Worcestershire Sauce Substitute

If you find yourself coming up short because your bottle of Worcestershire sauce is empty, don’t worry: there are many other items that you likely have in your pantry that can work as a Worcestershire sauce substitute. Whether you need a quick fix or want to make your own version from scratch, these swaps have you covered.

Recipes that call for Worcestershire sauce

Worcestershire sauce serves several purposes in cooking and many recipes call for it. For instance, if you’re serving burgers, shellfish or making cocktail sauce from scratch, you’ll want to have Worcestershire sauce on hand as a condiment or as a necessary ingredient. In fact, if you’re making a marinade for meat, fish or poultry, you should use it. Making deviled eggs? Yup, you need Worcestershire.

Common Worcestershire sauce substitutes

No Worcestershire sauce? No problem. You’ve got options — soy sauce, balsamic vinegar or even a quick mix of the two can work. Do you have fish or oyster sauce? Those can save the day too. Here’s a closer look at some of the easiest equivalents and how to use these alternatives.

Red wine vinegar and tamarind paste

Combine equal parts of red wine vinegar and tamarind paste until they are well mixed. When using this mixture as a substitute for Worcestershire sauce in marinades, salad dressings and sauces, use half of what the recipe calls for.

Balsamic vinegar

Balsamic vinegar offers acidity, tanginess, sweetness, and tartness that are similar to Worcestershire sauce. For a thicker texture, mix it with equal parts of tamarind paste. This combination works well in salad dressings and marinades. You can use it as a 1-for-1 replacement for Worcestershire sauce.

Sherry vinegar

Sherry vinegar is lighter in color and not as spicy but it has a flavor similar to Worcestershire sauce. At a 1:1 ratio, it is an excellent stand-in.

Soy sauce and ketchup

Sounds so basic, right? But also that’s what makes these two the ideal substitute. Who doesn’t have soy sauce and ketchup in their refrigerator? As a Worcestershire alternative, it works best with cooked meats, such as burgers, stews and meatloaf. Combine equal parts soy sauce and ketchup and use it as a 1-for-1 replacement.

Soy sauce and brown sugar

Soy sauce has the salty tang of Worcestershire and brown sugar gives it a sweet, rich flavor. It works great for pork, beef, chicken and pasta. If your recipe already calls for soy sauce, make sure to use half the soy sauce because your substitute using soy sauce will make the dish too salty. This combination can be used as a 1-for-1 substitute for Worcestershire sauce.

Vinegar and soy sauce

“I’ve used a mix of soy sauce, vinegar and a pinch of sugar as a Worcestershire sauce substitute, especially for steak marinades,” explains Kristin King of Dizzy Busy and Hungry. While the flavor wasn’t as deep or tangy, it still added a nice savory richness.”

Another version on this same theme comes from Renee N Gardner of Renee Nicole’s Kitchen: a combination of soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and a little bit of hot sauce. “It gives you that spicy, sweet, salty combo that makes Worcestershire so good,” she says. “It works great in gravies, soups, sauces or anything where Worcestershire is an underlying flavor component.”

Soy sauce and apple juice

If you stir together equal parts soy sauce and apple juice, you get an equivalent substitute for Worcestershire sauce. This combination works well in marinades, stir-fries, sauces and dressings.

Fish sauce, lemon juice and cranberry juice

A mixture of fish sauce, lemon juice and cranberry juice is a salty, sweet, savory and tangy combination. Stir together an equal amount of each and use it as a 1-for-1 replacement for Worcestershire.

Fish sauce, soy sauce and brown sugar

You can substitute Worcestershire sauce with a combination of fish sauce, soy sauce and brown sugar. Simply mix fish sauce and soy sauce with a generous pinch of brown sugar. This substitute is effective in cooked dishes, allowing the brown sugar to dissolve completely and preventing a gritty texture. Use it as a 1-for-1 replacement for Worcestershire sauce.

Oyster sauce

Oyster sauce has an umami flavor and is made from corn starch, soy sauce and caramelized oyster juice. It can be used as a 1-for-1 replacement for Worcestershire sauce.

Portions of this article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.