And luckily, if you run out, you can easily make your own hoisin sauce substitute in no time. From ramen and stir-fries to dipping sauces for tasty appetizers, this sauce is the bomb. Traditional hoisin is made with fermented beans, five-spice, and soy sauce. Every recipe varies slightly, but these are key to achieving that sweet, sticky sauce. Of course, not too many of us have fermented beans on hand. But if you have kidney beans and molasses, you can quickly mimic the flavor. Add in some extras to deepen the flavor and these hoisin sauce substitutes might just be better than the original. Note: almost all of these can be used on a 1-to-1 basis. Of course, it depends on what you’re cooking and how different the consistency is when you’re done.
10 Best Substitutes for Hoisin Sauce
1. Garlic Teriyaki
Teriyaki is largely comparable to hoisin sauce and can be used in a pinch. The biggest difference between the two is the soy component. So while you can use it on a 1-to-1 ratio, you might find you need less teriyaki since it’s saltier. That said, by pureeing some key ingredients with teriyaki sauce, you can easily make your own hoisin. Try this recipe:
3/4 cup of Kidney Beans (drained and rinsed)3 tablespoons of Molasses3 tablespoons of Teriyaki Sauce2 tablespoons of Red Wine Vinegar2 teaspoons of Five-Spice Powder2 cloves of Garlic
Kidney beans and molasses make the sauce thicker like hoisin. Meanwhile, teriyaki, red wine vinegar, five-spice, and garlic add the umami flavor we all love. Of course, if you want it sweeter, you can add a few teaspoons of brown sugar too. Play around with these ingredients to get the perfect consistency and flavor!
2. Bean Paste and Brown Sugar
If you have some on hand, bean paste is a staple in making hoisin sauce. In fact, bean paste and brown sugar create that perfect thick, sticky sauce to add to noodles and rice. In a food processor, combine the bean paste with brown sugar, soy sauce, five-spice, and rice wine vinegar. Try this recipe and let me know what you think:
1/3 cup of firmly packed Dark Brown Sugar3 tablespoons of Chinese Black Bean Paste2 tablespoons of Soy Sauce2 tablespoons of Water1 tablespoon of Rice Vinegar1/2 teaspoon of Chinese Five Spice Powder1/2 teaspoon of Sesame Oil
Each element here really brings out the rich and savory hoisin flavor. But again, you can adjust the flavor and consistency by adjusting the measurements and even adding other pantry staples. This might include honey, chili paste, or garlic.
3. Garlic and Prunes
With just a few ingredients, you can easily make a hoisin lookalike. This is one of the easiest substitutions to make and is so delicious! Dried prunes are an excellent way to achieve the sweetness of hoisin. Just be sure to boil them first to make sure they’re nice and soft before pureeing. Here’s a recipe I find work every time:
2 cups of Water3/4 cups of Pitted Prunes (boiled and cooled)2 tablespoons of Soy Sauce1 1/2 tablespoons of Dry Sherry2 cloves of Garlic
Add water to the food processor until you reach your desired consistency.
4. Sriracha and Molasses
If you’re anything like me, you always have a bottle of sriracha on hand. And it’s an excellent substitution if you don’t have five-spice in your pantry. Try out this recipe:
1 tablespoon of Sriracha1/4 cup of Soy Sauce2 tablespoons of Molasses1 tablespoon of Peanut Butter1 tablespoon of Rice Vinegar1 tablespoon of Sesame Seed Oil1 tablespoon of Water1 clove of Garlic1/2 teaspoon of Five-Spice Powder
Add a tablespoon (or more if you like it spicy) of Sriracha to a nonstick saucepan. When it starts to bubble, add the molasses, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and a touch of peanut butter. Heat until well mixed and bubbly, then allow it to cool. You will be blown away by the matching flavor and consistency of this hoisin substitute!
5. Soy and Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is a surprisingly excellent addition to achieve complex flavors. It’s salty, savory, and the perfect balancing agent for homemade hoisin. For this substitution, you’ll prepare an excellent addition to stir fry or BBQ meats. Make this in a bowl and mix until combined, or heat before serving. Here’s the recipe:
1/4 cup Soy Sauce2 tablespoons of Creamy Peanut Butter2 teaspoons of Hot Sauce2 teaspoons of Sesame Oil2 teaspoons of White Vinegar1 1/2 teaspoons of Brown Sugar1 1/2 teaspoons of Honey1/8 teaspoon of Black Pepper1/8 teaspoon of Garlic Powder
The bulk of the sauce is made with peanut butter and soy sauce. And if you like it extra nutty, feel free to add an extra tablespoon of peanut butter. Then, add the hot sauce, brown sugar, honey, and white vinegar and heat until the sugar has dissolved. It’s amazing how well it duplicates that signature hoisin flavor.
6. Barbecue Sauce and Molasses
This is by far the easiest and quickest way to make hoisin sauce at home. Simply combine BBQ sauce, molasses, soy sauce, and five-spice. No food processor or heat is needed for this recipe! If you don’t have five-spice on hand, you can use allspice or masala blend instead. I don’t have an exact recipe, it’s more of a “taste and adjust” kind of recipe. But here’s what I usually start with:
3/4 cup of Barbecue Sauce3 tablespoons of Molasses1 tablespoon of Soy Sauce1 1/2 teaspoons of Five-Spice Powder
There isn’t much to making this easy hoisin sauce substitute!
7. Ginger and Plum Jam
If you happen to have a jar of plum jam in your fridge, it’s time to bring it out! This sweet spread is an excellent ingredient for homemade hoisin. Simply mix the jam with soy sauce, garlic, pepper flakes, and ginger. How easy is that? This substitute is best with freshly grated ginger, but ginger paste can be used instead. Here’s the recipe”
2 tablespoons of Plum Jam1-inch piece of Fresh Ginger (peeled and grated)1 tablespoon of Teriyaki Sauce2 cloves of Garlic1/2 teaspoon of Crushed Red Peppers
8. Black Beans and Plums
Cooked black beans are an amazing way to achieve the thickness of hoisin sauce. But if you have a jar of black bean sauce on hand, that’s even better! And when you mix it with plums, you get such a delightfully umami-rich yet sweet sauce. Try out this recipe:
2 large Plums (chopped)1/4 cup of Packed Brown Sugar2 tablespoons of Water3 tablespoons of Black Bean and Garlic Sauce2 tablespoons of Soy Sauce1 tablespoon of Rice Vinegar1 1/2 teaspoons of Sesame Oil1/2 teaspoon of Five-Spice Powder
You’ll start by making jam with the plums, brown sugar, and water. Once it’s soft and thick, add the black bean sauce. Leave that to cool, then blend it with the soy sauce, vinegar, oil, and five-spice powder. I like to add a touch of Sriracha to the mixture to make a spicier hoisin. But that’s totally optional. And this is yummy as is!
9. Miso Paste, Mustard, and Raisins
Traditional hoisin sauce is made with miso paste to thicken and deepen the sauce. It’s also the reason it’s so umami-rich and flavorful. So, if you combine the miso with a few pantry staples, you’ll have yourself a tasty homemade hoisin! This recipe calls for raisins for chewy sweetness, which I find super helpful since we all have raisins on hand right?
1 cup of Raisins (soaked in water for 1 hour to soften)1 1/4 cups of Water1 tablespoon of Sesame Oil1 teaspoon of Miso Paste1 teaspoon of Mustard2 cloves of Garlic1/2 teaspoon of Crushed Red Peppers
Soak raisins in warm water to rehydrate. Then, combine the raisins with the water, miso paste, mustard, garlic, and sesame oil in a food processor. Add in some Asian hot sauce like Sriracha or chili paste for even more flavor. You’ll need about a cup of raisins for every cup of water, depending on how much you want to make. The miso, mustard, sesame oil, and garlic can easily be adjusted for flavor and consistency.
10. Oyster Sauce
Oyster sauce is probably the closest to a 1-to-1 substitute for hoisin sauce. You can find this fishy sauce in most supermarkets, your closest Asian market, or online. It isn’t a perfect substitution, but the flavors are similar enough for stir-fries or noodles. Oyster sauce is missing the sweetness of hoisin, so consider adding honey or brown sugar. It’s all about balancing the sweet, salty, and savory flavors with hoisin, so feel free to mix it up! Click on a star to rate it!
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