Soy Sauce Substitute

A lot of GFCF families have to avoid soy as well. That’s okay though, because we have this great little coconut-based substitute, right? Oh, but let’s say your kid’s allergy test just declared him to be highly allergic to coconut. Not to worry! What follows is a simple yet tasty soy sauce substitute you can make right in your own kitchen. It’s good not just for people who are allergic to coconut, but also for those who are allergic to spending ridiculous amounts of money on coconut-based substitutes.

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We start with 3 cups of water in a small pot.

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Next, add 1/4 cup red wine vinegar. Please note this is not quite the same as balsamic vinegar, though you could probably use the latter if you prefer. Both are made with grapes, but balsamic vinegar is made immediately with fresh grapes, while red wine vinegar calls for the grapes to be fermented into wine first, and only then turned into vinegar. The flavor of both varies wildly across brands, so the question of which type you use is probably less important than choosing a quality brand. As always, make sure it is a pure vinegar, and does not contain the word “malt” anywhere on it, as this will indicate the presence of gluten.

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Add 1/4 cup of honey…

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1/4 teaspoon of black pepper…

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…and 1 teaspoon of salt.

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Now add 1/4 teaspoon each of minced garlic and ginger. A real chef would prep their own, of course. My goodness I’m lazy.

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Bring the mixture to a boil, and allow it to simmer for 15-20 minutes, until it’s been reduced to about 1/2 cup. (That’s about one-seventh of what it started out as, if you’re trying to eyeball it.)

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Pour the remaining liquid into a small jar or bottle, and you’re set for any soy sauce recipes that might come your way! This mixture will keep in the fridge almost indefinitely, especially if you close the lid while the sauce is still hot and let the cooling air form a vacuum, just like in real canning. You can strain the garlic and ginger solids back out if you really want to, but I don’t bother. Makes it more rustic and authentic, I think.

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Happy Eating!

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Soy Sauce Substitute

3 cups water
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp minced ginger
1/4 tsp minced garlic