Soy Sauce Marinade

This delicious soy sauce marinade is perfect for salmon, steak, chicken or pork. It adds amazing flavor to grilled or roasted poultry, meat or fish!

If you are looking for a new way to add flavor to your fish, chicken, pork or beef, then try quick and easy this Soy Sauce Marinade.

Soy sauce is often used in marinades and sauces and has been a staple in Chinese and Asian cooking for over 1000 years. It's an incredibly versatile ingredient and adds a lot of umami flavor to whatever dish you're cooking.

Soy sauce is known by different names in different regions of Asia. You may also hear it referred to the following:

• Japan - shoyu
• Korea - ganjang
• Indonesia - ketjap manis 

It  is made from a combination of fermented soy beans, salt and wheat but the methods used to produce it can vary.

This means that different varieties can have slightly different colors, tastes and textures.

The traditional way to make soy sauce is to soak soy beans in water, and to roast and crush wheat.

The soy beans and wheat are then mixed with a culturing mold that helps them ferment over the course of a few days.

Water and salt are then added and the mixture is then left to ferment for anywhere between five to eight months.

Finally, it is poured onto a cloth and pressed to release the liquid - soy sauce. The soy sauce is then pasteurized which helps kill off any bacteria before it is bottled.

What's the Difference Between Light and Dark Soy Sauce?

Light soy sauce, believe it or not, is actually saltier than dark and tends to be used as a dipping sauce, or when cooking with fish and poultry.

Dark soy sauce has a longer fermentation period which results in its darker color. Dark soy sauce is best used in marinades and when cooking with dark meats.

Soy sauce is a great replacement for salt and adds plenty of depth of flavor to your sauces without overpowering them. 

Soy sauce isn't just good for marinades - there are lots of other great ways you can use it!

• Salad dressings: Use one tablespoon of soy sauce per tablespoon of oil. You can then add some acidity to your dressing with citrus or vinegar, plus your favorite herbs and spices for a fuller flavor
• Glazes: To give your roasted or pan-fried dishes a tantalizing shine and a richer flavor, mix equal parts of soy sauce with honey or maple syrup and brush it over your meat or veggies.
• Seasoning: Add a touch to start with and taste your food as you go. Use it in stews, noodle dishes or to drizzle over beautifully baked fish.

Are you wondering about a gluten-free soy sauce option? Originating in Japan, there's another version of soy sauce called tamari, which does not include wheat. This makes it ideal for those who follow a gluten-free diet. 

More Homemade Marinade Recipes

We love a homemade marinade, like this Chicken Kebab Marinade, versus buying one in a bottle. They tend to be so much more flavorful!

You can also easily experiment with new flavor combinations, such as with this Asian Salmon Marinade, or keep it simple as with this Simple Steak Marinade that can be used for much more than steak.

Tip: Do you know how long to marinate salmon?