Mushroom soy sauce can be a delicious alternative to regular soy sauce. It provides a rich, earthy flavor that complements many dishes. However, like with any condiment, there are some things to consider before using mushroom soy sauce.
What is Mushroom Soy Sauce?
Mushroom soy sauce, also known as mushroom flavored soy sauce, is regular soy sauce that has been infused with mushrooms during the fermentation process. The mushrooms provide extra umami flavor. Umami is considered one of the five basic tastes, along with sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. It brings a savory, meaty quality to food.
Regular soy sauce gets its flavor solely from soybeans and wheat that are fermented together. With mushroom soy sauce, dried mushrooms are added to the soy sauce mixture and allowed to ferment as well. This gives the final product a more complex, earthy taste compared to plain soy sauce.
Shiitake and black mushrooms are common varieties used to make mushroom soy sauce. The type of mushroom used impacts the intensity and nuances of the flavor.
Benefits of Mushroom Soy Sauce
Here are some of the benefits that mushroom soy sauce has over regular soy sauce:
- More umami flavor – The mushrooms provide additional glutamates that enhance the umami taste.
- Deeper, more complex flavor – Mushrooms have an earthy, savory quality that complements the soy sauce.
- Health benefits of mushrooms – Mushrooms contain antioxidants, vitamin D, and other compounds beneficial for health.
- Pairs well with vegetables and mushrooms – The mushroom flavor complements dishes with mushrooms, onions, greens, etc.
- Adds flavor without extra sodium – You can use less mushroom soy sauce than regular soy sauce and still get lots of flavor because of the added umami.
The extra taste and aroma from the mushrooms allow you to use a smaller amount of mushroom soy sauce compared to regular soy sauce. This results in less sodium consumption.
Disadvantages of Mushroom Soy Sauce
While mushroom soy sauce has some advantages, there are a few potential drawbacks as well:
- Higher price – Mushroom soy sauce costs more than plain soy sauce since it requires additional ingredients and a more complex production process.
- Strong mushroom taste – People who dislike mushrooms may find the mushroom flavor overpowering.
- Less versatility – The robust mushroom flavor clashes with some ingredients and dishes.
- May contain MSG – Some brands add MSG to enhance the umami taste even further.
- Not suitable for certain diets – Mushroom soy sauce is not appropriate for low-sodium diets or people allergic to mushrooms.
The intensely earthy mushroom taste does not work well with all foods. And some people simply don’t enjoy mushrooms. In these cases, regular soy sauce may be the better choice.
How to Use Mushroom Soy Sauce
Mushroom soy sauce works best when paired with foods that complement the mushroom flavor.
It’s excellent in dishes like:
- Stir fries with mushrooms, bamboo shoots, bok choy, etc.
- Vegetable or mushroom soups and broths
- Mushroom dishes like mushroom stroganoff
- Meat dishes featuring mushrooms like steak with mushroom gravy
- Marinades and sauces for meat
- Asian noodle and rice dishes
The umami flavor also helps enhance the taste of roast chicken, pan-fried dumplings, cooked greens, and other savory foods.
Mushroom soy sauce typically isn’t recommended for desserts or sweeter applications where its flavor would be out of place. Stick to regular soy sauce for dishes like stir-fried beef with broccoli or cashew chicken.
When substituting mushroom soy sauce for regular soy sauce, use about 20% less since it has a more concentrated flavor. Then adjust to taste if needed. Always add it to dishes at the end of cooking.
Popular Brands
Some of the top brands and varieties of mushroom soy sauce include:
- Pearl River Bridge Mushroom Soy Sauce – Made with straw mushrooms
- Kikkoman Mushroom Soy Sauce – Made with shiitake mushrooms
- Lee Kum Kee Mushroom Soy Sauce – Features straw and shiitake mushrooms
- Dragon Fly Mushroom Dark Soy Sauce – Aged for over a year
- Yamasa Shiitake Soy Sauce – Brewed with 100% shiitake mushrooms
- San-J Tamari Mushroom Soy Sauce – Gluten-free
When choosing a brand, check the label for words like “naturally brewed” and no indication of MSG added. Higher quality soy sauces will list mushrooms in the ingredients rather than just “mushroom flavor.”
Mushroom vs Mushroom Flavored Soy Sauce
Read labels closely to determine if you are getting true mushroom soy sauce. Some brands are flavored mushroom soy sauce rather than brewed with actual mushrooms.
True mushroom soy sauce will list mushrooms (shiitake, straw, etc.) in the ingredients. Mushroom flavored versions derive the taste from added flavorings and MSG rather than real mushrooms. The flavor is not quite as rich and authentic.
Also look for words like “naturally brewed” rather than chemical additives. Higher quality mushroom soy sauce results from fermenting soybeans with real mushrooms. This provides nuanced umami flavor rather than artificial taste.
Conclusion
Mushroom soy sauce provides deep, savory umami flavor from fermented soybeans and real mushrooms. When used in the right dishes, it can add even more taste complexity without extra sodium.
Look for naturally brewed brands made with real mushrooms like shiitakes. Avoid MSG-laden and artificially flavored mushroom soy sauce for the best quality.
Mushroom soy sauce excels at enhancing Asian dishes, mushroom recipes, meats, and vegetable dishes. But it may overpower more delicate ingredients. Taste your recipe as you go to find the right mushroom soy sauce balance.