Is Oyster Sauce Vegan?
Oyster sauce is made from fermented soybeans and wheat gluten. While it may seem like a healthy ingredient, there are actually several reasons why it isn’t vegan. First off, it contains glutamic acid, which is an amino acid found in animal products. Secondly, it contains hydrolyzed vegetable protein, which is derived from corn. Lastly, it contains monosodium glutamate, which is another form of glutamic acid.
While it might sound delicious, it’s definitely not vegan. Instead, try using a variety of meat-free condiments to add that same rich flavor to your dishes. Try making your own teriyaki sauce, barbecue sauce, ketchup, or any number of other sauces. You can find recipes online for all sorts of tasty condiments.
You can also buy pre-made vegan versions of oyster sauce (like eel sauce) at most grocery stores. These condiments usually come in small bottles and are great for adding a little extra flavor to your meals without compromising your health.”
What Does It Taste Like?
Oysters are known for being delicious, but did you know that they are also super healthy? Oysters are rich in zinc, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, selenium, vitamin B12, vitamin D, folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and fiber. Plus, they are low in calories and fat.
This recipe uses oyster extract instead of oyster shells to bring a savory, brininess, and slight funkiness to dishes. There is also plenty of sweetness thanks to the natural caramelization as the sauce simmers. Finally, there is a bit of tang from the vinegar and lemon juice.
You’ll find this sauce great on steamed vegetables, pasta, rice, fish, chicken, pork, beef, lamb, seafood, eggs, soups, salads, sandwiches, pizza, burgers, tacos, wraps, and more!”
Top 8 Vegan Oyster Sauce Substitutes
Original oyster sauce is a staple ingredient in Asian cuisine. It adds a rich, savory depth to any dish. However, if you’re a vegan or vegetarian, you may not have access to it. Fortunately, there are plenty of vegan oyster sauce alternatives available.
Here are eight of the most common ones.
1. Hoisin Sauce
Hoisin sauce is a versatile Asian condiment that can be used as a dip, marinade, basting sauce, salad dressing, and stir fry sauce. It’s typically made with fermented soybeans, rice wine, salt, sugar, and various spices. It’s a great substitute for regular oyster sauce since it tastes similar and adds a lot of flavor to dishes.
You can find this delicious sauce at most grocery stores, but if you’d rather make your own, try our homemade version below!”
2. Soy Sauce
You can find soy sauce at any grocery store because this is one of the most popular condiments in the world, but if you prefer to buy organic products, you’ll probably want to look for a brand that is labeled as non-GMO. There are plenty of brands out there that do not include genetically modified organisms (GMOs), including Kikkoman, Bragg, Eden Foods, etc.
There are two main types of soy sauce: light and dark. Light soy sauce is thinner and less salty than dark soy sauce. Dark soy sauce is usually darker in color and has a stronger flavor. Both types of soy sauce work equally well as substitutes for regular soy sauce.
To make your own version of oyster sauce, you can either purchase a bottle of prepared oyster sauce or make your own. Simply mix equal parts water and rice wine vinegar and let sit overnight. Then strain through cheesecloth and discard the solids. Add sugar and salt to taste. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator.
3. Hoisin Sauce + Soy Sauce
Combining hoisin sauce and soy sauce creates a near-perfect balance between salty, sweet, umami, and tangy flavors. It produces a result that is most comparable to that produced by the oyster sauce, the differences between hoisin sauce and soy sauce won’t be noticeable!
Simply combine equal parts of hoisin sauce and soy and whisk gently until the ingredients are well combined. You can use regular hoisin sauce, low sodium hoisin sauce, or liquid aminos here–whatever you have available will work fine. The resulting mixture can be used in lieu of oyster sauce in nearly any situation.
4. Mushroom Sauce
Oyster sauce is a traditional Chinese condiment made from fermented soybeans and oysters. It’s typically served at room temperature and is commonly added to dishes like fried rice, noodles, soups, braised meats, vegetables, eggs, etc.
While there are plenty of vegan alternatives available, none come close to the taste of the oyster sauce. One of the best vegan replacements for oyster sauce is the mushroom sauce. It tastes similar to the oyster sauce and adds a rich, savory flavor to any dish.
You’ll find mushroom sauce in most supermarkets and Asian markets. Look for brands that say “mushroom sauce,” “shiitake soy sauce,” “shiitake mushroom sauce,” “mushroom soy sauce,” or “mushroom stir fry sauce.”
5. Sweet Soy Sauce
There is actually a vegan option available called sweet soy sauce. It’s made using regular soy sauce, which is fermented and then reduced until it becomes thick and syrupy. The resulting product is similar to oyster sauce in terms of its color and consistency, but without any animal products.
You can easily find sweet soy sauce at most major supermarkets and Asian markets. Just look for the word ‘ketjap’ or ‘kecap’ in the ingredients list. You’ll probably find it near the soy sauce section.
6. Black Bean Sauce
Black bean sauce is a fermented soybean product that originated in China, and I can say that it is a tasty sauce. It is a dark brownish color and has a rich, earthy flavor. It is thicker than regular soy sauce and has a stronger aroma. It is most commonly used as a flavoring agent in savory dishes.
Black bean sauce has a strong flavor and a thick, viscous texture. Because of its intensity, we recommend that you only use it in cooked applications such as marinades as opposed
Oyster sauce is a staple ingredient in Asian cooking. It adds umami flavor to dishes and gives them a rich, salty taste. But if you don’t eat seafood, there are plenty of delicious alternatives out there. One of those options is teriyaki sauce.
There are many types of teriyaki sauce available at grocery stores today. Some are made with only soy sauce, others include additional ingredients like sake, rice wine, ginger, garlic, chili peppers, citrus juice, etc. You can find teriyaki sauce in bottles, jars, cans, and squeeze tubes.
You can easily substitute teriyaki sauce for the volume of oyster sauce in recipes. Just keep in mind that teriyaki is much sweeter and less savory than its non-vegan counterpart. So you may want to reduce the amount of sugar and salt in your dish.
Teriyaki is so popular among vegans that grocery stores usually carry several different varieties. Pick your favorite vegan version and enjoy!
7. Teriyaki Sauce
There are plenty of options out there if you don’t want to buy oyster sauce. You can try making your own version using the above ingredients, or you can find a variety of vegan teriyaki sauces at your local store.
You’ll notice that the recipes call for a lot of sugar, so you may want to reduce the sweetness in your dish. Also, remember that teriyaki sauce is very thick, so you may want to add additional liquid to thin it down.
8. Tamari Sauce
You can find tamari sauce at most grocery stores, Asian markets, and online retailers as it one of the best substitutes for oyster sauce. You’ll notice that it comes in two varieties: light and dark. Dark tamari sauce tends to be saltier and stronger-tasting than its lighter counterpart. However, both versions provide a rich and flavorful alternative to oyster sauce.
To make tamari sauce, simply combine equal parts water and tamari sauce. Then add whatever additional ingredients you’d like to give it a unique flavor profile. Some common additions include garlic powder, ginger, sesame oil, chili peppers, etc.
For a simple recipe, mix 1/2 cup of water and 1/4 cup of tamari sauce. Add 2 tablespoons of honey and stir well. Then add 3 cloves of minced garlic and 1 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger. Stir until combined. Finally, add the key ingredient 1 teaspoon of sesame oil and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Mix well and serve.
Top 3 Vegetarian Oyster Sauce Brands
Oyster sauce is a condiment made from fermented soybeans and wheat. It’s used primarily in Chinese cuisine. There are several types of oyster sauce available, including vegetarian oyster sauce. Some brands of vegetarian oyster sauce are not actually vegan, though. You should look for a brand that says “vegetarian” on its label.
Here are the top 3 vegan oyster sauce brands currently available:
Kimlan Vegetarian Mushroom Oyster Sauce
This vegan oyster sauce is made with oyster mushroom extracts and claims that they are gluten-free oyster sauce, the vegetarian version. It’s packed full of a fresh, umami taste. You won’t notice any difference between this soy sauce and regular oyster sauce.
Even though this soy sauce is vegan, it still tastes delicious on its own as it has real oysters. Try adding it to soups, vegetables, stir-fries, or grilled dishes. It’s also a great dipping sauce on noodles, rice, bread, or crackers.
Kimlan vegetarian mushroom soy sauce is a must-have ingredient for anyone who loves Asian food. It’s available at most grocery stores nationwide.
Wan Ja Shan Vegetarian Mushroom Oyster Sauce
This Wan Ja Shan mushroom oyster sauce is made without any artificial ingredients. It’s a great option if you’re trying to avoid MSG.
The flavor is fantastic, especially when used in stir-fry dishes, and marinades, chow mein or can elevate the taste of meat, veggies, or tofu dramatically. You’ll never guess that there’s no MSG in this product!
Kikkoman Vegetarian Oyster Sauce
Oyster sauces are made from fermented soybeans and usually include ingredients like salt, sugar, vinegar, and sometimes MSG. However, if you’re gluten intolerant, then you’ll want to avoid any products containing wheat.
Fortunately, there are plenty of non-wheat flour alternatives available. One of the most common ones is Kikkoman Vegetarian Soy Sauces. These soy sauces are made without wheat, dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, peanuts, vegan fish sauces, tree nuts, or yeast.
These soy sauces come in several varieties, including regular, light, and dark brown sauce. Regular soy sauce is milder and sweeter than its darker counterparts. Light soy sauce is lighter in color and has less salty flavor than regular soy sauce. Dark soy sauce is thicker and richer tasting than regular soy sauce. All of these soy sauces are great options for vegans and vegetarians alike.
Hey'all I'm Amy, a born foodie and diagnosed with celiac disease 7 years ago. I refused to cave into tasteless, boring gulten free food and create my own!
On my blog you'll find info & cool facts along with recipes, all on gluten free foods!