Have No Fear—40+ Worcestershire Sauce Alternatives You Need to Know About
Worcestershire sauce is a fermented condiment made from a base of vinegar and flavored with anchovies, molasses, tamarind, onion, garlic and other seasonings. The flavor is savory and sweet with a distinct tang provided by the vinegar. The most common form of Worcestershire sauce is not appropriate for a vegetarian or vegan diet and cannot be used in a kosher meal that includes meat. Depending on the brand, it may or may not be gluten-free.
According to BBC, chemists John Lea and William Perrins developed this sauce in Worcester, England. They were experimenting with vinegar-based seasoning sauces and had abandoned a batch that didn't taste right. Sitting in the basement, the sauce fermented and developed complex flavors. The partners bottled more, and a taste for Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce spread throughout Europe, to America, and across the world. To produce the sauce, they allowed it to sit for two years with periodic stirrings; the mixture was then sifted off the solids and bottled.
If you don’t have the delicious Worcestershire sauce on hand, don’t worry! Here are over 40 of the best substitutes for Worcestershire sauce. And, just between us, some of them are known to taste even better than the original!
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40+ Worcestershire Sauce Substitutes
1. Soy sauce + ketchup
Soy sauce is known for being big on flavor, which is why it's used in a lot of Worcestershire sauce alternatives. However, unlike Worcestershire sauce, this soy sauce mixture is a bit more health-conscious, while also sticking true to a similar flavor palette.
2. Soy sauce + apple juice
With this Worcestershire sauce alternative, the salt in the soy sauce blends well with the light fruitiness of the apple juice. Much like Worcestershire sauce, this mixture will give a flavorful, yet sweet tang to your dish.
Related: 10 Best Soy Sauce Substitutes
3. Liquid Smoke
With the ingredients being water, natural hickory smoke flavor, vinegar, molasses, caramel color and salt, Liquid Smoke is used to giving dishes a smokey, savory flavor even if you aren’t grilling. The flavor palette is similar to the savory flavor of Worcestershire sauce.
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4. Soy sauce + sugar
The saltiness of soy sauce will find a great balance with the sweetness of sugar. The sugar can be granulated, powdered or liquid. The juxtaposition of sweetness with salt will add a tang similar to the real deal.
5. Miso paste
Miso paste, a combination of soybeans, salt, water and rice, is often used in broths, sauces and salad dressing. This is another great mixture that has a tart flavor similar to Worcestershire sauce and won’t disappoint.
6. Soy sauce + tamarind paste + distilled white vinegar
Tamarind paste is a cooked-down, flavorful syrup version of the fruit. When it is mixed with soy sauce for added saltiness, and distilled white vinegar to balance the taste, this combination of ingredients makes a sauce that is similar in texture and taste to Worcestershire sauce.
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7. Soy sauce + tamarind paste + distilled white vinegar + hot sauce + ground cloves
Hot sauce and ground cloves will spice up this sauce mixture, providing a flavorful deviation from the standard Worcestershire sauce. When tamarind paste is mixed with soy sauce for added saltiness and distilled white vinegar to balance the taste, this sauce will give your dish a much-needed kick that you didn't know you needed.
8. Soy sauce + apple cider vinegar + water + brown sugar + mustard powder
The soy sauce and apple cider vinegar will play well with each other in this Worcestershire sauce alternative. Even better, the brown sugar and mustard powder will add the perfect mixture of sweetness and tartness to this Worcestershire dupe. Adding water will make sure that your sauce lasts just as long as a big bottle of Worcestershire sauce!
9. Pickapeppa sauce
Hailed from Jamaica, this flavorful sauce has spices and ingredients, such as sea salt, peppers, raisins, ginger, mango concentrate, cloves, thyme, garlic and black pepper that make this condiment pop. The salty and sweetness make for a great Worcestershire sauce alternative.
10. Fish sauce + tamarind paste
Fish sauce will transform your dish! Fish sauce has a base of anchovy and sea salt. Add the subtle saltiness to tamarind paste, which provides you with a sweet sauce with no sugar added, and you will have a tangy concoction that makes for a great Worcestershire sauce alternative.
11. Fish sauce + salt + red wine vinegar
Red wine vinegar has a hot, robust flavor that is vibrant with a taste of grape. The mix of fish sauce and salt will add a punch to the sauce that is similar to the tanginess of Worcestershire sauce.
12. Fish sauce + soy sauce + tamarind paste + ketchup + apple cider vinegar + allspice
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The allspice adds a kick to this sauce with its warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. The Worcestershire sauce similarities are evident with the sweet and tangy flavors that the other ingredients bring to the mix.
13. Fish sauce + soy sauce + brown sugar
The brown sugar brings the sweet, the fish sauce adds the savory and the soy sauce gives the salt. This combination has a flavor palette that's very similar to Worcestershire sauce.
14. Fish sauce + blackstrap molasses + lime juice
With just three ingredients, you can replicate the tangy flavor of Worcestershire sauce. The blackstrap molasses and lime juice work well together, complementing the earthy flavoring of the fish sauce.
Related: How to Substitute Ingredients Like a Pro, Including the Best Meat, Baking and Dairy Substitutions
15. Shaoxing cooking wine
Shaoxing wine is a famous variety of traditional Chinese wines, fermented from rice. Similar to Worcestershire sauce, it has a vinegary and salty taste to it.
16. Fish sauce + honey + vinegar
Honey is a natural sweetener, so you don’t have to worry about adding any preservative to your dish that is bad for your body. Adding fish sauce and vinegar to this mix will provide a nice blend of flavors similar to the real thing.
17. Balsamic vinegar + molasses + pepper + garlic salt + beef or chicken broth
This sweet and thick traditional balsamic pairs delightfully with many dishes, so it's no wonder that it can be used to provide sweetness to Worcestershire sauce recipes. Beef or chicken broth will give this sauce mixture a subtle flavoring but is mostly used to thin out the mixture and give it a consistency similar to Worcestershire sauce.
18. Balsamic vinegar + garlic powder + onion powder + anchovy paste
The balsamic vinegar in this Worcestershire sauce alternative will wake up the saltiness of the anchovy paste. The onion and garlic powder will, surprisingly, settle the anchovy’s salty taste and even work with the vinegar to provide a subtle sweetness as you'd find in the original.
19. Balsamic vinegar + tamarind paste
Tamarind paste, when mixed with balsamic vinegar, gets a tangy punch of flavor—it is reminiscent of what many love about Worcestershire sauce.
20. Balsamic vinegar + hot sauce
The tanginess of balsamic vinegar with an added kick of spice from the hot sauce (any kind works!) makes for a wonderful Worcestershire sauce alternative.
21. Vegemite
In its spreadable form, Vegemite tastes similar to soy sauce—which makes a great Worcestershire sauce alternative. You find a saltiness here like you would in the real deal.
22. Anchovy paste + garlic + lemon juice + egg yolk
The egg yolk on the recipe adds a slightly buttery taste and creates a creamy consistency. When mixed with the other ingredients, your Worcestershire sauce alternative will be smooth and easy to pour—just like the OG!
23. Tamarind paste + malt vinegar + blackstrap molasses
The malt vinegar in this recipe will add a milder and sweeter taste than white vinegar. Paired with a hint of lemon, molasses and tamarind paste, you'll wind up with a good Worcestershire sauce substitute.
24. Oyster sauce
Dynasty
This oyster sauce is sweet and salty and made primarily from oyster juices, salt and sugar. Much like Worcestershire sauce, it makes everything taste better thanks to its flavorful combination.
25. Red wine + tamarind paste
When tamarind paste is mixed with red wine, alcohol that tastes sweet but has ample tannin to balance this sweetness, it is reminiscent of what many love about the tanginess of Worcestershire sauce.
26. Dry sherry
Dry sherry is a wine that is produced by complete fermentation, thus they have a minimal content of residual sugar from the grape juice. Using dry sherry as a Worcestershire sauce replacement will have more of a nutty flavoring.
27. Coconut aminos
If you're watching your salt intake, try coconut aminos—it's a healthier alternative to some of the soy sauce-based Worcestershire sauce alternatives. It's gluten-free and paleo-friendly, but still has great flavor! Perfect for cooking, coconut aminos will give you the same sweetness and saltiness that Worcestershire sauce has.
28. Marmite
Marmite contains a unique mixture of vegetables and spices. Though it is controversial in taste, it has a similar note of tanginess that Worcestershire sauce has.
29. A1 steak sauce
This delicious sauce combines tomatoes, garlic, crushed oranges and an intricate mix of spices for a zesty flavor! It simply makes everything taste better and much like Worcestershire sauce and is a staple at barbecues.
30. Soy sauce + hoisin sauce + apple cider vinegar
This combination of flavors brings out the perfect balance of tangy and smokey similar to Worcestershire sauce. The sweet and savory element of hoisin blends nicely with the saltiness of the soy sauce. The apple cider vinegar helps to balance the saltiness of the soy while adding its own sweetness that elevates this combination to a perfect Worcester sauce dupe.
31. Fish sauce + lemon juice + cranberry juice
Cranberry juice will add just the amount of sweetness to this Worcestershire sauce alternative. Fish sauce and lemon juice add the spice and tanginess needed to make this sauce pop.
32. Pickle juice
Tangy with a hint of sweetness, pickle juice is a popular choice that makes dishes “pop.” This delicious juice will have guests wondering what “secret sauce” that you used in your dinner!
33. Maggi seasoning sauce
A popular Chinese sauce, Maggi seasoning sauce has been described as tasting like a blend of soy sauce and beef broth. This brown sauce will provide your dishes with a similar salty taste that's found in Worcestershire sauce.
34. BBQ sauce
The classic BBQ sauce is a staple at barbecues because of its signature flavor: tangy and sweet. It is a perfect substitution for Worcestershire sauce.
35. Anchovy paste + water
Thick and salty with flavorful notes of olive oil, anchovy paste is perfect for sauces. Mixed with water helps dilute the salt taste, providing you with a sauce that has a nice tanginess and anchovy taste like Worcestershire sauce.
36. Sherry vinegar
Sherry vinegar adds a touch of sweetness and rich, full flavor. Due to its flavor, this sherry vinegar is an excellent choice for seasonings and marinades, and Worcester sauce is no different! With this vinegar as a base, it will give you all the flavor you need for your Worcestershire sauce.
37. Salt
If you simply only have salt in your cabinets, it can give you a flavor reminiscent of the slight bitterness in Worcestershire sauce. Sprinkle some onto any dish to give it that extra oomph.
38. HP sauce
HP Sauce is a brown steak sauce. Similar to A1 steak sauce and Worcestershire sauce, it adds an abundance of zesty flavor.
39. Henderson’s relish
This relish shares some of the same flavor profile as Worcestershire sauce, such as the subtle sweetness and the saltiness. However, this sauce has much more flavor, giving this condiment a satisfying kick. It can be used as a sauce on meat dishes, soups and marinades.
40. Soy sauce + lime juice + blackstrap molasses + vinegar + granulated sugar + hot sauce
Blackstrap molasses and lime juice are the stars of this recipe. The tartness of the lime blends well with the soy sauce, creating a perfect flavor of tanginess reminiscent of Worcestershire sauce. The molasses and the granulated sugar will add just the right amount of sweetness that you’re looking for.
41. Soy sauce + water
If you don’t want soy sauce to overpower your dish with too much salt, you can try mixing it with water. Though not as spectacular as the other Worcestershire sauce dupes on this list, soy sauce with water will provide a suitable backup for your Worcestershire sauce cravings.
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