Avoiding soy? You can use coconut aminos instead! Soy-free coconut aminos are a healthier alternative to soy sauce that taste amazing!
Are you trying to avoid soy and looking for an alternative to soy sauce? Coconut aminos are here to help! They bring all the savory flavor of soy sauce but contain no soy. Not only is coconut aminos low on the glycemic index, but it also has less sodium than soy sauce and comes packed with amino acids.
Soy is everything and it is very difficult to avoid it. When a recipe calls for soy sauce I use coco aminos instead. I love the taste of coconut aminos! It’s very similar to soy sauce and works well as a replacement.
What Are Coconut Aminos?
Coconut aminos are made from coconut sap and natural sea salt. They contain 17 amino acids and a small number of B vitamins. You can use it in your favorite salad dressings, sauces, marinades and for homemade stir fries. The consistency is great, and it’s a wholesome alternative.
With only two ingredients—aged coconut blossom nectar and sea salt—this might be the one sauce suitable for everyone from Paleo eaters to vegans, to gluten-free foodies. For once, everyone agrees: it tastes amazing on everything from fried rice to Chinese chicken salad!
How To Use Coconut Aminos
You can substitute coconut aminos with soy sauce in a 1:1 ratio in most recipes. I use coconut aminos in my salad dressings, stir fries, and as a condiment for dishes like sushi. Here are some of my favorite recipes using coconut aminos:
- Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken
- Asian Style Pork Cabbage Wraps
- Paleo Chicken Pad Thia
- Creamy Teriyaki Spaghetti Squash Recipe
- Ginger Chicken Stir Fry
- Paleo Drunken Noodles
- Tuna Poke Avocado Boats
- Paleo Sushi Rolls with coconut aminos
- Asian Noodles (Paleo)
- Paleo Pineapple Kalua Pork
- Sesame Ginger Chicken
- Paleo Egg Rolls
- Asian-Style Short Ribs
- Sweet & Sour Chicken
- Orange Ginger Beef Stir Fry
- Asian Avocado Salad
- Sweet & Sour Sauce
Where to buy coconut aminos
If you read over the recipe and think “gosh, I don’t have time to make coconut aminos” – that’s ok! You can find organic coconut aminos at most natural food stores and online grocery retailers like Amazon and Thrive Market. Make sure to keep an eye out for organic and all-natural ingredients (and as few ingredients as possible). I’ve done all the hard work for you already and identified the best coconut aminos to buy.
FAQ
Yes! You can use coconut liquid aminos on both paleo and whole30 programs. Since soy isn’t allowed on those diet plans, coconut aminos are the perfect substitute to make your favorite dishes compatible for those plans.
I have a copycat coconut aminos recipe that works as a great substitute for liquid aminos. This recipe was inspired from Real Simple Good’s recipe. Find my version of the recipe below.
You can find organic coconut aminos at most natural food stores and online grocery retailers like amazon and Thrive Market.
DIY Coconut Aminos Substitute
Easy homemade coconut aminos substitute you can make at home with ingredients you have in your pantry! This recipe is paleo and whole30 friendly and uses only natural ingredients.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
- Category: Condiments
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups organic beef broth
- 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce (optional – but adds great flavor) or use soy sauce if fish sauce isn’t available
- 1 teaspoon organic tomato paste
- 2 teaspoon organic molasses or pure maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- pinch of salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pour all the ingredients in a small saucepan and stir together. Turn the heat on medium high heat and bring the sauce to a boil. Once the sauce begins to boil, turn the heat to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the sauce reaches to a concentrate.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the sauce cool. Season to taste with salt and pepper as needed. Store the homemade coconut aminos in a jar or air-tight container in the refrigerator for 10-14 days.
- How to use: Use in a 1:1 ration in place of soy sauce or coconut aminos.
Notes
This recipe makes 2 cups of liquid aminos substitute. Use in place of soy sauce or coconut aminos in a 1:1 ratio.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 20
- Sodium: 1000mg
- Fat: .5g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Protein: 2g
Originally published on October 21st, 2013 and updated with new images on April 18th, 2022.
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Does anyone know if coconut aminos can be used in place of soy sauce when making a soy reduction sauce?
I used coconut aminos for quite some time and love them, but for some unknown reason I forgot about them. Thank you for the reminder. I will be purchasing some again soon. They are very tasty and I love the fact that I can substitute the excessive salt as well as the soy in soy sauce. I will check out your recipes later.
WHY IS IT CALLED COCONUT AMINOS WHEN THERE IS NO COCONUT IN THE RECIPE?
It’s called coconut aminos substitute 🙂
Hi! Has anyone tried to freeze it ? I definitely won’t use 2 cups in 2 weeks! Thanks in advance 🙂
Yes! You can freeze it for future use.
Thank you ! 🙂
I am vegan so the beef broth and fish sauce ingredients will not work for me. Do you have any alternates that could be used? Thank you.
Vegetable broth instead of beef broth and leave the fish sauce out. That should work fine to make it vegan-friendly. Hope this helps!
Thank you very much your blog is very useful. Nice post please share some new ideas and write a post on the Matar Paneer recipe that will save time with easy and tasty.
one of the best blog ever .bookmarked for future read.
I’m telling everyone I know about it ! It makes anything you prepare taste great and the health effects are endless as compared to soy sauce
this is good site and this is very helpful and thanks for sharing this information for us
? Like substitute for coconut aminos availble. However, it contains soy, making it inappropriate for those avoiding this substance.
Don’t live in th US so much for a free book on Coconut Aminos
There’s no free book on coconut aminos. There’s a free coconut flour recipes e-book that’s available to everyone.
Thanks so much for all the suggestions for using Coconut Aminos. I started buying it a few years ago and love it. I’ve used it often on salmon, chicken, steamed veggies, and more. Also, it’s great in salad dressings.
Love your site and all you do. I’ve told lots of people to check out your site.
We love to marinate our salmon and also our grass fed beef burgers in coconut aminos. We use it in any recipe that calls for soy sauce or worcestershire sauce.
Can anyone tell me if coconut aminos is a one-for-one substitute with soy sauce in recipes when it comes to volume? Like if it asks for a cup of soy sauce is a cup of coconut aminos the correct amount or do i need more or less?
1:1!
I prefer coconut aminos to soy sauce. The flavor is softer and not quite so salty. It’s harder to find, I have to order it online or drive an hour to Whole Foods to get it, but that’s okay. Totally worth it!
I have never heard of coconut aminos, however my first thought and concern is that this sounds like another overly processed potentially dangerous product. Kind of reminds me of Agave. At first it sounds like this great natural product and the more you research it the more concerned you become about using it. What are your thoughts Coconut Mama? I am sure you have researched this aspect???
Ok, so I went and read a few articles and it sounds like this stuff isn’t processed at all?!?! Here I go shutting up! LOL
Fermentation shouldn’t be scary.
How would this product affect candidia?
so i just purchased 3 bottles of this and some ghee…was a bit concerned when the website told me it was under prob 65 “Chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer and reproductive toxicity, are present in dietary supplements,
nutritional food powders, juice beverages, grocery items (i.e. coffee,
fried and baked goods) and other products sold at iHerb.
Note: Some or all the products you are
ordering from iHerb may contain these chemicals. These chemicals are not
added to the products but are naturally occurring in many of the
starting raw materials (ingredients) and/or results from the processing
(cooking) of some of the food products (i.e. roasted coffees, fried and
baked goods). By moving forward with the checkout process, you verify
that you have read the CA Prop 65 warning, and purchase these products
from iHerb with full knowledge”
can anyone enlighten me on this?
I just discovered coconut aminos last fri! Lol! Tasted it & it tastes just like soy. Been trying to find a replacement for soy myself. Can’t wait to make a healthier version of cashew chicken!