Hoisin SauceHoisin sauce, though not included in our list of 10 Essential Chinese Pantry Ingredients, is a well-known Chinese condiment.It can sometimes be confused with sweet bean sauce (tián miàn jiàng, 甜面酱) and sweet bean paste (dòubàn jiàng, 豆瓣酱), but it has its own distinct flavor and uses. Let’s take a closer look at what it is, how it’s used, where to buy it, and what to substitute for it if you can’t find it. What Is Hoisin Sauce?Hoisin Sauce (hǎixiān jiàng, 海鲜酱) is a thick, dark condiment with a sweet, salty flavor.It is made with fermented soybean paste, as well as additional seasonings like garlic, chilies, and sesame. The name hǎixiān jiàng literally translates to “seafood sauce,” but hoisin sauce does not contain seafood, nor is it usually used in seafood dishes.

How it got its name is still unclear to us! Some brands and recipes use the terms hoisin sauce and sweet bean sauce (tián miàn jiàng, 甜面酱) interchangeably.However, while hoisin sauce is made primarily from soybeans, sweet bean sauce is actually primarily made from fermented wheat flour! It’s also possible to confuse hoisin sauce with sweet bean paste, or dòubàn jiàng (豆瓣酱), but sweet bean paste contains only fermented soy beans, wheat flour, and salt, while hoisin sauce generally also contains sesame, chili, garlic, and other spices. How Is It Used?Hoisin Sauce is used commonly in Cantonese-style cooking.It’s used in marinades and sa

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