Can you buy vegan fish sauce? Also, 6 brands to try

It’s salty, fishy, ​​but is there a way to make fish sauce vegan to add that addictive umami element to pad thai, stir-fries, ramen, marinades and more? We’ll cut to the chase: It’s a big yes.

As it turns out, there are a few different ways to replicate the deep flavor of fish sauce using only plant-based ingredients. But if you don’t want to make it, you can also buy it. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best vegan fish sauce brands on the market. But first, what exactly is fish sauce? And how can you make it vegetarian?

What is fish sauce?

This seems like an obvious answer to an obvious question, but fish sauce is, of course, made with fish. But that said, it has a little more complexity. The fish needs to be fermented for at least a few months to get that deep, salty, sweet, tangy flavor. In some cases, it is fermented for up to two years.

“Smaller fish like anchovies are coated in salt and packed in large barrels to hang out,” explains have fun. “The natural bacteria begin to break down the fish, creating a sparkling, fishy, ​​delicious liquid. Guys, that’s fish sauce.”

Fish sauce can be used in a variety of dishes to add depth of flavor, but is particularly popular in Southeast Asian cuisine. According to Spruce eatsIn Thailand, it is a common table spice, and it is not uncommon for people to apply it liberally to their food after serving, like salt and pepper.

What is vegan fish sauce made from?

Fermented fish may be the main ingredient in fish sauce, but there are ways to replicate it without using animal ingredients. Often, recipes are made with seaweed to get that distinct seafood flavor. Mushrooms can add an earthy element to dried chives, and salt is a must.

How to Make Vegetarian Fish Sauce

There are several recipes available to guide you through the process of making vegan fish sauce. Minimalist Baker has this, for example, which uses sea salt, shiitake mushrooms, dulse seaweed, chickpea miso and tamari. Or this one from The Foodie Takes Flight just uses coconut sugar, sea salt, lime juice and cayenne pepper.

When you make your vegetarian fish sauce, one of the most popular ways to use it is in pad thai. Follow this recipe for a sweet, savory, smooth and satisfying Pad Thai, featuring vegan fish sauce and crispy pan-fried tofu.

Vegan fish sauce brand

If you’re short on time, or you’d rather just buy fish sauce than make it, it’s possible to find vegan versions of fish sauce online or on store shelves. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best brands on the market, in no particular order.

1 Hello ocean

For fish snacks and sauces without fish, Ocean’s Hello is one of the best brands to check out. It offers seaweed-based snacks, as well as vegan broths, dressings, marinades and, of course, its own vegan fish sauce. Its kelp-based recipe is completely soy-free, organic and gluten-free.
Try it here

Soji

2 Soji

British brand Sozyë was founded by Jacob Thandil, who was also behind the popular coconut water brand Cocofina. During the lockdown in 2020, he decided to use Scottish seaweed as a soy replacement in sauces and created three different organic, soy-free products: Naya (a soy sauce alternative), Oyster (an oyster sauce alternative), and Nish (a fish sauce) option). According to Sozyë, Niche is made in the UK using sustainable seaweed to “taste the sea”.
Try it here

Chili Mash Company

3 Chili Mash Company

The Chili Mash Company is best known for, you guessed it, chili mash. But it also has several other condiments and sauces, including Reaper Hot Sauce, habanero pepper jam, and pepper-free products, such as banana jam and Vefish, a completely vegan fish sauce alternative, made with two types of seaweed.
Try it here

Earthly gourmet

4 Earthly gourmet

Based in Portland, OR, Earthly Gourmet is on a mission to make vegan cuisine more accessible in the Pacific Northwest. Its popular range of products includes Tofuna Fysh Sauce, a vegan fish sauce made with ingredients such as seaweed, tamari, horseradish and pineapple juice.
Try it here

5 towards the lake

For authentic Southeast Asian vegetarian fish sauce, check out Au Lac, one of Vietnam’s leading producers of vegetarian dishes. Made with just three ingredients, soybeans, water and salt, this sauce will add that delicious and highly sought-after umami element to any dish.
Try it here

6 The best of Thailand

For depth of flavor, Thailand’s best vegetarian fish sauce is one of the best condiments you can have on hand. The game-changer ingredient is fermented soybeans, which combine with seaweed for an authentic and delicious fish flavor.
Try it here