Ingredient Spotlight: Coconut Aminos

Soy sauce is delicious, but for those on restricted diets, it comes with a price -

and it’s hard to prepare an acceptable substitute at home. For those looking for a healthy and tasty substitute for soy sauce, coconut aminos may be the answer. To find out more, read on!

Coconut aminos is a sweet, salty-tasting sauce that’s making a lot of new fans lately. That’s because it tastes like soy sauce, provides some health advantages, is compatible with many popular dietary restrictions, and is a part of many delicious recipes. It’s one of our favorite ingredients at Kevin’s Natural Foods. If you’re looking for a smart, savory substitute for soy sauce, it’s time you learned more about coconut aminos.

What is Coconut Aminos?

A sauce on the rise, coconut aminos is made from sea salt and the fermented sap of the coconut palm. It tastes similar to soy sauce and is thus often used as a substitute. It’s particularly useful in items geared toward those with certain dietary restrictions - it’s soy, wheat, and gluten-free. And for those who want to eat healthy without sacrificing delicious flavor, the benefits of coconut aminos don’t end there.

Is coconut aminos good for you?

Since it’s free of soy, wheat, and gluten, coconut aminos has gained currency as a substitute for soy sauce for those who want a similar experience without violating their dietary restrictions. Importantly, compared to soy sauce, coconut aminos contains less than one-third of the sodium. For those avoiding salt but who crave a salty taste, it’s an obvious choice.

Coconut palm is one of its key ingredients. Coconut palm confers a host of nutritional value, including zinc, potassium, magnesium, and some antioxidant and polyphenolic compounds. However, since coconut aminos is the fermented form of coconut palm, it may not confer the same nutritional benefits.

Indeed, not much research has been done on the nutritional benefits of coconut aminos. More research may reveal even more reasons to incorporate it into a restricted or generally healthy diet. However, there are plenty of reasons to go ahead and enjoy coconut aminos now – and feel great about doing it.

How does coconut aminos taste?

Let’s get this out of the way: coconut aminos tastes nothing at all like coconut! Despite its name and origins, has a flavor all its own.

The first thing you’ll notice about it is that it’s sweet. It also has an umami-like kick that makes it similar to soy sauce not just in taste, but in personality.

Coconut aminos tastes similar enough to soy sauce that it’s gaining popularity as a soy sauce substitute. It has advantages over other popular substitutes, as well.

How does coconut aminos compare to other popular soy sauce substitutes?

Compared to liquid aminos, often made by treating soybeans with an acidic solution, coconut aminos are free of soy and much, much lower sodium. It also has lower sodium than tamari.

Some people make their own soy sauce substitutes at home. This can be fun, but there’s a risk of winding up with more sugar than you’d intended, especially if you’re using sugar from molasses or honey. Therefore, coconut aminos is a smart alternative - you know more what you’re getting.

How can I try coconut aminos today?

Coconut aminos is a very versatile soy sauce substitute. It’s used to make sauces, seasonings, marinades, and much more. And it’s a popular ingredient here at Kevin’s Natural Foods, where we’re always looking for the most innovative ways to make healthy dishes taste delicious.

It’s a key ingredient in some of our sauces, including our Korean BBQ Sauce, our Lemongrass Basil Sauce, and our Teriyaki Sauce.

You can try it in our Paleo-friendly Teriyaki Chicken entree, too.

If coconut aminos isn’t the perfect soy sauce substitute, it’s close enough!

Kevin’s Natural Foods is proud to give you healthy food you can prepare quickly, savor slowly, and enjoy on the go. Our sauces, seasonings, and entrees have all the benefits of healthy food plus all the delicious delights that keep live inspiring. We love sharing new ingredients like coconut aminos, as well as creative recipes and more. Try our Teriyaki Chicken entree today and see for yourself.