This easy Vegan Worcestershire Sauce recipe is the perfect vegan alternative that is anchovy-free but tastes exactly the same! It's seriously good and packs a lot of flavor. Plus, it's ready in just 5 minutes. I was super excited when I finally cracked this recipe and got it just right!
Use it in your favorite vegan or vegetarian recipes to add a salty, bold, and zesty flavor.
perfect in Vegan Shepherd's Pie, Kale and Ale Stew, in a Bloody Mary or to add flavor to stews, soups, casseroles, and more
When you go vegan, there are often a few things you really miss. One of them might be the intense savory, umami flavor of worcestershire sauce.
This easy recipe for Vegan Worcestershire Sauce is the perfect vegan alternative. It's anchovy-free but tastes exactly the same!
Use it in your favorite vegan recipes to add a salty, bold, and zesty flavor.
Plus, you can whip it up easily in just 10 minutes, max. And now vegans and vegetarians can enjoy the flavors too.
I keep a bottle of it to add a burst of flavor to soups, stews, casseroles, and more. You've got to try it on baked potatoes, in a grilled (vegan) cheese sandwich or mix it with vegan mayo for a richly-flavored dip!
I also love to add a splash to the pan when I'm wilting spinach as a super-quick and nutritious side dish.
This vegan worcestershire sauce is so versatile!
Jump to:
What is worcestershire sauce?
Worcestershire is a popular sauce invented in the 19th century by two men (Lea & Perrins) that were pharmacists. This sauce quickly became popular as its salty and bold notes added savory umami flavor to many dishes during that time and still do today!
The original sauce does contain anchovies to give it a salty taste with a slight note of fish flavor. This means that it's unable to be enjoyed by vegans.
This Vegan Worcestershire Sauce recipe is made from scratch and contains no anchovies or animal products making it suitable for a vegan lifestyle. You’ll use simple ingredients that contain a mix of sweet, sour, and acidic along with some seasonings and spices.
The sauce gets brought to a boil and then gets simmered for a short time to make a vegan alternative to Worcestershire that can be enjoyed in many different ways!
Is worcestershire sauce vegan?
Most worcestershire sauces contain anchovies, so aren't suitable for a vegan diet or vegetarian diet.
You can find a few vegetarian/vegan substitutes in stores (try Hendersons brand) but they're not always readily available.
However, you can make your own vegan substitute at home from scratch in just 10 minutes!
Check out my Vegan Grocery List for more substitutes and ideas for your vegan pantry.
You'll also love my 5 minute Vegan Mayo recipe too! And my Vegan Parmesan Cheese recipe is out-of-this-world good.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
It's a great vegan alternative to this popular sauce that contains no anchovies.
This vegan sauce is made with simple ingredients you can find anywhere.
Making homemade worcestershire makes sure there are no chemicals or preservatives.
This salty sauce will keep fresh in the fridge and can be enjoyed for up to two months.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients needed for the perfect homemade vegetarian worcestershire sauce. It's a long list, but most if it is probably already in your pantry!
- Malt Vinegar - Adds tangy acidity to the sauce. Apple cider vinegar can also be used.
- Soy Sauce - Adds a salty umami flavor that gives a unique layer of taste to foods. Swap to tamari if you need it gluten-free.
- Brown Sugar & Molasses - Sweetens up the sauce while adding a bold and rich flavor.
- Tamarind Paste - Adds a slightly sweet and smoky flavor that compliments the seasonings in the sauce. Find it in Asian stores or larger grocery stores.
- Seasonings & Spices - You’ll need a mix of allspice, garlic powder, onion powder, cloves, and black pepper to properly season the sauce.
Please see the recipe card below for quantities.
Instructions
Wondering how to make this vegan worcestershire sauce recipe? It's easy! Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.
Add ingredients to a pot: In a small saucepan add all of the ingredients including the dry seasonings and spices. Stir well to combine.
Boil and simmer: Bring the sauce mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat down to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes to blend all of the flavors together.
Cool, strain and store: Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the sauce to cool completely. Strain it over a bowl to remove the spices. You may need to strain it a few times. Pour into sanitized jars or airtight containers. Store in the fridge for up to 2 months.
Top tips
Make sure you fully stir all the vegan worcestershire sauce ingredients together to help dissolve the sugar and molasses before turning on the heat.
When the sauce is finished simmering, let it cool completely as the sauce will be very hot and can cause burns if it splatters.
Always use a sanitized jar or container to store sauces to keep the spread of bacteria from forming.
You may need to strain it a few times to remove the spices that would otherwise settle to the bottom of the jar you store it in.
Serving Suggestions
Vegan worcestershire sauce is used in stews and casseroles, pies, soups, sauces, and marinades. And more!
It gives Whole Roasted Cauliflower a beautiful umami flavor when brushed on top before baking.
Throw a splash into vegetarian Mac n Cheese or Cauliflower Cheese for a great taste.
A dash or two in a classic Bloody Mary gives this cocktail a salty umami flavor.
Use it as a sauce for Portobello Mushroom Steaks or a homemade Mushroom Tart.
Toss some into a batch of Rosemary Maple Spiced Nuts for a salty and savory layer of flavor.
Add a few dashes to the bean burger mix when making Easy Bean Burgers with Mustard Mayo.
A little splash is perfect in many of these soup recipes.
Variations
If you can’t use soy sauce you can use tamari, coconut aminos, or liquid aminos in its place.
Malt vinegar tastes best in this recipe, but feel free to use white distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar in its place.
Make a spicy worcestershire sauce by adding some cayenne pepper.
If you can’t find tamarind paste, try doubling up on the molasses instead.
For a smoky sauce, add a drop of liquid smoke or use smoked paprika in the dry ingredients.
Storage
Storing: Cooked and cooled vegetarian worcestershire sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Give it a good shake or stir before using in a recipe to evenly distribute the flavors.
Freezing: Freeing will change the texture and flavor of the sauce, therefore freezing is not recommended.
FAQs
Their sauce can contain anchovies, therefore it is not considered vegan.
If you can’t make or find your own, balsamic vinegar is usually a good substitute to use in recipes but may make the food taste a bit more acidic.
This sauce can be used in many different ways but is most commonly used in stews and casseroles, pies, soups, sauces, and marinades.
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📖 Recipe
Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup malt vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1 teaspoon tamarind paste
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoons ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a small pot and stir well. Bring it to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Allow to cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 months.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Jana
Made this as I have tamarind paste and need to use it. Great flavor.
Sally-Anne Dunn
Amazing recipe, Kate! I just made this because I have various vegetarian and gluten free relatives and friends. It tastes so good that I will probably never buy regular Worcestershire again. Just a note: malt vinegar is not ok for someone who can’t have gluten. I can’t have apple so I used my own chive blossom infused white wine vinegar, and it came out sooooo delicious!
Heather Johnson
This was really good - i'm a huge fan of Worcestershire and use it all the time -i really liked this!
Beth
I have everything but the tamarind paste. I needed a good recipe for this as my son is a wanna be vegan.
Erika
I've never tried to make my own Worcestershire sauce before, but I love how simple the ingredients are! This is a must make!
Katia
I am so excited about this! ever since I have gone vegan, Worcestershire sauce is one of those flavours that I really miss. Im so going to use this recipe to make my vegan burgers!
Toni
This is so amazing! I had no idea it is so easy to make your own vegan worcestershire sauce! Thanks for the recipe!