If at any moment you run out of dark soy sauce you can use light soy sauce since the flavours are similar - although the colours may differ. You can also substitute for a mushroom-based soy sauce since dark soy sauce is usually enhanced by mushroom extracts. You may also use Worchester sauce or balsamic vinegar to get similar flavour and colour. They both work well with braised meats and to make soups and sauces.
Tips for buying the best dark soy sauce
When choosing dark soy sauce, there are a few things that you should take into consideration.
Source: seriouseats.com
How it is made - Depending on how long the product was left to mature, the depth of flavour can be different. Is it chemically processed or naturally fermented? Naturally, fermented soy sauce is richer and darker in flavour and colour. What are the ingredients - Be sure to read the labels and steer clear of ingredients like artificial preservatives - namely sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate. Furthermore, make sure that it is non-GMO. The taste - Truth be told, only the traditionally processed soybeans will give you that authentic and distinctive soy flavour. In fact, if you can get an understanding of the proportion of the ingredients used that will be even better. This is so because the perfect taste and flavour is determined by the right balance of ingredients. Sodium levels - Let's face it most soy sauces are high in sodium. While not all low sodium versions have a great taste. However, it is best to opt for a low sodium version. Make sure that it is certified which means that it has met certain criteria. These standards might include non-GMO, gluten-free and much more. We're not trying to prime you, but just educating you on the matter of choosing real organic products.
