โญ Vegetable Broth with Soy Sauce (Best Vegan Option)
1 cup vegetable broth + 1 tablespoon soy sauce per 1 cup beef brothVegetable broth alone is mild and lacks the depth of beef broth, but adding soy sauce introduces glutamates that enhance umami, mimicking the savory backbone of beef broth. This combination helps maintain the savory-sweet balance in Pad Thai.
Use low-sodium vegetable broth and adjust soy sauce carefully to avoid excessive saltiness. Taste as you go to maintain harmony with tamarind and palm sugar.
This substitute results in a lighter, slightly different flavor profile with a vegetal undertone, but it works well for vegetarian or vegan versions.