What are Coconut Aminos and how to use them?

A highly popular condiment that many love for its salty taste, but hate for its soy and unhealthy background is soy sauce. What if there was a condiment that could be used as an easy-switch for Asian cooking (and for more besides) without the drawbacks of salty gluten-laden soy sauce? The great news is that coconut aminos are just that – they’re everything that’s great about soy sauce without the drawbacks, and some extra good stuff too.

Here we look at why coconut aminos are such an excellent substitute for soy sauce and why it is often considered the healthier option.

What are coconut aminos?

Coconut aminos are an all-natural seasoning and condiment. They are made using fermented coconut sap collected from the coconut palm and combined with sea salt. In addition, our coconut aminos come in different blends and may include other natural flavours, such as garlic. We have three different coconut aminos including:

·        Our All Purpose Coconut Aminos (similar to a standard soy sauce but gluten and soy free).

·        Our Coconut Aminos Teriyaki Sauce (similar to regular Teriyaki sauce but gluten and soy free).

·        Our Coconut Aminos Barbeque Sauce (similar in taste to other barbeque sauces, with a sweeter flavour centering on garlic as well as tangy vinegar).

All of our coconut aminos are organic. Our All Purpose Coconut Aminos taste similar to soy sauce – a salty savoury umami flavour with a hint of sweetness. Much as we love a coconut, it doesn’t taste of coconut and so can be used in a huge variety of ways. Similarly, its consistency and colour is also very similar to soy sauce, so it really is an ideal substitute for recipes calling for soy sauce.

However, coconut aminos don’t taste exactly like soy sauce. The flavour is perhaps slightly sweeter and it imparts an lovely umami taste (although soy sauces vary immensely).

Coconut aminos have three enormous benefits over soy sauce:

·        Coconut aminos are soy free

·        Coconut aminos are MSG free

·        Coconut aminos are gluten free

As such, coconut aminos are more suitable for people with dietary restrictions. In addition, many manufacturers of soy sauce use other additives. Our coconut aminos are unadulterated. It’s an all-natural organic product. Furthermore, soy sauce typically contains around three times as much salt as coconut aminos, meaning coconut aminos are a better option for those trying to follow a lower sodium diet. Do be aware though that coconut aminos are not a low-salt food so should be used carefully if following a low-salt diet.

Making our coconut aminos is a clean and simple process. We’ve written more about how we make our coconut aminos before. Our farmers collect the organic raw coconut sap from the flower on coconut trees. This is then naturally fermented. When ready, we add some coconut nectar and coconut sugar to get the sweetness you’re looking for. Finally, we add in another dash of raw coconut sap, garlic and sea salt, as well as natural flavours like ginger and tarragon according to the type of coconut aminos we are making.

Are coconut aminos good for you?

Many people choose coconut products because they are healthier. Coconut sap, which is the main ingredient in our coconut aminos, is rich in a range of useful nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, and zinc. It also contains natural antioxidant properties. We do add coconut nectar and coconut sugar. While it is necessary to avoid too much sugar in your diet, these unprocessed sugars offer a healthier alternative to highly processed white cane sugars.

The nutritional benefits of coconut aminos come from the trace nutrients in the coconut sap. However, the real benefit comes in that it’s a way of getting the umami flavour of soy sauce without the downsides of gluten, high-salt, soy or wheat, or any artificial preservatives.

What about other soy sauce substitutes?

There are a number of different products which you can use alongside or in place of soy sauce. Coconut aminos can be used in place of:

·        Liquid aminos: These are gluten-free but not soy-free, like coconut aminos.

·        Tamari: Tamari is made using fermented soy beans and is therefore not soy-free. It is usually lower salt than soy sauce, as are coconut aminos.

·        Fish sauce: Not suitable for vegetarians and vegans, unlike coconut aminos.

·        Oyster sauce: Not suitable for vegetarians and vegans either!

·        DIY soy sauce substitutes: Difficult to make and time consuming, unlike grabbing a ready-made bottle of organic coconut aminos!

How to use coconut aminos

Coconut aminos are as simple to use as a bottle of soy sauce! You can use them in exactly the same way, swapping them into any recipe that calls for soy sauce. You can use them as substitutes for the above products too, but be aware that oyster sauce is a much richer and thicker sauce than coconut aminos, so you need to take care when adjusting these recipes. Coconut aminos can also be used to make dipping sauces and dressings in the same way you would use soy sauce.

Coconut aminos are therefore a very versatile condiment suitable for use in Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, Malaysian and Vietnamese style cooking. You can also use coconut aminos in the following ways:

·        Use our Coconuts Aminos – BBQ Sauce to marinade anything that you’re popping on the barbeque this summer. It works excellently to add a deep and delicious flavour to tofu, fish and meat.

·        Use our Coconut Aminos – Teriyaki Sauce to whip up a quick stir fry using your favourite veggies for an Asian-style dish that will soon become a family favourite.

·        Make a delicious Nutty Roasted Sweet Potato, Chickpea and Cranberry Salad as an entertaining showpiece with friends.

·        Enjoy a warming bowl of Miso-Baked Tofu and Coconut Noodle Broth when you need a rejuvenating or heart-warming bowl of healthy comfort food.

·        Make a simple dip for your favourite dumpling and gyoza by mixing coconut aminos and sesame oil.

How to store coconut aminos

Coconut aminos come in a screw-cap glass bottle and are easy to store. Once opened, you can store in the fridge or the cupboard and use within a year (we’re sure it will have gone into your favourite dishes long before then though!).

Where to buy coconut aminos

You can buy the best organic all-natural coconut aminos right here at The Coconut Company of course! Alternatively, you can find our coconut aminos in some other high street and online retailers.