If you crave the savory flavor of Worcestershire sauce but follow a vegan diet, we’ve got the alternatives you need.
Each of our four vegan substitutes for Worcestershire sauce is easy to throw together in a pinch. Plus, we’ll give you our homemade vegan Worcestershire recipe that perfectly replicates the complex flavor of this sauce using common household staples.
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Vegan Worcestershire Sauce Substitutes
If you do find yourself faced with the complex task of substituting Worcestershire sauce in a recipe due to a bare pantry or dietary restrictions, there are some simple solutions you can try. While none of these will truly capture that Worcestery flavor, they will work in an emergency.
Or, if you’ve got more time and a few more ingredients at your disposal, skip down to our homemade vegan Worcestershire recipe. Using a short list of common vegan condiments, you can put together a tasty substitute that truly captures the essence of this non-vegan sauce.
1. Soy Sauce
Soy sauce (or tamari) works surprisingly well as a Worcestershire substitute. This common condiment shares the umami flavor that can only be captured by fermentation. It also has a bit of sweetness and tang that match well with the original. What you don’t quite get is the tartness or spice, but overall, it’s a pretty good match.
For every 1 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce, use 1 tbsp of soy sauce.
2. Vinegar
Vinegar lacks the complexity of Worcestershire, but it brings plenty of bite to enhance the other flavors of your dish. And it is one ingredient most households have on hand even when the pantry is bare.
Balsamic vinegar is the best option if you have it and can be substituted at a one-to-one ratio. If not, red or white wine vinegar and a dash of brown sugar will work almost as well.
3. Miso Paste
Miso paste is another fermented food that captures the complex flavors of Worcestershire sauce pretty well. It is salty, sweet, and umami and has a decent spice backing that works well in most situations.
To make your Worcester substitute, mix equal parts water and miso paste, then substitute at a one-to-one ratio.
4. Store-Bought Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
If you have a little more time to spare before you need to use a vegan Worcestershire sauce substitute, one great option is a commercial vegan version of this popular sauce. These products are very similar to the original recipe but without anchovies (usually, they use soy sauce instead).
Our favorite version, Annie’s Vegan Worcestershire Sauce, can be used as a one-to-one ratio substitute in any recipe.
Homemade Vegan Worcestershire Sauce Recipe
Another option if you want a substitute that truly captures the complex essence of Worcestershire is to make this delicious homemade recipe. No cooking required! Just measure, mix, and add to your favorite savory recipe.
All you need for this spot-on recipe is:
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tbsp soy sauce
- 1 dash hot sauce
- small pinch of onion powder
- small pinch of garlic powder
Mix all the ingredients together until smooth, then substitute for the real thing at a one-to-one ratio.
You can find the full recipe included in our printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
FAQ
Is Worcestershire Sauce Vegan?
No, Worcestershire sauce is not vegan. This complex flavor enhancer contains a long list of ingredients that can vary by brand, but among them is always cured anchovies.
What is vegan Worcestershire sauce made of?
Commercial vegan Worcestershire sauce is typically made of all the same spices and ingredients as the real thing minus the anchovies. In place of this animal ingredient, manufacturers will usually add soy sauce or vinegar to capture a similar flavor.
What sauce tastes like Worcestershire sauce?
Soy sauce has a somewhat similar flavor to Worcestershire but is not nearly as savory or complex. One of the best straight sauce substitutes is steak sauce. And, surprisingly, most steak sauces are vegan.
More Vegan Sauces You Can Make Yourself
If you like our homemade vegan Worcestershire sauce recipe, you’ll love these other great homemade sauce and condiment recipes.
- Vegan Fish Sauce – This vegan alternative uses seaweed, soy sauce, and miso to capture the complex taste of real fish sauce.
- Homemade Vegan BBQ Sauce – This BBQ sauce is smokey, tangy, and 100% vegan.
- Homemade Vegan Ranch Dressing – Who needs eggs or dairy when you have this deliciously herby vegan ranch recipe?
- Vegan Mushroom Gravy – This vegan gravy uses mushrooms, veggie broth, nutritional yeast, and a whole slew of spices to capture the flavor of the real thing.
- Vegan Peanut Sauce – Perfect for Asian salads, spring rolls, and more, this tasty vegan peanut sauce is destined to become your new favorite.
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Simple Vegan Worcestershire Substitutes
If you’re looking for a quick vegan Worcestershire sauce substitute for a recipe, reach for soy sauce, vinegar, or miso paste. But if you really want to capture the complex essence of this unique sauce, I recommend grabbing a bottle of commercial vegan Worcestershire. Or, better yet, whip up our homemade vegan Worcestershire sauce.
Have you tried any of these substitutes? How did they work for you? Let us know by posting a comment in the box below.
Homemade Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tbsp soy sauce
- 1 dash hot sauce
- small pinch of onion powder
- small pinch of garlic powder
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients together until smooth.
- Substitute for traditional Worcestershire sauce at a ratio of one-to-one.
Nutrition
I grew up in Colorado under the influence of three generations of knowledgeable women who knew their way around the garden. I graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor of science in biology and a minor in English. A year before graduation, my life was upended by an unexpected diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes.
Facing the reality of living with an incurable autoimmune disease I left to reflect hard on my lifestyle. While this type of diabetes cannot be cured or treated with diet, I was certain that focusing on my health and fueling my body with clean food would help better manage the condition. As a lifelong animal lover, it wasn’t difficult for me to transition fully to a vegan diet.
When I'm not constructing articles for clients, you can find me wrist-deep in dirt in my vegetable garden, hiking with my dogs, or back in front of the computer creating imaginative worlds in my quest to become a published fiction writer.
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