Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham
Soy sauce was a staple growing up.
Its no longer just found at Asian restaurants.
Its become a staple for many as a quick shot of umami to everything from gravy tosalad dressing.
Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham
More recently, tamari has become a popular addition to the Western pantry.
Can they be used interchangeably?
Do I need to stock both in my kitchen or just one bottle?
Simply Recipes / Cynthia Christensen
What Is the Difference Between Soy Sauce and Tamari?
Soy sauce and tamari are similar but have subtle differences that make them distinct products.
Simply Recipes / Cynthia Christensen
Is All Tamari Gluten Free?
In short, no.
Tamari is often naturally gluten-free, brewed only with soybeans.
Some brands such as Kikkoman carry both a tamari brewed with wheat as well as a gluten-free tamari.
Can I Use Soy Sauce and Tamari Interchangeably?
So do home cooks need to stock both bottles?
Yes and noit depends on your kitchen.
Thinksalad dressings, dipping sauces, vegetables, and seafood.
Its deeper, more robust flavor profile is more noticeable when fewer ingredients are used.
Tamari will work in most recipes where soy sauce is called for.
It may end up skewing the dish in a much more aggressive direction.
The decision to keep both soy sauce and tamari on hand is a personal one.
The Takeaway
Soy sauce and tamari are both brewed with soybeans.
Soy sauce is also brewed with wheat; tamari is sometimes brewed with wheat.
Check the label if you need a gluten free product.
Tamari is darker, more robust in flavor, and a bit milder than soy sauce.
Tamari can generally be used in place of soy sauce, especially if gluten free cooking is a concern.
Soy sauce is too sharp and salty to be used one-for-one for tamari.
