Sauces, pastes & condiments · Soy & fermented sauces
Tamari
Japanese soy sauce brewed with little or no wheat; thicker, rounder and often sold as a gluten-free soy sauce.
Also called: gluten-free soy sauce, tamari soy sauce
A kind of soy sauce
What it is
Originally the liquid that collects while making miso, tamari is now brewed mainly from soybeans with little or no wheat. It is slightly thicker, darker and less sharply salty than standard soy sauce, with a fuller umami taste. Not every tamari is wheat-free, so check the label for a gluten-free claim.
How it’s used
- Gluten-free replacement for soy sauce in any recipe
- Dipping sauce for sashimi and dumplings
- Glazing roasted vegetables, tofu and salmon
- Seasoning dressings, broths and noodle dishes
Characteristics
- Taste
- Salty and rich in umami, smoother and less alcoholic-sharp than regular soy sauce.
- Appearance
- Very dark brown, slightly more viscous than light soy sauce.
- When cooked
- Behaves like soy sauce in cooking; glazes and reduces well.
- Sold as
- liquid, fermented
- Cooking uses
- Mainly a seasoning, Commonly cooked
- Common in
- Japanese
Storage
Pantry-stable. Store sealed in a cool cupboard; refrigerate after opening to keep the flavour fresh.
Diet, allergens and safety
Contains Soy. May contain Wheat, Gluten — check the label.
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Dairy-free
- Egg-free
- Gluten-free (check label)
- Nut-free
- Soy-free
- Caffeine-free
- Contains soy. Some brands contain wheat or are made in plants that handle wheat; look for a gluten-free label if needed.
Nutrition per 100 g
- Energy
- 60 kcal
- Protein
- 10.51 g
- Carbohydrate
- 5.57 g
- Fat
- 0.1 g
- Fibre
- 0.8 g
- Sugars
- 1.7 g
USDA FoodData Central: Soy sauce made from soy (tamari).
Substitutes
Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.
- Soy sauce — Same amount; fine unless you need it wheat-free.
- Coconut aminos — Soy-free and wheat-free but sweeter and milder; add salt to taste.
Related ingredients
Recipes with tamari
No recipe in the catalogue uses it yet.
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