13 Best Shrimp Paste Substitutes You Should Try!

Shrimp paste goes by many names and adds the oh-so-favorite buzzword “umami” to many Southeast Asian dishes. But what do you do when you run out of it? Say hello to its alternatives that can help you achieve similar results.

Dried shrimp, homemade shrimp paste, fish sauce, anchovies, miso paste, bonito flakes, oyster sauce, dried shiitake mushrooms, doenjang, soy sauce, fermented Chinese black beans, dashi powder or granules, and shrimp-infused oil are all substitutes for shrimp paste. 

The taste of shrimp paste can be described as a mix of concentrated shrimp blended with savory and salty flavors. It comes in different smells, textures, salt levels, and colors. 

Shrimp paste has many culinary uses. It is used as a condiment for stir-fried dishes like conch with vegetables and fried tofu. It is also used as a base for curries and soups and can be mixed with lime juice, chili, and sugar to make a flavorful dipping sauce.

With so many uses because of its delectable flavor profile, shrimp paste is definitely worth having a special place in your pantry. But if you are out of it, there are many substitutes for shrimp paste that can successfully replicate the same umami goodness and fishy flavors in your dish. Let’s learn more about shrimp paste substitutes and how to use them.

13 Best Substitutes For Shrimp Paste 

Shrimp paste is an essential ingredient in Southeast Asia cuisine. Nothing comes close to the flavors it adds to our meals. But if you can’t find it in your supermarket or have it due to dietary restrictions, you can easily use its substitutes to replicate its flavor. 

1. Dried Shrimp

One of the easiest available substitutes for shrimp paste is dried shrimp. Shrimp paste is a fermented product made from ground shrimp, whereas dried shrimp is simply shrimp that has been dried and preserved. 

You can mimic the flavors of shrimp paste by soaking dried shrimp in water and blending them in a food processor.

The beauty of shrimp paste lies in its funky fermented flavor. While dried shrimp on its own will miss this unique punch of flavor, you can create a similar flavor profile by adding some salt to bring out the umami factor.

If you decide to use dried shrimp in place of shrimp paste, use twice the amount of this paste in your recipe.

2. Homemade Shrimp Paste

The best substitute that can be used in place of shrimp paste is a DIY homemade shrimp paste. You can find numerous recipes on the internet on how to make homemade shrimp paste. 

The basic ingredients required to make shrimp paste involve mashed prawns or krill, salt, and sugar. Some recipes also include black pepper, butter, and wine. All the ingredients are processed and left for fermentation.

3. Fish sauce

Fish sauce is a commonly used substitute for shrimp paste in Southeast Asian cuisine. It is made from fermented fish, which gives it a salty and umami flavor and intense aroma that is quite similar to shrimp paste.

However, the intensity of the umaminess of fish sauce is lesser than shrimp paste. Therefore, you can use twice the amount of fish sauce in place of shrimp paste. 

It should also be noted that the consistency of the fish sauce is thin as compared to shrimp paste. Thus, you may need to adjust the amount of liquid in the recipe accordingly to avoid making the dish too watery and its taste to shine through. 

4. Anchovies

Anchovies are deeply salty and umami-packed fish that make for an excellent substitute for shrimp paste, particularly in recipes that require a small amount of shrimp paste as a flavor enhancer. They are found easily in supermarkets, packed into glass jars, and covered in oil.

While using anchovies as a substitute for shrimp paste, you may need to reduce the amount of salt called for in the recipe as they are naturally salty. To use anchovies as a substitute for shrimp paste, finely chop the fillet and use it in place of shrimp paste.

5. Miso Paste

Miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning made from fermented soybeans. It has a similar flavor profile to shrimp paste and makes for a perfect substitute for vegans or vegetarians. 

Miso paste comes in different types. Among its many varieties, red miso is the perfect match for shrimp paste. It has a more pungent and savory flavor profile. You can replace shrimp paste in your recipe with red miso paste in a 1:1 ratio and adjust the flavors from there.

6. Bonito Flakes 

Bonito flakes are dried, smoked, and shaved fish flakes commonly used in Japanese cuisine to add a savory flavor to dishes. While it is not a direct substitute for shrimp paste, it can be used as a replacement in some recipes with fish sauce.

To use bonito flakes as a substitute for shrimp paste, you will have to grind the flakes into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle or grinder. You can replace shrimp paste in your recipe with an equal amount of bonito flakes with a splash of fish sauce and adjust the taste.

7. Oyster Sauce

Oyster sauce is famously used in Chinese cuisine. It is a rich, syruplike sauce made from oyster juices, salt, and sugar, boiled down to create a thick brown and almost black sauce. It has an earthy, slightly sweet, and salty taste. 

In terms of texture, oyster sauce has a liquid consistency as compared to shrimp paste. Therefore, you may need to adjust the amount of liquid in the recipe accordingly. To replace shrimp paste, you can double the quantity of oyster sauce called in the recipe and adjust it to taste.

8. Dried Shiitake Mushrooms

Dried shiitake mushrooms make for a great substitute for shrimp paste, particularly for vegan or vegetarian dishes. They bring a similar depth of flavor as shrimp paste. Moreover, they are easily available in the market.

To use dried shiitake mushrooms in place of shrimp paste, you will need to soak a handful of dried shiitake mushrooms in warm water overnight. Before using them, squeeze them to remove excess water and blend them into a paste. 

Dried shiitake mushrooms have a strong umami flavor, so you can start by adding it in a 1:1 ratio and adjust the taste to your liking.

9. Doenjang

Doenjang is a traditional Korean fermented bean paste made of soybean and brine. It has a similar flavor profile as shrimp paste and adds depth to dishes. Moreover, it is another vegan substitute for shrimp paste.

Doenjang has an earthy and robust flavor profile that makes it a good substitute for shrimp paste in dishes like stews and curries. Doenjang can be replaced with shrimp paste in a 1:1 ratio. However, before adding it to your dish, it is recommended to mix the doenjang with a small amount of warm water to create a consistency similar to shrimp paste.

10. Soy Sauce

Soy sauce is an easily available substitute for shrimp paste. It brings with it the umaminess we look for in seafood dishes, but the intensity is a little weaker than shrimp paste. Thus, while soy sauce may not add the exact flavor as shrimp paste, it is a convenient substitute when you have nothing else at hand. You can use one tablespoon of soy sauce for every teaspoon of shrimp paste.

11. Fermented Chinese Black Beans

Fermented Chinese black beans are also known as douchi or tausi. They are fermented and salted soybeans.

Fermented Chinese black beans are not just an easily available substitute for shrimp paste but also makes for an inexpensive replacement. They can be used in place of shrimp paste in dishes that require a savory and salty flavor profile.

Fermented Chinese black beans have to be mashed into a paste before use. You can replace shrimp paste with fermented black beans in an equal amount. 

12. Dashi Powder or Granules

Dashi powder is a Japanese seasoning made from dried bonito fish flakes, kombu seaweed, and other ingredients. It is used to make a flavorful stock. While it has a different flavor profile than shrimp paste, it can be used as a substitute in certain recipes where shrimp paste is used. 

To use dashi powder or granules in place of shrimp paste, you will have to mix it in some water to make a paste. One tablespoon of dashi powder can be used in place for every teaspoon of shrimp paste.

13. Shrimp Infused Oil 

Lastly, you can also use shrimp-infused oil by frying shrimp shells and heads in oil. While the oil will miss the more complex flavors that come from the fermentation of shrimp paste, it can still infuse that unique and delicate shrimp flavor into your dishes. You can use one tablespoon of shrimp oil for every teaspoon of shrimp paste called for in the recipe.

Short Recap Of Shrimp Paste Substitutes

Here is a recap of the best substitutes for shrimp paste that will help you pick the best choice according to your need. Take a look at them.

Best Shrimp Paste Substitutes In Terms Of Flavor:

1. Homemade Shrimp Paste
2. Dried Shrimp
3. Anchovies
4. Bonito Flakes
5. Fish Sauce

Best Shrimp Paste Substitutes In Terms Of Availability:

1. Fish Sauce
2. Oyster Sauce
3. Dashi powder
4. Soy Sauce

Shrimp Paste Substitutes For Vegans Or Vegetarians

1. Dried Shiitake Mushrooms
2. Fermented Chinese Black Beans
3. Doenjang
4. Miso

How To Use Shrimp Paste Substitutes

13 Best Shrimp Paste Substitutes To Try

The best substitutes you could use in any recipe when out of shrimp stock are fish sauce, oyster sauce, anchovies, miso paste, dried shitake mushrooms, doenjang, fermented Chinese black beans, dashi powder, bonito flakes, homemade shrimp paste.

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Ingredients

  

• Fish Sauce
• Oyster Sauce
• Anchovies
• Miso Paste
• Dried Shitake Mushrooms
• Doenjang
• Fermented Chinese Black Beans
• Dashi Powder or Granules
• Bonito Flakes
• Homemade Shrimp Paste
• Shrimp Infused Oil
• Soy Sauce
• Dried Shrimp

Instructions

 

• Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.
• Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
• Use the substitute in the required amount and make the dish according to the recipe.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Conclusion

Shrimp paste is an important ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine. If you are planning to try a seafood recipe, you will spot it in almost every recipe. 

However, if you don’t have it at hand, you can go for its substitutes to achieve similar results. I recommend you try each substitute in different recipes to see what works best for you. Once you are done making your meal, do come back and tell me which substitute worked the best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)