What to use instead of Worcestershire sauce?
In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question” What to use instead of Worcestershire sauce?” with an in-depth analysis of the best Worcestershire sauce substitutes.
Worcestershire Sauce is known as a versatile condiment. You can use it in English cuisine. It adds salty umami flavors. It also adds sweetness to your foods which makes me think of it as an English version of soy sauce. The ingredients present in Worcestershire Sauce include malt vinegar, molasses, sugar, salt, anchovies, tamarind, onion, garlic spices, and flavor.
What to use instead of Worcestershire sauce?
You can use the following instead of the Worcestershire Sauce
Soy-Based:
Soy-based condiments are generally known as a great substitute for Worcestershire. Their salty, tangy, and slightly sweet taste is similar to Worcestershire sauce. When the soy-based substitutes are fermented, then they bring the umami-rich funk.
- Soy sauce:
- Soy sauce works best for every tablespoon of Worcestershire called for in a recipe.
- One tablespoon of soy sauce can be used in place of Worcestershire sauce.
- Soy sauce doesn’t contain the same tartness or spice as Worcestershire sauce contains. But soy sauce adds plenty of umami and sweetness to foods.
- This substitute of Worcestershire sauce will work in almost all recipes that call for Worcestershire.
- Soy sauce contains similar consistency and can dissolve well.
- Soy sauce + ketchup:
- If you use one part soy sauce to one part ketchup, then it will be a safe bet here.
- You’ll get sour, sweet, funk, and a little bit of spice by using this combination.
- The soy sauce usually helps to thin out the thicker texture of the ketchup. It will make it a bit more pourable.
- This solution of soy sauce and ketchup is better for dishes like meatloaf, burgers, or heartier soups and stews.
- For salad dressings and cocktails, it might be too thick and cloudy.
- Soy sauce + apple juice:
- This combination hits the salty-sweet-tart-umami notes.
- This combo usually uses equal parts soy sauce and apple juice.
- It is good for adding to dishes in which there are a lot of other layered flavors.
- This combination tastes like an apple for simpler (or uncooked) preparations.
- Soy sauce + lime juice + blackstrap molasses + garlic powder + vinegar + hot sauce + granulated sugar:
- In this soy sauce-based substitute, equal parts of sweet-salty-funky soy sauce, sweet-tart lime juice, sweet-earth molasses, and tart vinegar are combined with a big pinch of garlic powder, a little pinch of granulated sugar, and a dash of hot sauce.
- This blend is used in the same proportion as Worcestershire.
Vinegar-Based:
Vinegar-based substitutes can give you the same tart-sweet-umami-filled flavor as Worcestershire sauce. These substitutes are used (mostly!) in the same proportions as the condiment.
- Balsamic Vinegar:
- Balsamic vinegar is known as the largest ingredient in Worcestershire.
- When you are looking for a substitute then Balsamic vinegar would be your first go-to. Both these provide tartness and sweetness and complex flavors.
- If you don’t have any balsamic vinegar, then you can use a splash of red wine vinegar. Some brown sugar will play a similar role.
- Sherry vinegar:
- The malty, funky, sweet, and sour taste of sherry vinegar hits the same notes as Worcestershire.
- Sherry vinegar lacks a bit of spice and heat.
- You can add one tablespoon to your cooked dish or sauce.
Fish-Based:
- Fish sauce + lemon/lime juice or distilled white vinegar + pomegranate molasses or cranberry juice:
- Use an equal proportion of this blend.
- Through this combination, you’ll get hit with salty, sweet, funky, and tart notes, and can use it tablespoon-for-tablespoon in place of Worcestershire sauce.
- If you end up using pomegranate molasses, consider its darker color, strong flavor, and slightly syrupy consistency.
- Fish sauce:
Fish sauce is known as a salty, funky, and slightly sweet condiment. Fish sauce is made from salted and barrel-fermented anchovies.
As you know both fish sauce and Worcestershire are made from fermented anchovies. Both of these sauces have similar flavors.
Worcestershire has a lot more sweetness and other flavors from the spices onion and garlic.
You should start with half the amount of fish sauce. After this to provide sweetness add a little brown sugar or molasses.
- Fish sauce + soy sauce + tamarind concentrate + ketchup + rice or cider vinegar + allspice:
Because this replacement requires several ingredients, it’s best to make a bigger batch and keep it in a jarred container in the fridge. You must use equal parts of fish sauce, soy sauce, and tamarind concentrate, half the amount of ketchup and rice vinegar, and a pinch of allspice.
By trying this blend, you’ll hit with a spicy, sweet, salty, and umami-rich mixture that tastes shockingly like Worcestershire.
Here, you can find information about Worcestershire sauce substitutes.
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Conclusion:
In this brief guide, we answered the question” What to use instead of Worcestershire sauce?” with an in-depth analysis of the best Worcestershire sauce substitutes.
Citations:
https://food52.com/blog/24403-best-worcestershire-sauce-substitutes