Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
Made with only 8 ingredients, this vegan Worcestershire sauce is a handy ingredient to add a meaty flavor to your plant-based recipes.
This post may contain affiliate links. Disclosure Policy
You’ll also get even more vegan recipes delivered to your inbox every week!
Don’t hunt for vegan Worcestershire sauce at the stores. Make your own! This flavor-enhancing ingredient can be added to your favorite stews and sauces to add magical savory flavor.
This tasty sauce was created by pharmacists in a city called Worcestershire. Pronounced WU-shus-ster, this fermented liquid adds salty, umami, and meaty flavors to dishes.
The traditional recipe is not vegan because it is made with fish. However, there are ways to simulate the flavors of this sauce without fish.
I’ve talked before about Vegan Essentials, and this is one sauce that’s a must-have. Why do you want this sauce in your kitchen? When cooking plant-based, it can be a challenge to create that same meaty, savory flavor in your favorite dishes. However, a dash of vegan Worcestershire sauce can do the trick.
It can be challenging to find vegan Worcestershire sauce in stores. And even when I have found it, it was expensive, and the quality between brands was questionable. One product I purchased was runny and watery-looking, which I only discovered after I got it home and opened the bottle.
The easy way to get around all of this? Make your own!
Ingredients & Substitutions
You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.
- Vinegar — I recommend using apple cider vinegar for this recipe for its mellow flavor.
- Tamari — I prefer tamari, but if you don’t have issues with gluten, you can substitute soy sauce.
- Brown sugar —
- Spices — You’ll need ground mustard, onion powder, allspice, and freshly ground black pepper.
- Garlic — One clove of garlic will do the trick. You can substitute garlic powder, but this recipe makes using fresh garlic so easy (you only need to peel and roughly chop it).
Soy Sauce vs. Tamari
Most of us are familiar with soy sauce, a fermented sauce made from soybeans and wheat. But what is tamari? Tamari is a by-product of making miso and does not have wheat in it. I like to think of it as a gluten-free soy sauce. You can find it in the Asian section (near soy sauce) of many grocery stores and health food stores.
How to Make Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
- Add all the ingredients to a saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat slightly to a simmer.
- Continue simmering until the mixture is reduced by half.
- Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a lidded bowl.
- Set aside until the sauce comes to room temperature.
- Cover and refrigerate.
What Makes This Recipe Shine?
- Using apple cider vinegar produces the zing from vinegar, but with a more mellow punch
- Adding tamari (or soy sauce) delivers a salty, savory taste
- Simmering the mixture until it’s reduced by half creates a thicker sauce with enhanced flavors.
Frequently-Asked Questions
What is Worcestershire Sauce?
This tasty sauce was created by pharmacists in a city called Worcestershire. Pronounced WU-shus-ster, this fermented liquid adds salty, umami, and meaty flavors to dishes.
Is Worcestershire Sauce Vegan?
Worcestershire sauce is not vegan because it is made with anchovies.
Serving Suggestions
You may be wondering how to use Worcestershire sauce in your recipes. Interestingly enough, you can use it in everything from drinks to marinades and more. Here are some ideas for how to use your plant-based Worcestershire sauce:
- Drinks — You can add a bit of this sauce to cocktails like Bloody Mary or any tomato juice beverage.
- Marinade — Transform bland tofu into something amazing by adding a bit of this sauce to your marinades. Here’s a favorite Tofu Marinade that you can enhance with Worcestershire.
- Soups — Because this sauce is made with vinegar, it can brighten the flavors it’s cooked with. That’s why we love adding some of it to soups and stews such as Lentil Soup.
- Sauces — Adding a sauce to a sauce may sound strange, but it works. For example, my Vegan BBQ Sauce calls for a bit of Worcestershire, and it adds deep flavors besides the smoky sweetness.
Storage Tips
Transfer the sauce to a small mason jar (or use a clean glass sauce dish), cover, and refrigerate for up to a year or longer. Your sauce may keep longer than this because salt is an excellent preservative. Use your best judgment when adding it to recipes.
Subscribe and Get a Free Easy Vegan Recipes eBook
Plus our latest vegan recipes, delivered right to your inbox!
We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cups apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup tamari (substitute soy sauce if not gluten-free)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat slightly so the sauce comes to a simmer (low boil).
- Continue simmering for 15 to 20 minutes, until the mixture is reduced by half.
- Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a lidded bowl. Set aside until the sauce comes to room temperature.
- Cover and refrigerate. It will keep up to a year or longer in the fridge. Add it to your favorite plant-based dishes to create a meaty flavor.
(The products above contain sponsored links to products we use and recommend)
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Vegan Beefy Meals
Looking for ways to use your vegan Worcestershire Sauce? These vegan beefy recipes will have you singing praises for this savory sauce…and these delicious dishes:
About the Author
Hi! I’m Marly McMillen. I’m the founding editor, author, recipe developer, vegan home chef, and food stylist behind Namely Marly. I’m so grateful to you and every member of my audience for your support and dedication. More about Namely Marly ›
3 Responses to Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
Rate / Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Hi Marly! In one place you say this sauce will last 3 weeks, refrigerated. In another place you say 3 months! Which is it? Also, can It be frozen?
Hi Lydia. Thanks for you comment! You caught me in a moment. This sauce is infused with salt and vinegar, which means it really could last for well over 3 months, possibly even over a year. I’ll change the wording to be more consistent.
Also, yes, this sauce can be frozen and it’s a great idea to have it around long-term. I would consider freezling it in ice cube trays so you have individual servings to drop into a soup or whatever dish you want to use it for.