Do you love eating Chinese or other dishes that have soy sauce but are concerned about its vegan considerations? You are at the right place; let’s explore “Is Soy sauce vegan?”

Well, it’s totally vegan if prepared in a traditional way. But sometimes, different processing methods and ingredients added by different brands make it non-vegan somehow. So, it’s best to stick with the trusted non-vegan brands of soy sauce.

What is Soy sauce?

Soy sauce is a flavorful liquid that is used as a condiment in many kitchens worldwide, as it adds flavor and enhances the taste of various dishes. Most importantly, it is a vegan alkaline diet.

 Soysauca has its origin in China. Later, it gained popularity in East Asia, and now worldwide, it adds salty flavor to many dishes. It is mainly made of Soybeans and thus got named as Soy sauce. It is not only added as a condiment while cooking but is also used separately as a dip along with various dishes like dumplings. 

Nowadays, Soybeans together with some flour and micro-organisms, are fermented for a long period of time to produce this dark fermented liquid. The color and thickness of soy sauce vary, depending on its process of production.

Ingredients of Soy sauce:

All these ingredients that were traditionally involved in soy sauce production are vegan-friendly, as they do not involve any animal-based ingredients. The primary ingredients that are essentially added to any type of soy sauce are; 

• Soybeans 
• Wheat flour
• Salt
• Water

However, the problem begins with the selection of the manufacturing process and the ingredients. As we know, Soy sauce has gained so much popularity worldwide, so in different countries, different ingredients that may be of animal origin are used to add more qualities to that soy sauce. 

Other than the four basic ingredients, some brands may add some additional coloring or flavoring agents that may not be vegan-friendly, as they are derived from fish or animal meat. So, it’s better to look at the ingredients list before consuming the product. Look for E631, particularly on the ingredient list, as it is usually obtained from animal sources and used as a food additive in soy sauce.

Processing of Soy sauce:

Ingredients can be checked on the ingredient list before utilizing the product. But the actual point of concern for strict vegans can be its production technique.

Traditionally, soy sauce has been made for thousands of years. Its processing begins with roasting the soybeans and wheat separately. These two, along with salt and water, are then mixed with the culture made of some microbes, such as mold spores or yeast. 

The mixture is then kept for fermentation for several months. During this fermentation period, enzymes break down the starch in beans and wheat into sugar and then further into amino acids, giving a significant savory flavor to the sauce.

The mixture obtained is then pressed to extract the liquid, which is further filtered, pasteurized, and added with the required flavor-enhancing agents.

This technique is more or less the same followed by different companies. This means, it must pass through the fermentation process to get soy sauce, and the fermentation requires certain bacteria. Now this is the point, which can be of concern for vegans.

The bacteria most commonly employed here are Lactic acid bacteria. These lactic acid bacteria can be obtained from both animal and plant origins. So, in the ingredient list, the companies may have mentioned lactic acid bacteria, but we can not be sure about its actual source of origin.

So, it is better to stick with the vegan-friendly brands that claim their products to be 100% vegan.

Recipe for home-made Vegan Soy-less sauce (Gluten-free) :

Although soy sauce is prepared by a complex, time-consuming fermentation process, its alternative can be made at home by using some simple kitchen ingredients.

But before going to the recipe, it’s important to mention here that this homemade soy sauce cannot be exactly similar to the one bought from the market. Still, it can be used as simple alternative that captures some of the essential flavor of actual soy sauce adding a nice touch to your vegan dishes.

Here’s a recipe for a home-made vegan soyless sauce:

Ingredients:

1 cup vegetable broth

2 tablespoons molasses

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Recipe:

Mix all these ingredients and whisk them until well combined.

You can adjust the flavour according to your choice, can add more molasses for sweetness, or more vinegar for acidity.

Heat them at low flame until you get the desired consistency.

Straining is optional to get a smoother liquid.

Transfer it to a clean, airtight jar, and store it in the refrigerator for a longer stay and freshness.

Which Soy sauce is vegan?

There is more than one type of soy sauce, and so the choice of soy sauce mainly affects the flavor of the dishes.

Some of the most widely used types of soy sauce are:

Light Soy sauce:

This is the more traditional Chinese-styled type of soy sauce. It is a thin liquid with a concentrated flavor. The time duration for fermentation required for light soy sauce is usually less than for dark soy sauce.

Dark soy sauce:

This type of soy sauce is more viscous and darker in appearance. It requires a longer fermentation period, with the addition of more sweetening and thickening agents. 

Japanese Soy sauce:

Shoyu is the name for Japanese-styles soy sauce. This type of soy sauce is more likely to have a slightly sweeter taste in comparison to Chinese soy sauce, which is more of a salty or savory flavor. This tyes of soy is also used in manufacturing imitation crab.

Tamari:

It is a wheat-free type of soy sauce suitable for gluten-allergic persons. Tamari and soy sauce are made the same way, except that in tamari, the amount of soybeans is doubled, and no wheat grains are added. Tamari has a thicker texture and savior flavor.

So, the texture and taste of all these types of soy sauce vary, and hence, the dishes made of these soy sauce also differ in taste.

Is Soy sauce healthy?

Soy sauce is rich in sodium, and thus, it can cause some serious alterations to blood pressure. So, it must be avoided by hypertensive patients or the amount used must be controlled.

But despite having a lot of sodium content, soy sauce also has some health benefits as well. Soy sauce, like other fermented food, contains large amounts of histamine. This histamine not only helps in better digestion, but it also acts as a cytokine during any inflammatory or allergic reactions.

Some types of soy sauce, mainly dark soy sauce, are known to contain some strong antioxidants. Carbohydrate components in the soy sauce also help in inducing immune responses.

Vegan-friendly Soy sauce alternative:

If you are allergic to soybeans  (which are the most common allergens), have a gluten allergy, cannot consume wheat, or are a hypertensive person, you should go for a soy sauce alternative.

Well, in vegan options, one may use “Coconut aminos” as a soy sauce alternative. It is one of the best options, as it is soy-free and gluten-free, and in comparison to soy sauce, it has very low sodium content.

A tablespoon of soy sauce contains 878 mg of sodium, but in comparison, 1 tablespoon of coconut aminos contains 90 mg of sodium, which is far less than soy sauce. Moreover, it does not require soybeans for its production. It is made of the sap of the coconut plant. It tastes sweeter than soy sauce.

If you have a sweet tooth, vegan caramel sauce is also a good option for the topping of yummy desserts.

Is Kikkoman soy sauce vegan? 

Kikkoman soy sauce is a careful selection of vegan soy sauce. It contains water, wheat, and soybeans only and is 100% vegan. These ingredients are processed in a traditional brewing process so there is no risk of cross-contamination with animal products. 

Is soy sauce raw vegan?

Yes, raw soy sauce is vegan as it does not contain any additives, flavors, or food colorings. 

Is tamari soy sauce vegan? 

Tamari soy sauce is vegan and gluten-free. It does not contain any animal products. Good news for gluten-free diet lovers: it is also free of wheat. It is made from fermented soybeans alone. 

Is Amoy soy sauce vegan? 

Amoy soy sauce is also vegan. It is prepared from a perfect blend of salt, wheat, and soybeans. It is suitable for both vegans and vegetarians. 

Is Oyster sauce vegan? 

Oyster sauce is neither vegan nor vegetarian. It is prepared from caramelized oysters, which are animals. 

Is Fish sauce vegan? 

No, fish sauce can never be vegan as it is obtained from fish. Fish is an animal. Vegans and vegetarians can not eat fish sauce. 

Final Thoughts: 

Raw soy sauce is vegan as it contains vegan-friendly ingredients like water, soybeans, and wheat. However, a few companies add additives that are derived from meat or fish. These additives compromise the vegan nature of soy sauce. You should always check vegan labels and ingredients before buying vegan soy sauce. 

Also Read:

Is Coke vegan?

Vegan banana bread recipe

Is tofu vegan?

Are Oreos vegan?