Hoisin Sauce Vs Oyster Sauce is a yummy amuse-bouche served before the main course of vegetarian stir-fried noodles with bamboo shoot. There are different types of hoisin sauce in the market today. Keep an eye on the label on the jar when buying some if it is the ingredients you are paying for!
What Is Oyster Sauce?
Oyster sauce is a condiment made with oyster extract. It’s used in Chinese cooking and other Asian cuisines to add color and flavor to dishes.
Oyster sauce is commonly used in stir-fries, braised dishes, soups, and sauces. It’s often added at the beginning of cooking to give food an umami flavor boost. Oyster sauce can also be used as a dipping sauce for fried or steamed dishes like dim sum and spring rolls.
What Is Hoisin Sauce?
Hoisin sauce is a Chinese condiment that’s made of soybeans, garlic, vinegar, and spices. It’s rich and thick, with a sweet and salty flavor that makes it ideal for marinades, stir-fries, and dipping sauces.
Hoisin sauce has a long history in Chinese cuisine. It was originally used as a dipping sauce for meat or vegetables before being incorporated into other dishes as well. Although there are several variations of hoisin sauce available today, the most popular version is made with soybeans, garlic, and vinegar — ingredients that were commonly found in ancient China.
An In-depth Comparison Between Hoisin Sauce and Oyster Sauce
Hoisin Sauce and oyster sauce are both made from fermented soybeans, but they have very different flavors. While hoisin sauce is sweet, salty, and spicy, oyster sauce is salty, umami-rich, and savory. They’re both versatile sauces that can be used in many different types of cooking.
1. Ingredients
Hoisin sauce is made from wheat flour, sugar, salt, and soybeans. It also contains roasted garlic and chilies for extra flavor. This thick, reddish-brown sauce has a sweet and spicy taste that goes well with meat dishes like chicken wings or pork chops. You can use hoisin sauce to marinate the meat before grilling or roasting it in the oven.
Oyster sauce is made by fermenting oysters with water and salt until they break down into a thick liquid. This liquid is then mixed with seasonings such as soy sauce to create the final product. Oyster sauce has an earthy taste that works well with seafood dishes like fried rice or stir-fries featuring shrimp or squid rings.
2. Texture
Hoisin sauce is made from fermented soybeans, wheat flour, salt, spices, and water. It is thicker and less salty than oyster sauce. It has a sweet, smoky flavor that adds richness and body to stir-fries and other dishes.
Oyster sauce is made from dried oysters, salt, water, and thickening agents such as corn starch or tapioca starch. The sauce has a savory flavor and can be used in sweet dishes as well as savory ones.
3. Taste
Hoisin sauce is a sweet, thick, and dark brown sauce made from fermented soybeans, garlic, sugar, vinegar, chilies, and spices. It has a rich and smoky flavor with a hint of sweetness. The sauce is commonly used in Cantonese cuisine to add flavor to chicken dishes such as Mongolian beef and Peking duck. It is also used in many other types of meat dishes such as spare ribs or pork chops, seafood like shrimp or fish fillets, and vegetables like broccoli or green beans.
Oyster sauce is a thick brown sauce that is made by cooking oysters with salt, water, sugar, and soybean oil until they break down into a thick paste which then becomes the base for the oyster sauce recipe. This paste can be used as an ingredient in stir fry dishes or added directly into soups while boiling them on the stovetop or in the microwave oven. Some brands of oyster sauce also contain MSG which may be harmful to your health if consumed in high amounts.
4. Smell
Hoisin sauce has a sweet aroma that is similar in some ways to molasses or barbecue sauce. It also has hints of garlic and soybean oil.
Oyster sauce smells like seafood but isn’t fishy tasting because it doesn’t contain any actual oysters.
5. Nutritions
Hoisin sauce contains sugar, salt, soybean oil, and vinegar which are all high in calories so you should use it sparingly on low-calorie dishes such as steamed vegetables or tofu for best results.
Oyster sauces are low in calories (about 100 calories per tablespoon) but they do contain sodium so you should avoid using too much of this condiment on low-sodium meals like steamed vegetables, tofu, and dumplings.
6. Popular Usages In Cooking
Hoisin sauce is a sweet, salty, and slightly spicy sauce that is made from fermented soybeans, garlic, vinegar, sugar, and spices such as chili peppers. It is often used in Chinese cuisine as a dipping sauce for dumplings and noodles. It can also be used as a marinade for meat dishes like pork or duck.
Oyster sauce is a thick brown sauce made from oysters that is commonly used in Chinese cooking. The sauce has a salty taste with hints of sweetness and umami (savory). It is often used as an ingredient in stir-fries or soups because it adds flavor to food without adding too much saltiness to the dish.
7. Shelf Life
Hoisin sauce has a shelf life of one year if it is stored in a refrigerator. However, it can be frozen in an airtight container for up to six months.
Oyster sauce has a much shorter shelf life. It is best stored at room temperature and will last for only six months or less. If it is refrigerated, it will last up to two years.
Great Alternatives To Hoisin Sauce And Oyster Sauce
We love both of these sauces, but sometimes we want to try something new. Here are some great alternatives to hoisin sauce and oyster sauce:
For Oyster Sauce
Here are some great alternatives to oyster sauce:
1. Soy Sauce
Soy sauce is a very popular condiment in Asian cuisine. It consists of fermented soybeans and wheat with some salt added to it. You can use this sauce for cooking or as a dipping sauce for your dishes.
2. Dashi stock
Dashi stock is made from dried bonito fish flakes, kelp, and water – no salt or sugar added! Use dashi stock instead of oyster sauce to add umami flavor to your dish without all the added sodium and sugar.
3. Fish Sauce
Fish sauce is an Asian condiment made by fermenting fish with some salt. It has a strong taste but it will definitely add the umami flavor that you need for your dish. Just make sure that you buy one that does not contain any MSG or artificial colorings. You can use it just like any other type of soy sauce on your favorite dishes such as stir-fries, soups, and stews.
For Hoisin Sauce
Here are some great alternatives to hoisin sauce:
1. Sambal Oelek Chili Paste
This Southeast Asian condiment is made from red chilies, vinegar, garlic, and salt. Sambal Oelek has a spicy heat similar to that of hoisin but with more depth of flavor thanks to the addition of garlic and vinegar. It’s great on grilled meats or as a dip for spring rolls or egg rolls.
2. Rice wine vinegar
If you don’t have any rice wine vinegar on hand, substitute white vinegar instead — just use half as much as usual if you do this because rice wine vinegar is sweeter than white vinegar. Rice wine vinegar has a fruity taste that pairs well with meaty dishes like beef stir-fry or grilled pork chops.
3. Chili Garlic Sauce
Chili garlic sauce is another popular Asian dipping sauce with a similar flavor to hoisin sauce but without the soybean base. It’s made with garlic, red chilies, and sugar. If you want to make your own chili garlic sauce at home, try this recipe on Food52 for making it at home.
FAQs
1. Can hoisin sauce be used as a substitute for oyster sauce?
Oyster sauce is made from oysters, sugar, and spices such as garlic, ginger, and pepper. It is thickened with starch and can be used as a seasoning ingredient in many different types of Chinese cuisine such as stir-fries or braised dishes. While there are some similarities between these two sauces, they are not interchangeable in recipes because they have different ingredients and flavors that complement each other well when combined together in certain dishes.
2. How much does each sauce cost?
Both sauces are relatively inexpensive, but hoisin sauce is generally cheaper than oyster sauce because it’s made from common ingredients that can be found at most grocery stores. A large jar of hoisin sauce usually costs around $5-$7 while a small bottle of oyster sauce costs around $2-$3 on Amazon or in a local Asian market store like H-Mart or 99 Ranch Market (both chains have multiple locations across the United States). If you’re looking for a good deal on both sauces then check out our coupons page where we list all the latest deals on these popular sauces so you can save money while eating healthier meals at home or when dining out at your favorite restaurants!
3. Which sauce is better?
Hoisin and oyster sauces are similar in flavor, but the ingredients in each sauce differ.
Hoisin sauce is made from soybeans, garlic, rice wine, and spices like chili powder and five-spice powder.
Oyster sauce is made from oysters and wheat flour. Both sauces are sweet, salty, and savory.
The main difference is that hoisin sauce has a more intense flavor than oyster sauce does.
4. Is hoisin sauce better for stir-fries than oyster sauce?
No! Both sauces can be used for stir-fries because they’re thick enough to cling to food when cooking over high heat in a wok or skillet. They also add flavor without adding too much moisture or oil (unlike soy sauce).
5. Is Hoisin Sauce keto-friendly?
No! It contains a lot of sugar and carbs that make it unsuitable for those following a keto diet or low-carb diet plan.
In Conclusion
The truth is that Hoisin Sauce Vs Oyster Sauce has a slightly different flavor and yet they are both very similar. They are both high in sodium, but they are great with beef, chicken, and stir fry. In short, if it’s an Asian meal then it might be best to have a bottle of each of these on hand at all times.
