On my restricted sodium diet, I have been looking for soy sauce replacements that are low to no sodium. I came across the whole coconut aminos thing, and it looks good but I’ve never tried it. My local Kroger Marketplace carries it (at about $9.50 a bottle) but they’re always out.
What does it taste like? Is it good? It’s supposed to have scads of healthful benefits as well…any truth to that?
Please, your experiences with it are most welcomed.
I used them (soy sauce alternative) for a stir fry or two when I was doing a strict Paleo thing, and it was fine. Granted, I don’t eat much soy sauce to begin with but I didn’t find myself missing soy sauce nor did I find myself being turned off by whatever flavors the coconut aminos did add.
You can order from Amazon if you don’t want to wait for Kroger (I had purchased mine at the local Whole Foods). If nothing else you can read the reviews there.
I already ordered it, mostly on a wing and a prayer, and based on reviews. I just wonder if any Dopers have extensive experience with it.
The first time Kroger was out of it, I bought Bragg’s Amino Soy…granted, less sodium than actual soy, but still pretty salty. But, having read how industrial soy sauce is made with all kinds of mysterious shit in it, PLUS having amino acids? So I’ve tried it and still have plenty left. It’s every bit as good as regular soy sauce, but I need something with much less sodium.
That’s the side issue: what it tastes like is super important to me, but I wonder about actual health benefits. Bragg’s bottles are covered with quasi-decipherable stuff.
So what is the difference between this stuff and coconut water?
Salt.
I need to limit my soy and I’ve found this a reasonable substitute. I sometimes use just the coconut aminos, sometimes about 80% coconut, 5% fish sauce, 5% tamari. Prices vary a lot, so shop around.
ETA: Coconut Secret brand coconut aminos: organic coconut tree sap (not coconut water), aged and blended with sea salt. It’s sweeter than soy sauce. 1 g sugar/serving.
Regular soy sauce (made the old-fashioned way, which is still easily available) is certainly extremely high in sodium - but there’s nothing mysterious about what’s in it.
The artificial kind, which is also easily available, IS mysterious shit, you’re right - they shouldn’t even be allowed to call it soy sauce. And it’s extremely high in sodium too.
(Just emphasizing that there’s nothing inherently wrong with real soy sauce, and complaining about the false advertising of the fake stuff.)
These are the listed ingediants for regular Kikkoman Soy Sauce: WATER, WHEAT, SOYBEANS, SALT, SODIUM BENZOATE; LESS THAN 1/10 OF 1% AS A PRESERVATIVE
And their Organic Soy Sauce: WATER, ORGANIC SOYBEANS, ORGANIC WHEAT, SALT
I use coconut aminos instead of horrifically salty soy sauce, and quite like it.
I don’t think I ever tried the Bragg aminos. I tend to distrust Bragg products, with all the bragging about supposed health benefits.