How to Make Your Own Vegan Fish Sauce at Home

Fish sauce is a popular condiment in many Asian cuisines that provides a punch of salty, savory umami flavor. It is made from fermented fish and is used to add depth and savoriness to dishes like pad thai, pho, spring rolls, and more. However, traditional fish sauce is not vegetarian or vegan friendly. Luckily, you can easily make a tasty vegan fish sauce at home with just a few simple ingredients and techniques.

Why Make Your Own Vegan Fish Sauce?

There are several motivations for making DIY vegan fish sauce rather than buying it pre-made:

• Control the flavor – With a homemade version, you can tweak and balance the taste to your preferences by adjusting ingredients like miso, tamari salt etc. Store-bought vegan fish sauces can vary wildly in flavor.

• Avoid preservatives and stabilizers – Many commercial brands contain preservatives, stabilizers, and anti-caking agents to allow for shelf-stable packaging Homemade allows you to control what goes in

• Save money – Purchasing the ingredients to make vegan fish sauce yields far more for a fraction of the cost of buying pre-made bottles. A single batch can flavor dozens of dishes.

• Enjoy the process – Making your own sauce is rewarding and allows you to experiment with different ingredients and methods. It also smells amazing!

Vegan Fish Sauce Ingredients

The key to mimicking the flavor of fish sauce is to use ingredients that provide saltiness, savoriness (umami) and an ocean-like essence. Here are the basic building blocks

• Seaweed – Dried seaweed like dulse or kombu provide marine and briny notes.

• Mushrooms – Dried shiitakes or porcini give earthiness and umami. You can also use mushroom powder.

• Soy sauce or tamari – This is the primary source of saltiness and additional umami. Choose a gluten-free variety if needed.

• Miso paste – White or chickpea miso give even more savory depth.

• Salt – A bit of salt enhances and balances the overall flavor. Use less soy sauce if using plenty of salty miso.

• Water – The liquid that infuses everything and becomes the final vegan fish sauce.

Optional extra ingredients can provide more “fishy” characteristics:

• Kelp granules – For added ocean essence.

• Kombu – A type of dried kelp that boosts seafood notes.

• Nori – Dried and shredded nori seaweed contributes subtle fishy flavor.

• Tamarind – Small amounts of tamarind paste lend a hint of sourness.

Easy Methods for Making Vegan Fish Sauce

There are a few different easy methods you can use to make homemade vegan fish sauce. The simmering approach infuses the most flavor:

Stovetop Simmer Method

• Add dried seaweed, dried mushrooms, salt, and water to a pot.

• Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.

• Turn off heat and let cool slightly.

• Pour liquid through a mesh strainer into a bowl, pressing solids to extract liquid.

• Stir in miso paste and soy sauce/tamari to taste.

Quick Soak Method

• Combine seaweed, mushrooms, salt, soy sauce/tamari, and water in a jar or bowl.

• Let soak for 1-2 hours, shaking occasionally.

• Pour through a mesh strainer, pressing solids.

• Stir in miso paste to taste.

Blender Method

• Add all ingredients except miso to a high speed blender. Blend on high until very smooth.

• Pour through a mesh strainer, pressing solids to extract liquid.

• Stir in miso paste to taste.

Tips for the Best Homemade Vegan Fish Sauce

Making your own vegan fish sauce does take some trial and error to hone in on your perfect flavor. Here are some tips:

• Use dried seaweed rather than fresh for the most concentrated flavor.

• Prioritize ingredients like dulse, kombu, and shiitakes that provide the most “ocean essence.”

• Simmering extracts the most flavor vs. quick soaking or blending.

• Add miso paste and soy sauce/tamari gradually until the desired saltiness and umami is reached.

-Err on the side of less salt at first, you can always add more.

• For a thicker sauce, use less water or simmer longer to reduce.

• Let the sauce rest overnight in the fridge to allow flavors to meld.

• Shake or stir well before each use to redistribute flavors.

How to Use Homemade Vegan Fish Sauce

The possibilities are endless for how to use your homemade condiment! Here are some ideas:

• Add to any Asian soup broth for flavor – pho, ramen, hot and sour soup, etc.

• Use in marinades for tofu, tempeh, mushrooms, and veggies.

• Stir into rice noodle or veggie stir fry dishes.

• Mix with soy sauce and lime juice for a dipping sauce.

• Include in salad dressings for a savory umami hit.

• Add to creamy vegan chowders.

• Flavor vegan gravy or sauce.

• Mix into fried rice or veggie fried “rice.”

• Use when making spring rolls, summer rolls, or egg rolls.

• Drizzle over grain bowls.

• Sprinkle on avocado toast.

• Mix with peanut butter for a spicy Thai-inspired sauce.

• Toss with roasted or grilled vegetables.

• Use in a vegan “fish” taco recipe.

• Add to lentil sloppy joes or burgers.

Homemade vegan fish sauce is easy, affordable, and adds delicious salty flavor to all types of dishes. Experiment with different ingredient ratios and extraction methods to find your favorite flavor. Once you discover the perfect recipe, keep a batch in your fridge to elevate both Asian recipes and anything else that could use a savory boost.

Frequency of Entities:

minimalistbaker.com: 16
thefoodietakesflight.com: 3
vegan: 18
fish sauce: 47
ingredients: 7
mushrooms: 6
seaweed: 7
miso: 7
tamari: 3
soy sauce: 5
salt: 5
water: 4
umami: 4
flavor: 10
taste: 4
salty: 3
savory: 3
methods: 3
simmer: 3
soak: 2
blender: 2
tips: 5
uses: 7
asian: 4