What is hoisin sauce? (2024)

FAQs

What is the flavor of hoisin sauce? ›

It has a very strong salty and slightly sweet flavor. Hoisin sauce does taste a bit like an American-style barbecue sauce, but much saltier, richer, less sweet, and has a flavor all its own. The fermented soybeans add the savory umami element that some other sauces use fish or meat to achieve.

Even though they look identical, soy and hoisin are not the same. Besides soybeans, hoisin is formulated with garlic, sesame oil, chilies, vinegar, and some sweetener for good measure. For lovers of Korean barbecue, you'll be pleased to know that hoisin is considered the Chinese equivalent.

Hoisin Sauce is Chinese and based on fermented soybean paste, whereas teriyaki sauce only has a small component of soy sauce. Hoisin sauce is therefore much thicker and saltier compared to its Japanese counterpart, as teriyaki sauce tends to be sweeter.

“I've often advised my friends to use it as a marinade, delicious if smothered on meat or chicken drumsticks then barbecued or baked.” Liu Spellman notes that one of the most well-known dishes utilizing hoisin is Beijing duck (also known as Peking duck), which is paired with savory pancakes and hoisin sauce.

Ready-made alternatives for hoisin sauce

For example, if you're making a seafood dish, you can substitute with oyster sauce, which has a unique fishy flavor. Soy sauce and tamari sauce are also perfect for adding flavor to vegetables and stir-fry dishes. Barbecue sauce is a great substitute for meat dishes.

You can use Worcestershire sauce as an alternative when you are in dire need of hoisin sauce. However, it's not the best alternative to hoisin sauce as Worcestershire has a thinner consistency and fruitier taste.

Soy sauce

Soy sauce is an easy substitute for oyster sauce since it's a common pantry staple. It's also vegan and vegetarian, making it suitable for those who don't eat seafood.

You'll find hoisin sauce with the condiments in the pantry section of your grocery store or in the international food aisle. Hoisin sauce is mostly sold in glass jars or bottles.

You might be thinking, “If I don't have hoisin, how the heck am I going to have five-spice powder or black bean sauce?!” If you don't have the precise ingredients for a swap, don't sweat it: Use what you have. Even adding a little tamari, soy sauce, brown sugar, or peanut butter can enrich the flavor of your dish.

Once the sauce lid is opened, you should always refrigerate the sauce instead of leaving the sauce out on the kitchen countertop where warm conditions can easily form bacteria. If the sauce is refrigerated, the oyster sauce or hoisin sauce can be kept for up to three to six months.

Can fish sauce be substituted for hoisin sauce? ›

Fish sauce is also used as an alternative to hoisin sauce at times. This is because fish sauce is similarly sharp and salty like hoisin sauce, although it lacks the sweetness factor. Add some sugar or honey in conjunction to best replicate the taste of hoisin sauce.

Sriracha and molasses are two household pantry items that can be substituted for hoisin sauce in a pinch. A classic hoisin sauce recipe contains soybean paste as the base ingredient, elaborated with numerous spices, chilis, sugar, and salt.

Sweet and savory hoisin sauce is a go-to ingredient in Chinese cuisine, particularly in the Province of Guangdong. Japanese ponzu sauce is delectably tart, made with soy sauce, vinegar and the juice of citrus fruits native to Asia, including yuzu.

While both are sweet and savory sauces, are very popular, and have some similarities, these two are NOT the same. Each one possesses very distinctive features. General Tso Sauce, leans more towards the savory palette, with an umami flavor from the Hoisin sauce, that is not used in Sweet and Sour Sauce.

Hoisin sauce is a thick, dark sauce that is slightly sweet and tangy, with a hint of garlic and five-spice flavor. It is commonly used in Chinese cuisine, particularly in dishes like Peking duck and moo shu pork. Contrastingly, soy sauce is a thin, salty sauce made from fermented soybeans, wheat, and salt.

One of the main differences between hoisin sauce and oyster sauce is that the latter contains oyster. Hoisin sauce is plant-based, so it can be an oyster sauce substitute for vegetarians if necessary.

What's the difference between hoisin sauce and oyster sauce? Hoisin sauce has a sweet and savory flavor, while oyster sauce is saltier and richer.

Store-bought hoisin tends to be excessively salty, overly sweet, and disappointingly thick. Our homemade hoisin sauce recipe tastes sweet, salty, tangy, and downright delicious. Use this umami-rich sauce for chicken, salmon, ribs, tofu, and veggies. Since perfecting this recipe, we've explored so many ways to use it.