Fishless Fish Sauce - anyone have any suggestions?

vtcook · **Joined:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:48 pm **Posts:** 10

Hi gang,

Crazy summer so far. But I did get to meet up with Peter and Kathy Henry on Friday! It was sooo nice to finally get to meet some online pals.

But on to my question. Some of my vegetarian customers have requested a kimchi without fish sauce. I've tried a combo of fermented black beans, miso and tamari -but it still tasted thin.

Missing the umami kick of fish sauce. Has anyone found a decent substitute?

Appreciate any suggestions.

Michelle.

jeanf · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2011 8:04 pm

Michelle, I can buy an oyster sauce here that has no oysters, just mushrooms. I bought it for my sil to make fried rice since she has a shell fish allergy (thankfully she was watching me make dinner and asked what the bottle I was adding to the rice was as I'd forgotten oysters had shells :oops:

)
Might be worth a shot

vtcook · **Joined:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:48 pm **Posts:** 10

I saw a similar sauce at the Asian market in Burlington, VT. It's a small store and the only vegetarian oyster sauce had so many nasty additives in it I was hesitant to try it. I've heard about a place called H-Mart in Burlington, Mass. I tried ordering online but it's all in Korean?!? There are drawbacks to living in the boondocks.

BeckyH · **Joined:** Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:03 pm **Posts:** 1149

I know you can get mushroom dashi, which might help.

jeanf · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2011 8:29 pm

I found this....don't know if it will help. http://www.passionatevegetarian.com/r_v ... _sauce.htm

JesBelle · **Joined:** Fri Jan 16, 2009 7:50 pm **Posts:** 2062

I'd try some shiitakes -- I always add a couple of cups of the stems to my browned veggie stock and it really boosted the "meatyness".

TheFuzzy · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2011 12:37 am

Michelle,

Maggi Seasoning sauce was pretty much invented to provide an umami option for strict vegetarians. It relies heavily on synthetic MSG, though. Still, might do the trick.

vtcook · **Joined:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:48 pm **Posts:** 10

Well, it looks like I'll have to get my mad professor's hat on and do some 'sperimentin'

Thanks for the suggestions! I did find an online Korean grocery during my search (starting from Jean's site). At least now I won't have to drive 3 hours to get some of the ingredients I need.

http://www.koamart.com/

Michelle.

TheFuzzy · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:11 pm

Michelle,

Also, see:

http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/reci ... ce--130535
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Fish_Sauce_(Vegan)
http://www.vegetarianrecipesandcooking. ... recipe.php

Also, apparently there is a Vietnamese brand of veggie fake fish sauce in a bottle.

Note: I have not actually tried any of these.

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Fishless Fish Sauce - anyone have any suggestions?

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