Hoisin Sauce – All You Need to Know | Instacart’s Guide to Groceries

What is hoisin sauce?

Hoisin sauce—also known as Chinese barbeque sauce— is a dark brown, thick, and glossy, aromatic sauce that has a sweet, salty, and tangy flavor. It is widely used in Cantonese cuisine in stir-fries, to glaze or marinate meat, or as a dipping sauce. There are different variations of hoisin sauce depending on the regional cuisine, although the main ingredient is usually soybean paste along with red chili peppers, garlic, white vinegar, sugar, and 5-spice powder.

What is hoisin sauce made of?

Traditionally, hoisin sauce is made from toasted, mashed soybeans. In most commercially available hoisin sauce products, the ingredients will be a combination of:

• Fermented soybean paste
• Red chili peppers
• Garlic
• Sesame seeds
• Sesame oil
• Distilled white vinegar
• Sugar
• Salt
• Wheat or rice starches
• Sweet potato powder
• 5-spice powder

Some commercial brands may also add sweeteners, colorings, preservatives, and starches for thickening. 

Hoisin is not made of any animal products so is suitable for both vegetarians and vegans, although it is a sauce traditionally served with meat items like Peking duck or Cha Siu pork. Vegan hoisin sauce is available for those who want to be completely sure all the ingredients are free from animal products and their derivatives. 

Gluten-free hoisin sauce is widely available and is made using sweet potato starch in place of wheat starch. 

Where did hoisin sauce originate from?

The word “hoisin” loosely translates to “seafood sauce” in Cantonese. The original recipe for hoisin sauce was a black bean base with a dried seafood element. This is understood to have been scaled back due to its expense and has evolved to use a fermented soybean paste base instead. 

The finer details of the origins of hoisin sauce are not well-known or recorded. It is known that hoisin sauce was traditionally used in Southern Chinese cooking and specifically served with seafood—despite the sauce containing no seafood or animal products.  

Such is not the case now, where hoisin is used widely in Cantonese, Vietnamese, and modern American cuisine in both meat and plant-based dishes. Hoisin sauce is also sometimes known as Chinese barbeque sauce or Peking sauce.

How is hoisin sauce used or eaten?

Hoisin sauce is a flavorful condiment that is used in both Asian and American cuisine, and you’ll find it used in the following ways: 

• In Cantonese cuisine: Hoisin sauce is used for marinating meat in char siu style, for serving with roast Peking duck, and as a dipping sauce for rice noodle rolls
• In Vietnamese cuisine: Hoisin sauce can be used as a condiment for the national dish, pho—a Vietnamese noodle soup—and as a dipping sauce for Vietnamese spring rolls. 
• In American cuisine: Hoisin sauce is mostly used as a dipping sauce for moo shu pork or Peking duck wraps. It can also be used to add rich flavor to vegan pho, miso, or ramen. 

How do you pick hoisin sauce at the grocery store?

You’ll find hoisin sauce with the condiments in the pantry section of your grocery store or in the international food aisle. Hoisin sauce is mostly sold in glass jars or bottles. 

When buying hoisin sauce at the grocery store, look for one that contains 5-spice powder for an authentic Cantonese taste and try choosing one that uses a good ratio of quality ingredients. Also, make sure you’re buying hoisin sauce and not a different sauce type that just uses hoisin as an ingredient.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for hoisin sauce via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products. Shop for hoisin sauce.

Grab it now on Instacart:

Lee Kum Kee Hoisin Sauce, Vegetarian (20 oz)

Kikkoman Gluten Free Hoisin Sauce (13.2 oz)

Jayone Soybean Paste, Fermented (1.1 lb)

Home Chef Meal Kit Moo Shu Pork Tacos With Mushrooms And Crispy Wontons (32 oz)

Home Chef Meal Kit Moo Shu Pork Tacos With Mushrooms And Crispy Wontons (32 oz)

Home Chef Meal Kit Moo Shu Pork Tacos With Mushrooms And Crispy Wontons (32 oz)

McCormick Gourmet™ Chinese Five Spice Blend (1.75 oz)

McCormick Gourmet™ Chinese Five Spice Blend (1.75 oz)

Lee Kum Kee Hoisin Sauce (8.5 oz)

Kikkoman Roasted Garlic Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce (20 oz)

Kikkoman Roasted Garlic Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce (20 oz)

Kikkoman Roasted Garlic Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce (20 oz)

How to store hoisin sauce

Unopened hoisin sauce can be stored from the date of purchase in a cool, dark place such as the pantry, for 12-18 months—or by the marked expiry date on the bottle. Once hoisin sauce is opened always refrigerate in an airtight container. It will be usable for up 6 months. 

How to tell if hoisin sauce is bad

Refrigerating hoisin sauce after opening is the best way to keep it fresh. Leaving opened hoisin sauce out on the countertop or in a cupboard that is too warm can cause bacteria to form. Signs that hoisin sauce has gone bad are:

• White or green fuzzy mold growing on the inside of the bottle or the underside of the lid 
• The water and the rest of the sauce begin to separate 
• A rancid odor coming from the sauce

If you notice any of these signs, the sauce has gone bad and should be thrown out. 

What can I substitute for hoisin sauce?

If you are unable to find hoisin sauce, a good substitute is a garlic teriyaki sauce which will give you a similarly sweet, salty, and savory flavor.  

Other substitute options are oyster sauce, plum sauce mixed with black bean sauce, or Chinese brown bean sauce. You can even try adding 5-spice and sriracha to American barbecue sauce for a close alternative to hoisin.

Cooking with hoisin sauce 

Sweet, sticky, and delicious, hoisin sauce is a great way to add rich flavor and color to stir-fries, meat dishes, or any Asian-inspired dishes. There are endless culinary possibilities using this fusion of Asian and barbeque sauce.

Whether you’re marinating meat for a social BBQ event or creating flavorful vegan noodle dishes, add hoisin sauce to your shopping list and save time by ordering your groceries with Instacart.

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