If you’ve ever dug into an Asian dish and thought, “Wow, what was that?”, chances are you have hoisin sauce to thank. Whether you’re a hoisin master or just getting introduced, we’re sure you’ll pick up a fun fact or new favorite recipe below.
Although the name translates to “seafood,” hoisin sauce isn’t made with fish at all. Instead, it’s a fragrant blend of fermented soybean paste, chili peppers, garlic, and other basic ingredients. In fact, the sauce is naturally vegan, and thus makes an appearance in many plant-based Asian recipes.
Hoisin sauce has Cantonese roots, likely originating from somewhere in Southern China. Hailed as “Chinese ketchup” or “Chinese barbecue sauce,” its ubiquity is well-documented! Some of the most famous hoisin sauce appearances are with char siu, a roast pork dish, as well as in hot pot spreads.
And hoisin sauce has spread to other cultures, too, resulting in regional variations everywhere from Vietnam (where it’s popularly used in pho) to the US (where it’s served as a dipping sauce alongside American Chinese cuisine).
Tangy, spicy, salty, pungent, umami…it’s hard to pin down the flavor of this thick, dark sauce. It tends to start sweet and end on a more savory note, but can adapt to other ingredients that it’s paired with.
Some home cooks prefer to dilute hoisin sauce with water or oil to soften its strong pop on the palate, while others embrace the flavors head-on.
Hoisin sauce can be used as a glaze, marinade, dip, condiment, or ingredient within other dishes–so creativity is encouraged. Check out a few of our favorite recipes that feature this fabulous ingredient!
Stir together your own quick & delicious dip recipes using kitchen basic. Here's how to make easy Hoisin Honey Mustard Dip great for chicken tenders and veggies!
Salmon cooks deliciously inside a rice paper package, and is served with an easy hoisin lime sauce. Make this on a weekend when you have more time, or for your guests.
This alluring dish takes Asian fusion to a new level. Featuring four sumptuous sauces and gifts from the garden and the sea, you’ll love creating this elegant and unique meal. Seared seasoned tuna is paired with colorful hoisin glazed vegetables.
Pork tenderloin is one of the best ways to get dinner on the table fast without sacrificing any flavor. This cut of pork is indeed tender, as the name suggests, and cooks up in 20 minutes. Here, you’ll quickly marinate the tenderloin in a hoisin-garlic sauce that’s sweet and savory.
This recipe is especially endearing to me, because the chili cuts through the richness of the belly and makes the dish seem much more healthy than you might get in a restaurant.
