If you’re looking for a substitute for steak sauce, look no further! This article will discuss the different substitutes for steak sauce. We’ll also give you a recipe for preparing some homemade steak sauce. Read on to understand more
What is steak sauce?
Steak sauce is a brown sauce made with ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and other seasonings. It’s often used in elevating the flavor of your steak to the restaurant-style in your kitchen.Its tangy flavor greatly complements the sweet, smoky flavor of your steak. Other than that, you can marinate other meats in it.
Steak sauce can be purchased at almost any grocery store, but you’ll have success finding it in the condiment aisle or near other condiments like mustard. You may need to look through several brands before coming across one that meets your taste needs.
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8 best steak sauce substitutes
Steak sauce comes in different flavors that ensure you end up with an outstanding dinner steak. But what do you do if you have run out of steak sauce? The sauces below can substitutesteak sauce.
1. Barbeque sauce
The all-famous barbeque sauce! This condiment has a smoky and sweet flavor that goes well with your steaks. Its flavor is almost similar to steak sauce. Examples you could use are:
- Sloppy joe BBQ sauce
Sloppy Joe’s BBQ sauce is traditionally made from ground beef with vinegar, spices, and ketchup.
- Carolina BBQ sauce
Carolina BBQ sauce is a simple sauce with a splash of tanginess, spiciness, and slight acidity. It is made withvinegar, hot pepper, and some honey.
2. Worcestershire sauce
Worcestershire sauce is a rich, savory condiment that can be used in almost anything from salad dressing to cocktail sauces. It’s made with anchovies and tamarind pulp mixed into an aromatic blend of spices and herbs.
Its flavor has the right sweetness, making it excellent for steak. This sauce included in steak sauce itself and should be added to steak in small amounts as it easily overpowers dishes.
3. Tomato sauce
Tomato sauce might not have the same flavor as steak sauce, but it is a great substitute. It is made with tomatoes and has a tangy, savory flavor that goes well with your steaks.
It’s not only used as an ingredient in making tomato paste but can be used to make other sauces like marinara or pizza sauce. You can add it to a meat loaf or a baked pasta dish. It is also great over meatballs!
4. Soy sauce
Soy sauce is an Asian condiment made from fermented soybeans and wheat flour that gives it a rich, savory flavor.
Its recommended as a substitute for steak sauce because it adds some depth to the flavor of your food. Note that soy sauce has a completely different flavor from steak sauce, but you can add a teaspoon of brown sugar or Worcestershire sauce so that its’ taste emulates steak sauce.
5. Oyster sauce
If you’re looking for a gluten-free substitute, oyster sauce is the best choice. It’s made by simmering oysters in water until they release their natural juices, giving it an earthy flavor and thick texture.
Like soy sauce, the oyster sauce does not have the same flavor as the steak sauce. It, however, gives the steak the same sweetness and tanginess as a steak sauce. You can use it as a marinade or condiment to enhance your dish with umami.
6. Malt vinegar and sugar
Malt vinegar is vinegar made from fermenting malted barley or wheat. It’s popular in the UK as an alternative to white wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar, but it also goes well with steak dishes.
To make malt sauce for your steak, combine two tablespoons of malt vinegar with one tablespoon of brown sugar.
Its flavor is similar to what you would get from steak sauce, but it has a tarter taste than other substitutes.
It’s also sweeter and less salty,making it an excellent choice for people on low sodium diets or high blood pressure.
7. Miso paste
Miso paste is a Japanese condiment made from fermented soybeans and rice or barley and koji and has grown popular worldwide. The soybean, rice and koji gives it an earthy flavor with hints of sweetness and saltiness.
It’s great as a substitute because it gives the steak similar depth to what you would get from steak sauce without overpowering flavors.The only downside is that it’s not vegan friendly due to the animal products used in its production.
It can be added to sauces, marinades, and dressings for more flavor without adding too much saltiness or sweetness, making it perfect for people who are on low sodium diets or have high blood pressure.
8. Ketchup and Worcestershire sauce
Ketchup has a sweet and tangy flavor that combines well the with pungent flavor of Worcestershire sauce. The two flavors combined taste just the same as steak sauce.
You will have to be careful when mixing these two ingredients to not overpower your steak. The best thing to ensure you get the best flavor is to keep tasting it as you mix until it achieves the desired flavor.
Ingredients for making steak sauce:
These are the ingredient used in making steak sauce.
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar in steak sauce is for tanginess, and it gives you a chance to control the sourness. You can use malt vinegar as an alternative if you don’t like apple cider vinegar taste or smell in your steak sauce.
Worcestershire sauce
Worcestershire sauce is an important ingredient in steak sauce for two reasons: It amps up the savory flavor, and it helps to thicken the mixture.
If you can’t find Worcestershire or don’t want to use it for some reason, you can replace it with soy sauce, which will add saltiness to your sauce. But remember that soy sauce has a different flavor than Worcestershire, so it won’t taste exactly the same.
Tomato paste/Ketchup
Tomato paste is important as it gives the steak sauce a deep red color and contributes to the umami flavor of the mixture.
You can also use ketchup if you don’t like the tomato taste of paste or it’s not available in your area.
The only downside to ketchup is that it can make the steak sauce too sweet, so be careful when adding this ingredient!
Seasonings
For seasoning, you need to add black pepper and salt. The reason for adding it is its ability to bring out the flavors in a steak if added at the right time.
The only downside with this ingredient is that too much of it will overpower other flavors, so don’t overdo things when using them!
Yellow mustard
Mustard is a key ingredient in steak sauce in helping to thicken the mixture and provide a slightly spicy flavor.
If you can’t find yellow mustard or don’t want to use it, you can replace it with brown mustard that has a slightly different flavor profile but will still do the job.
Hot pepper sauce
Hot sauce is another ingredient that can be added in substitutes for steak sauce. It’s important to add this into your mixture if you like things spicy!
Honey/molasses/brown sugar
For sweetness, honey can be used as an alternative. Honey might, however overpower other flavors, so keep this in mind when choosing which option works best for you! You can also use molasses or brown sugar and choose which option works best for you!
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Recipe for some homemade steak sauce
The recipe below is a basic starting point, but feel free to experiment with different ingredients or amounts to find what works best for you!
Ingredients:
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup yellow mustard
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions:
- In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well.
- After they combine well, pour in a jar and store in an airtight container and toss it in the fridge or freezer.
- Refrigerate for up to one month. You can even freeze in ice cube trays and then transfer cubes into a freezer bag or airtight container when frozen solid (will keep indefinitely). Use within three months of freezing date.
Tip:
The key to making your own steak sauce at home is really just a matter of adjusting the ingredients and adding them in the right order to get the flavor profile you’re looking for.
The benefits of steak sauce and why you might want to use it
Wondering why you should use steak sauce in your kitchen? Here is why:
- Adds flavor to the steak
- It can be used as a marinade
- Helps to tenderize meat
- Provides a spicy and tangy flavor profile that pairs well with many dishes.
Recipes that include steak sauce as an ingredient
Try this recipe that includes steak sauce as an ingredient.
Steak and Blue Cheese Salad with Homemade Steak Sauce
Ingredients:
- ½ pound steak (Ribeye, New York strip, T-bone or Porterhouse)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup chopped red onion
- ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ⅓ cup BBQ sauce
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions:
- Season steak with salt and pepper, then heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot.
- Add steak to the skillet and cook for about four minutes on each side or until desired doneness is reached (135 degrees F internal temperature).
- Remove from pan, cover loosely with foil, and leave it to sit while preparing salad dressing and other ingredients.
- Meanwhile, prepare salad dressing by combining BBQ sauce, ketchup, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using) in a small bowl.
- Combine chopped red onion, blue cheese, and cherry tomatoes in a large salad bowl.
- Slice steak against the grain into thin strips and add to salad.
- Drizzle with the desired amount of salad dressing and serve immediately.
Frequently asked questions
Which substitute gives the exact flavor as steak sauce?
While there are many substitutes for steak sauce, none will give an exact replica of the original flavor. However, by experimenting with different ingredients and amounts, you can develop a version that is close to what you’re looking for.
I don’t have any apple cider vinegar; can I use white vinegar instead?
Yes, you can use white vinegar in place of apple cider vinegar in the above recipe. However, keep in mind that the flavor will be slightly different from using apple cider vinegar.
Can I make a bigger batch of this sauce?
Yes, you can easily double or triple the ingredients in this recipe to make more steak sauce. Just remember to store it in an airtight container in the fridge, and it will last for up to one month.
What can I use steak sauce on?
This steak sauce is great on steak, chicken, pork, or any other type of meat. It can also be used as a marinade before cooking. You can also add it to dishes like salads or rice bowls for an extra bit of flavor.
How does brown sauce and Worcestershire sauce compare to steak sauce?
Flavor
The flavor of brown sauce is close to that of steak sauce but it’s a little tangier. Worcestershire sauce flavor is pungent unlike steak sauce that has a sweet smoky and tangy flavor.
Use
Steak sauce is mainly used as a beef condiment just like brown sauce that can be also used in vegetables. Worcestershire sauce on the other hand is added in foods like meatloaf.
Video: How to Make Steak Sauce
Conclusion
So there you have it! There are many substitutes for steak sauce. You can use Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste/ketchup, or hot pepper sauce instead of the original recipe’s ingredients to get a similar taste and consistency in your meal.
Remember that none of these options will give you an exact replica as they all have different flavors. But if you’re looking for something close enough, these substitutes will do just fine.