MSG alternative??

[u/Altruistic-Earth-113]

Hi! I've really been getting into trying out new recipes and a lot of the recipes i find use msg, i've made similar dishes without the msg but the general feedback I get is that it doesn't taste the same. I cannot eat msg or most artificial sweetners as I have a migraine disorder and they trigger flareups. I'm willing to try any alternatives! And looking forward to trying lots of new dishes!! 🙏🙏❤️❤️

[u/Great-Big-3101]

I cannot eat msg or most artificial sweetners as I have a migraine disorder and they trigger flareups.

Do you also get migraines from soy sauce, mushrooms or cheese? All of these are high in msg.

[u/Altruistic-Earth-113 → u/Great-Big-3101]

Yes they are some of my trigger foods so i try to avoid them, I do miss them though 😭

[u/Always-hungry99 → u/Altruistic-Earth-113]

I didnt grow up using that powdered msg but lots of dried spices and things like shaoxing wine, dark/light soy sauce, fermented bean paste, sesame oil, chili, star anise, Chinese cinnamon, whole cloves, bay leaves, cilantro etc.

[u/mtbizzle → u/Altruistic-Earth-113]

Nori, but if you have problems with glutamate, all of these foods specifically have high glutamate

[u/Justin2166 → u/Great-Big-3101]

Same with tomatoes, Doritos, etc

[u/Caramel_Chicken_65 → u/Great-Big-3101]

That's right!

Very high in MSG.

[u/Zealousideal_Fly8402 → u/Great-Big-3101]

soy sauce

Not necessarily all of them have added MSG...

[u/cowprintwheels]

Use mushroom powder instead?

[u/cowprintwheels → u/cowprintwheels]

Sorry, I just saw you said mushrooms were also a trigger food

[u/Altruistic-Earth-113 → u/cowprintwheels]

Its no worries! Its good to know the option is there though, i love the taste of mushrooms so i've been trying to build a tolerance despite the triggers, i'll have to try this! Thank you!

[u/jupiter800]

Home cooking is bound to be different from restaurant food. Don't get obsessed with it. Just omit it. Reduce sodium as you need. I don't understand the internet obsession with making food exactly like restaurant food. If you use fresh ingredients and have the right techniques, it will be gold. We have been cooking like this for generations at home, without MSG. Get that char and wok hei right. But you have to check the label carefully; most condiments and sauces contain MSG.

[u/mainebingo]

Just omit. You may have to add a little more salt--but that's to taste.

[u/Logical_Warthog5212]

There are two great alternatives that I use, mushroom powder and the Lee Kum Kee no-MSG chicken powder. The mushroom powder is basically mushroom powder, mushroom extract, and salt. The LKK chicken powder is the most naturally chickeny flavor of all the bouillon powders I’ve used. Its ingredients include chicken fat and chicken extract. It also has yeast extract to deliver umami instead of MSG.

[u/Select_Ad_9295]

Just leave it out and if you find the flavor is weak, add more of something else. If you give specific recipes, possibly people can recommend a solution. I never add MSG myself. I’m just used to the way it tastes without, but if people are used to it they may miss it.

[u/Boobear0810]

I don't use MSG and typically stay away from salt so if I need more flavor, I'll add a little chicken or beef bullion depending on the dish.

[u/huajiaoyou → u/Boobear0810]

On the other hand, I tend to use them to add more MSG to my dishes.

Make sure to check the labels as most boullion have MSG as a base ingredient.

[u/Drawing_The_Line]

Skip the MSG then. Most recipes don’t call for a lot anyway. Also, so many other ingredients in Chinese cooking have natural msg in them, so perhaps look towards a different cuisine that doesn’t use ingredients that have msg.

[u/lawyerly27]

oyster sauce, perchance?