Hoisin Sauce
海鲜酱
What Is Hoisin Sauce?
Hoisin sauce (海鲜酱, hǎi xiān jiàng) is a thick, sweet, savory sauce made from fermented soybean paste, garlic, chili, and spices. Despite the name (海鲜 means 'seafood'), it contains no seafood — the name refers to its historical use as a dipping sauce for seafood dishes.
What Makes It Special
- Sweet and savory — like a Chinese BBQ sauce
- Thick and spreadable — used as both marinade and condiment
- Complex flavor — fermented beans give depth
- The classic Peking Duck sauce — that's hoisin in your duck pancake
How to Use It
Use hoisin as a marinade for barbecue meats (char siu, spare ribs), a stir-fry sauce base, or a dipping sauce for Peking duck, mu shu pork, and lettuce wraps.
Pro tip: Hoisin is very sweet — combine with soy sauce, vinegar, or chili to balance it in savory dishes.
Taste & Flavor Profile
How to Use
It
Use hoisin as a **marinade for barbecue meats** (char siu, spare ribs), a **stir-fry sauce base**, or a **dipping sauce** for Peking duck, mu shu pork, and lettuce wraps. **Pro tip:** Hoisin is very sweet — combine with soy sauce, vinegar, or chili to balance it in savory dishes.
Best Substitutes
Can't find Hoisin Sauce? Here are the best alternatives, ranked by similarity.
Mix 2 tbsp fermented bean paste + 1 tbsp honey + 1 tsp soy sauce.
Sweeter and fruitier. Works as a dipping sauce substitute.
Where to Buy
Available at most Asian grocery stores and online. Look for bright, aromatic specimens.
