The taste and looks of the Maggi seasoning often leave people wondering if it’s actually a type of soy sauce — plus the more than a thousand different applications that they both have which overlap!
But what exactly is Maggi, and can it be considered a soy sauce, a sub variety of soy sauce or a different type of sauce on its own?
Let’s find out in this article.
Is Maggi The Same As Soy Sauce?
Maggi liquid is made quite similarly to soy sauce, which means there’s fermentation and ageing involved in the process.
However, there’s some subtle distinction.
Soy sauce uses roasted grains and plenty of cooked soybeans, whereas Maggi relies on hydrolyzing wheat protein or even corn sometimes.
Then there’s the many things added in between that makes Maggi boast a meatier, richer, more complex and thicker taste and texture profile compared to soy sauce.
The consequence of this is that Maggi can impact dishes in far more intricate ways than soy sauce.
Can Maggi Replace Soy Sauce?
Yes, Maggi can replace soy sauce in recipes like soups, stews, marinades, pickle liquids, stews, sauces and broth, and that’s because both Maggi and soy sauce boast a rich savory taste that enhances any dish they’re added to in a similar fashion.
Despite that, it’s essential to note that Maggi is more concentrated and explosive in flavor compared to soy sauce, so in applications that expect you to taste the raw flavors of soy sauce, you may not have great success doing the substitution!
When interchanging them in recipes, start by using a smaller amount of Maggi than what the recipe calls for in soy sauce.
Gradually work your way up to balance the taste so you don’t end up overpowering your dish (if you can), if not, learn from your mistake and avoid that in future cooking.
Now let’s consider swapping out Maggi for soy sauce. This substitution is also possible but requires a little mixing magic.
Combine 1/2 part soy sauce with 1/2 part Worcestershire sauce to create a flavor-packed blend that mimics the essence of Maggi seasoning (and even more).
Once you’ve got your mix ready, substitute an equal amount of this new sauce for the exact amount of Maggi called for in your recipe.
Some people also like to use liquid aminos, pure msg powder (especially in soups and stews) or Golden Mountain soy sauce alone!
What Kind Of Sauce Is Maggi?
While a lot of people argue that Maggi is a unique sauce all on its own due its distinctively bright flavors, others are of the view that the most accurate classification would be as a sub-variety of soy sauce – akin to thin, dark, sweet or thick soy sauces – primarily because it shares at least one key ingredient (wheat) and undergoes a similar fermentation process.
Whatever, both sauces can be used interchangeably, so nothing really matters in the grand scheme of things.
Is Maggi Sauce Better Than Soy Sauce?
As a fan of both, it’s good to know that Maggi sauce would definitely add more edge to applications where it can substitute soy sauce, because of its meatier and richer flavor, however, soy sauce is still good on its own in the various applications that it serves!
At the end of the day, which is better would actually depend on personal preferences, and what dish you’re making; i believe Maggi is meant for the soups and stews, whereas soy sauce is much better for applications of direct contact with the buds.
Maggi Seasoning Uses
Maggi seasoning easily adds a burst of umami and depth to any dish you’re making.
You can use it to elevate your cooking game across various types of meal types.
Here are some of them.
Stir Fries
Give your veggies and proteins like prawns an extra punch of flavor by adding a splash of Maggi liquid seasoning during the cooking process.
It’s perfect for enhancing stir-fried chicken, beef, tofu, prawns, veggies, you name it.
Because the liquid is a bit too savory and can be very salty, it’s a good idea to add just a little at a time (drizzle) and taste before working your way up to create a balanced flavor.
Curries
Infuse an added layer of richness to your curry dishes by incorporating a drop of two of Maggi liquid seasoning into the mix – whether you’re preparing a Thai green curry or Indian butter chicken, Maggi is Maggi and it would work well!
Soups
What better way to bring life into any soup than using a dash of Maggi liquid. Try it in tomato soup, chicken noodle soup, groundnut soup or even minestrone.
Stews
Maggi does exactly what it does in soups to stews too! It elevates the profile and makes them taste better, meatier and more interesting!
Use it in almost any kind of stews I.e slow-cooked stews like beef bourguignon or Hungarian goulash.
Rice
Breathe new life into rice (after cooking) by stirring in little drops of Maggi seasoning before serving – it pairs particularly well with fried or Jill of rice and pilaf dishes.
Noodles
Take your noodle dishes up a notch with the addition of this savory sauce; try adding it to pad Thai, ramen bowls or even spaghetti Bolognese for an unexpected twist.
Scrambled Eggs
Amp up your morning eggs with a few dashes of Maggi seasoning – trust us; you’ll never look back!
Mayonnaise
Create an umami-packed spread for sandwiches and burgers by mixing in some Maggi seasoning to regular mayonnaise (don’t do that with Japanese kewpie Mayo).
Think of the idea as a way of transforming mayonnaise into different kinds of forms, such as Chipotle Mayo, Aioli, Mayochup etc.
Pasta
If Maggie liquid already works well with noodles and rice, obviously you know it will pair well with pasta dishes.
Use it to transform your favorite pasta dishes such as creamy Alfredo or sauces that accompany pasta dishes like carbonara sauce.
Maggi Seasoning Sauce Substitutes
If you ever find yourself in the middle of cooking up a delicious dish, only to realise you’re out of Maggi Seasoning Sauce, don’t sweat, there are several alternatives you can try to save your dish; and the best part is you may already have them at hand!
A Perfect Blend: ½ Soy Sauce + ½ Worcestershire Sauce
Combining equal parts soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce creates a harmonious blend of flavors that closely mimics the umami-rich profile of Maggi Seasoning Sauce.
The former has saltiness and thickness whereas the Worcestershire sauce adds in savoriness and umami from the anchovies.
Liquid Aminos: The Healthier Alternative
Liquid aminos offer a somewhat similar taste to Maggi Seasoning while boasting the added benefit of being gluten-free and lower in sodium.
Made from soybeans, liquid aminos provide an umami punch and can seamlessly step into any recipe calling for Maggi.
Knorr
Knorr seasoning products are also reliable and quick flavor enhancers and they can serve as a decent substitute to Maggi Seasoning Sauce, although they may lack in their sharpness.
Golden Mountain Soy Sauce
Golden Mountain Soy sauce is a perfect substitute for Maggi because it uses flavor enhancers that help mimic the umami flavors of Maggi, and at the same time, has a deeper profile than regular soy sauce which is also reminiscent of Maggi.
It can work in almost any recipe you can use Maggi in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jugo Maggi Soy Sauce?
While Jugo Maggi shares some similarities with soy sauce, it’s not quite the same thing.
Jugo Maggi is a seasoning sauce made from hydrolyzed soy and corn protein plus some carbohydrate in the form of maltodextrin and caramel color. Soy sauce on the other hand, contains fermented roasted wheat and cooked soy sauce.
Despite the subtle difference, both jugo Maggi and soy sauce have almost the same consistency and even taste very similar.
They can both be used as a substitute for each other in many recipes.
Is Maggi Arome Soy Sauce?
Maggi Arome, like Jugo Maggi, is also not exactly a soy sauce but rather a distinct seasoning sauce produced by fermenting hydrolyzed wheat proteins and improving the flavors with enhancers like disodium inosinate, sugar, MSG, salt etc.
The sauce too, just like jugo Maggi, can used as a great alternative to salt sauce in many recipes like omelets, vinaigrettes or stir fry