The 1-Ingredient “Liquid Gold” That Will Make the Best Stir Fry Of Your Life (I Buy it In Bulk!)

As a Thai American who grew up in Minnesota, the flavor that feels most like home to me is the umami richness of Healthy Boy Mushroom Soy Sauce. One of my favorite weeknight meals that my chef dad would cook was a simple mixture of tofu, broccoli, and peanuts — finished with a few dashes of Healthy Boy Mushroom Soy Sauce. 

But really, it was a staple in our home. It was my dad’s secret weapon to making everything just taste … better. We would eat it with rice or potatoes, and it was so integral to my childhood that it was one of the first condiments I purchased for my first college kitchen — and now for my first apartment after college. 

Healthy Boy is the most popular soy sauce brand in Thailand, where it was founded in the 1940s. (Despite the name, the brand doesn’t make any health- or nutrition-focused claims.) The sauce itself is thinner in texture than a typical Japanese-style soy sauce, and is slightly less salty but more savory and umami-forward, thanks to the mushrooms. 

Thai cooking is all about balance, with an emphasis on highlighting sweet, salty, sour, savory, and spicy flavors. Because Healthy Boy Mushroom Soy Sauce has a light and umami flavor, along with a subtle sweetness, you don’t need anything else (except maybe some garlic or chilies) to transform anything into a delicious meal. 

Out of all of the different soy sauce brands, I find Healthy Boy to be the most versatile. It’s light enough to use in soups or curries for a bump of seasoning alongside your favorite broth, but also delicious enough to stand on its own with a bowl of white rice and a fried egg. When I was in college, Healthy Boy Mushroom Soy Sauce helped me transform vegetables from my dining hall into meals of fried rice and noodle soups, and was also my secret ingredient to the perfect pajeon (Korean vegetable pancake) dipping sauce.