavor balances it out! Dark soy sauce also contains added sweetness in the form of molasses or sugar, giving it a sweet and salty taste.

What is dark soy sauce used for?

Dark soy sauce is used for cooking only, and is often added late in the cooking process.

It is used to flavor and season sauces, adding depth of flavor and saltiness. Interestingly, dark soy sauce is also often used to color sauces.

This rich and spicy sauce is very popular in dishes such as braised meats, stir-fried rice and fried noodles.

It gently caramelizes and adds a layer of rich, sweet and salty flavor. Dark soy sauce can transform a dish from boring and bland to rich and exciting in a matter of minutes.

The 9 Best Dark Soy Sauce Substitutes

There are plenty of options for substituting dark soy sauce if you ever find yourself in a pinch, so don’t be discouraged if you run out of dark soy sauce.

Here are the 9 best dark soy sauce substitutes!

1. Light soy sauce

All types of soy sauce have a flavor profile that is described as umami. This word is originally from Japan and is used a lot in Asian cuisine.

Umami is best described as something that has a savory flavor and is particularly reminiscent of rich broths and fermented foods, such as fish sauce.

If your recipe calls for dark soy sauce, the main goal is likely to be to provide a source of umami, as well as add color to your dish.  Therefore, the most effective substitute will be another type of soy sauce, such as light soy sauce.

Light soy sauce can be added in the same amounts as dark soy sauce. It will give a similar salty and umami taste. However, it is not as sweet as dark soy sauce, so you may need to adjust other elements of your recipe accordingly.

Using the light soy sauce will not change the color of your dish as much as using the dark soy sauce. So if it’s both dark color and flavor you’re after, opt for another substitute.

2. Oyster sauce

Oyster sauce is made with oyster extract, but it doesn’t have any fishy taste. Contains concentrated juices of caramelized oysters, combined with salt and sugar.

Some oyster sauces also contain soy sauce, and may be thickened with cornstarch.

The flavor of oyster sauce is earthy, sweet and salty, similar to that of dark soy sauce. It’s also very dark in color, so it will give the same delicious caramelization your recipe calls for.

A word of caution when using oyster sauce as a substitute for dark soy sauce: it can taste much sweeter! Therefore, you can try adding half at the beginning, to check the sweetness level.

It’s also sometimes much thicker than dark soy sauce, depending on the brand. So you may need to add some water to thin the oyster sauce and prevent it from burning.

3. Teriyaki sauce

Teriyaki sauce is a simple and flavorful sauce. It contains four basic ingredients: soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and sake or mirin. Sake is the name of Japanese rice wine, and mirin is the lower-alcohol alternative.

Some teriyaki sauces also include flavors like garlic. Its consistency is similar to that of dark soy sauce and has the same dark color.

The umami, salty, and sweet flavor of teriyaki sauce makes it an excellent substitute for dark soy sauce. It is a smooth and shiny sauce that will give a shiny finish to your recipe.

One thing to keep in mind when using teriyaki sauce as a substitute is that it will contain other ingredients, such as ginger and garlic. So if your recipe calls for these ingredients, you can decrease the amount you add accordingly.

4. Molasses

If you’re looking for a simple substitute for dark soy sauce, sometimes a dash of molasses will do the trick.

Molasses is a byproduct of the sugar manufacturing process and has a rich sweet-sour flavor. It is popular in dishes that benefit from its rich sweetness, such as barbecue sauce.

The main taste difference between molasses and dark soy sauce is the lack of salt. Therefore, you may need to increase the amount of salt in your recipe to compensate for this.

Molasses is the same color as dark soy sauce, but its texture can be thicker. This syrupy sauce can also burn easily, so it should not be added to dishes until almost ready to serve.

5. Hoisin sauce

Hoisin sauce is a flavorful sauce often used to glaze meat or add richness to stir-fries. It’s also a great dipping sauce.

The basic hoisin sauce contains fermented soybean paste, fennel, chili, and garlic. Some brands also include vinegar, sugar, and Chinese five-spice powder.

Hoisin sauce has a similar flavor profile to dark soy sauce, with a sweet, umami, and salty flavor. It shares the same color and it will darken your recipe in the same way as dark soy sauce.

Keep in mind, however, that hoisin sauce contains some elements that are typically missing from dark soy sauce.

Check your recipe carefully and adjust the spices accordingly. You may find that flavors like fennel or clash of Chinese five spices don’t work well with your recipe.

6. Fish sauce

Fish sauce is one of the main ingredients used to add umami to Asian cuisine. Made by fermenting fish in salt for up to two years, this sauce has a strong, punchy flavor, similar to dark soy sauce in many ways.

It can be a good substitute for dark soy sauce, especially for seafood and fish dishes. However, the fishy flavor can overpower other meats and poultry, so it is best avoided for these.

Fish sauce can work well in vegetable dishes, but make sure no vegetarians come to dinner.

Fish sauce has a strong, intense flavor and is very salty. We suggest you use half the amount to start with in your recipe and adjust to taste.

7. Worcestershire sauce

Originating in the United Kingdom, Worcestershire sauce is a rich and flavorful sauce loved by the British.

Although it comes from halfway around the world, Worcestershire sauce has a lot in common with its eastern counterparts.

The main ingredients of this amazing sauce are fermented onion, fermented garlic, vinegar, molasses, tamarind paste, cured anchovies, salt, and sugar.

It also contains a blend of spices and seasonings, such as mustard seed, coriander, cloves, citrus peel, and pepper.

The flavor of Worcestershire sauce is savory, spicy, and salty. It’s not as sweet as dark soy sauce, so you may need to add an alternative sweetener, such as sugar or honey.

Worcestershire sauce is also very strong, so you’ll need half as much compared to dark soy sauce. Its texture is thin and watery, so it is not ideal for creating sticky, caramelized icings.

8. Tamari

Tamari is the Japanese equivalent of soy sauce. It is made the same way, but is wheat free and gluten free. In terms of flavor and color, it falls somewhere between light and dark soy sauce.

This dark soy sauce substitute might be perfect if you’re looking for a gluten-free option. It also has similar salt levels to dark soy sauce, but it’s not quite as sweet.

The color is slightly lighter, but you will still manage to darken and caramelize your dish.

9. Balsamic vinegar

Using balsamic vinegar as a substitute for dark soy sauce is a bit of a last resort, but with a little creativity, you can make it work!

Balsamic vinegar is a traditional Italian seasoning, produced by concentrating and then fermenting the juice of freshly harvested grapes.

Balsamic vinegar has a strong, intense flavor, so you only need a small amount to add color and depth of flavor to your dish. It tastes sweet and sour, but it’s very acidic and you’ll need some sugar to balance it out.

Due to the concentrated nature of this seasoning, it may also be a good idea to dilute it with water before adding it to your recipe.

Related questions

Now that we’ve gone over the absolute best substitutes for dark soy sauce, let’s take a look at some related questions.

Can I make dark soy sauce at home?

You may be wondering if it is possible to make dark soy sauce at home. Well, making any type of soy sauce from scratch is tricky business, but we can cheat when it comes to making dark soy sauce!

However, you will need some light soy sauce to get started.

To make dark soy sauce at home, mix 1 cup of light soy sauce in a saucepan with 2 cups of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of water. Stir well to dissolve as much of the sugar as possible, and then put the saucepan over low heat.

Keep stirring until the sugar has completely melted and the liquid has a syrup-like consistency.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool completely. Put your dark soy sauce in a closed container and store it in the fridge.

Your sauce should stay in perfect condition for several weeks, giving you plenty of opportunities to create amazing Asian-inspired dishes.

What is double black soy sauce?

As if the dark soy sauce wasn’t intense enough, then came the double black soy sauce!

Double Black Soy Sauce is a super-rich soy sauce used to add color and flavor to Asian-inspired meals. Double Black Soy Sauce contains added molasses, which gives it a darker color and a rich, sweet flavor.

Cooks like to use double black soy sauce for rich dishes, such as caramelized meats and braised vegetables. Be careful when using this hot sauce, as a little goes a long way.

How do you make light soy sauce from dark soy sauce?

If you only have dark soy sauce in your pantry, can you use it instead of the light soy sauce? Or can you modify it in some way to make it its lighter counterpart?

The good news is that light and dark soy sauces are pretty much interchangeable. Many recipes call for both types to be used, as they bring slightly different qualities to your dish.

However, if you only have one or the other, your recipe will still turn out perfectly delicious.

To use dark soy sauce in place of light soy sauce, add a splash of water and a pinch of salt to lighten the flavor of the sauce.

Is soy sauce healthy?

Soy sauce is used in such small amounts that the health benefits or side effects on our bodies are likely to be minimal. However, if you’re a fan of soy sauce, should you worry about how much you put in your food?

Research has shown that soy sauce is high in antioxidants, which can prevent cell damage caused by free radicals. Soy also contains compounds called isoflavones, which are said to reduce cholesterol and menopause symptoms. 

However, the benefits of soy sauce might be outweighed by the unhealthy drawbacks.

The salt levels in soy sauce are so high that one tablespoon contains up to 40% of our daily sodium intake. High levels of salt can increase blood pressure, which carries a risk of heart disease and stroke.

How many calories does soy sauce have?

If you’re following a healthy eating plan, you may be wondering how many calories are in soy sauce. This rich and tasty condiment has very few calories, since it only contains 53 calories per 100 grams of sauce.

Soy sauce is used in such low amounts that even a little goes a long way. Most recipes call for a tablespoon of soy sauce, which only contains 8 calories.

This means that you can use the soy sauce however you like, without worrying that it will make your dish too high in calories.