Hoisin Sauce Substitute

Chinese cuisine gets its distinctive flavor and aroma from the use of different types of condiments and sauces. No Chinese dish can be said to be complete without the use of either soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce or hoisin sauce. These sauces are an integral part of their cuisine and it is these sauces that give Chinese dishes their unique character and taste. A sauce that is indispensable for many such dishes like Peking duck, moo shu pork or vegetable stir fry is hoisin sauce. Hoisin sauce, also known as duck sauce or Peking sauce is made with fermented soy beans, vinegar, chilies and garlic. It is a thick pungent sauce and the flavor is a complex mixture of sweet, salty and spicy. It is usually available in the Asian section of the supermarket but if you are unable to find it and your dish specifically calls for hoisin sauce, then you need a hoisin sauce substitute. Is there a substitute for hoisin sauce? Well there are quite a few things that you can use as substitute for hoisin sauce. Here, we will give you various hoisin sauce cooking substitutes that you can use in your dish.

Substitute #1

This is a very easy and simple recipe for hoisin sauce substitute and the best part is that all the ingredients are easily available in your pantry.

Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons dark soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
• ½ tablespoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon white pepper powder
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons hot chili sauce
• 1½ teaspoons honey
• 3 tablespoons peanut butter

Method

In a medium-sized bowl, mix the dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic powder, peanut butter, chili sauce, honey and white pepper powder to form a smooth paste. Use as much as required and store the rest in a clean jar in the refrigerator.

Substitute #2

A very good alternative to using hoisin sauce is this recipe which uses prunes with dry sherry.

Ingredients

• ¾ cup pitted prunes
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1½ tablespoons dry sherry
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 cups water

Method

Simmer the pitted prunes in 2 cups of boiling water for 15 to 20 minutes till the prunes are soft and tender. Remove the prunes from water and let them cool down. When the boiled prunes are cool enough to touch, whisk them into a soft puree in a food processor. Add the soy sauce, crushed garlic and dry sherry and whisk again until you have a smooth paste of a thick consistency. You can also add chili flakes to this mixture to give the sauce a bit of heat.

Substitute #3

Canned apricots, plums and peaches are used in this recipe to give it a slightly sweet taste. This substitute for hoisin sauce is great for making barbecued ribs or for pot roast.

Ingredients

• 3 cans plums
• 2 cans apricot
• 1 can peaches
• 1 small onion, chopped fine
• 2 red chili peppers, chopped
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
• ½ cup water

Method

Drain the peaches, plums and apricots from their liquid and discard their seeds. Chop them into small pieces and place them in a small saucepan. Add water to the saucepan along with chopped red chili pepper, chopped onions, red wine vinegar, sugar and black pepper. Cover the saucepan with a lid and let this mixture simmer over low heat for an hour until the sugar is completely dissolved and the fruits have softened. Now remove the mixture from the flame and allow it to cool. Puree this mixture in a food processor or blender and store in clean jars. Refrigerate to store.

So, these were some hoisin sauce substitutes that you can use. Now that you know what to substitute for hoisin sauce, you can make many exquisite Chinese dishes even when you don't have hoisin sauce stocked in your pantry.