Soy based sauce, for use with vegetables
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a thin, dark, and intensely savory soy-based sauce, specifically formulated to complement the natural flavors of vegetables. It delivers a deep umami punch with a subtle sweetness, creating a glossy, flavor-enhancing glaze rather than a thick coating. Nutritionally, it is a low-fat, low-protein condiment, but its primary caloric contribution comes from carbohydrates, specifically added sugars.
Calorie split: 7% protein · 91% carbs · 2% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its ability to instantly transform bland vegetables into a savory, restaurant-quality dish with minimal effort. Its balanced sweet-salty profile makes it a universal crowd-pleaser, perfect for everything from stir-fries to roasted broccoli.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The relatively high sugar content (over 10g per 100g) can cause blood-sugar spikes, and it is often high in sodium, which is a concern for some. To counteract this, use it sparingly as a finishing sauce rather than a cooking liquid, and pair it with protein and fiber-rich foods (like tofu, chicken, or brown rice) to slow sugar absorption and balance the meal.
Key benefits
- Adds complex umami depth to vegetable dishes
- Low in fat and calories per serving
- Provides a quick, savory flavor boost
- Enhances the natural taste of vegetables
- Versatile for stir-frying, dipping, and glazing
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The specific soy sauce variant often used for vegetables, known as 'usukuchi' in Japan, is actually lighter in color but *saltier* than regular soy sauce, designed to season without darkening the food's appearance.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 75.0 g |
| Energy | 89.0 kcal |
| Protein | 1.6 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.15 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 20.1 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.20 g |
| Total Sugars | 10.1 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 9.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.34 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 16.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 34.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 88.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 1101 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.18 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.02 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.40 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.01 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.04 mg |
| Niacin | 0.44 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.03 mg |
| Folate, total | 3.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 3.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 3.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 3.7 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.02 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.06 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.05 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Beverages, Protein powder soy based — USDA does not publish this profile for Soy based sauce.
| Tryptophan | 0.72 g |
| Threonine | 2.2 g |
| Isoleucine | 2.8 g |
| Leucine | 4.6 g |
| Lysine | 3.6 g |
| Methionine | 0.72 g |
| Cystine | 0.72 g |
| Phenylalanine | 3.0 g |
| Tyrosine | 2.2 g |
| Valine | 2.8 g |
| Arginine | 4.3 g |
| Histidine | 1.5 g |
| Alanine | 2.4 g |
| Aspartic acid | 6.6 g |
| Glutamic acid | 10.8 g |
| Glycine | 2.4 g |
| Proline | 2.9 g |
| Serine | 3.0 g |
FAQ
Is this sauce the same as regular soy sauce?
No, this is a specialized variant, often sweeter and thinner, designed specifically for vegetables. Regular soy sauce is typically saltier and less sweet.
Can I use this sauce for meat dishes?
Yes, while designed for vegetables, its sweet-savory profile works well with chicken, tofu, and fish, especially in stir-fries or glazes.
How should I store this sauce?
Store it in a cool, dark place like a pantry. Once opened, keep it refrigerated to maintain its flavor and prevent spoilage.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 0.89 kcal/g · 7% calories from protein · 0.2 g fiber · 10.1 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 12.51 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.