Yakisoba with vegetables, fried noodles served with colourful vegetables Vegetable Yakisoba Shogayaki with mirin, chicken marinated in soy sauce, served with sesame seeds and spring onions Shogayaki with Mirin Achari paneer tikka grilled paneer pieces seasoned in yoghurt marinade, served with fresh coriander and lemon Achari Paneer Tikka Yorkshire pudding with rosemary, served fresh Yorkshire Pudding with Rosemary Fish Vatapá with ginger, with coconut milk and nuts Fish Vatapá with Ginger Classic version of tulumba, soaked in syrup and served fresh Classic Tulumba Prebiotic leek and pumpkin pie, a delicious savoury pie with pumpkin and leek filling Prebiotic leek & pumpkin pie Menestra with broccoli, pasta and vegetables served in a rich sauce Menestra with broccoli and pasta Tinda sabzi, spicy tinda Indian style, served with rich spices and fresh coriander Spiced tinda masala Chocolate Sandesh, sweet Indian dessert, decorated with chocolate and pistachios Chocolate Sandesh Prebiotic leek and curd cheese fritters golden brown, served Prebiotic leek and curd cheese fritters Milanesa napolitana with ham rich cheese tomato sauce and crispy breading Milanesa napolitana with ham Manakish with leeks served with sesame seeds Manakish with leeks Chicken Kabsa, spiced rice garnished with toasted almonds Chicken kabsa Galaktoboureko with kataifi pastry, decorated with rich creamy filling and pistachios. Galaktoboureko with Kataifi Pastry Cheese Dhokla served as golden brown, cheesy pieces with fresh spices Cheese dhokla Gluten-free cannoli pastries served sprinkled with sugar Gluten-free cannoli Prawn Açorda, fresh bread pieces with prawns, garlic and parsley Prawn açorda Avial with sweet potato and coconut milk, fresh coriander Avial with sweet potato Curry dish with yellow ackee fruit and chickpeas Jamaican ackee & chickpea curry Yakisoba with vegetables, fried noodles served with colourful vegetables Vegetable Yakisoba Shogayaki with mirin, chicken marinated in soy sauce, served with sesame seeds and spring onions Shogayaki with Mirin Achari paneer tikka grilled paneer pieces seasoned in yoghurt marinade, served with fresh coriander and lemon Achari Paneer Tikka Yorkshire pudding with rosemary, served fresh Yorkshire Pudding with Rosemary Fish Vatapá with ginger, with coconut milk and nuts Fish Vatapá with Ginger Classic version of tulumba, soaked in syrup and served fresh Classic Tulumba Prebiotic leek and pumpkin pie, a delicious savoury pie with pumpkin and leek filling Prebiotic leek & pumpkin pie Menestra with broccoli, pasta and vegetables served in a rich sauce Menestra with broccoli and pasta Tinda sabzi, spicy tinda Indian style, served with rich spices and fresh coriander Spiced tinda masala Chocolate Sandesh, sweet Indian dessert, decorated with chocolate and pistachios Chocolate Sandesh Prebiotic leek and curd cheese fritters golden brown, served Prebiotic leek and curd cheese fritters Milanesa napolitana with ham rich cheese tomato sauce and crispy breading Milanesa napolitana with ham Manakish with leeks served with sesame seeds Manakish with leeks Chicken Kabsa, spiced rice garnished with toasted almonds Chicken kabsa Galaktoboureko with kataifi pastry, decorated with rich creamy filling and pistachios. Galaktoboureko with Kataifi Pastry Cheese Dhokla served as golden brown, cheesy pieces with fresh spices Cheese dhokla Gluten-free cannoli pastries served sprinkled with sugar Gluten-free cannoli Prawn Açorda, fresh bread pieces with prawns, garlic and parsley Prawn açorda Avial with sweet potato and coconut milk, fresh coriander Avial with sweet potato Curry dish with yellow ackee fruit and chickpeas Jamaican ackee & chickpea curry
Dark hoisin sauce in a bowl surrounded by soy beans, garlic, five spice, and sesame oil
Hoisin Sauce & Ingredients

Hoisin Sauce: The Sweet and Savoury Glaze of Cantonese Cuisine

Ingredients Herbs and Spices

Description

Hoisin sauce is a thick, dark, and intensely flavourful condiment that defines many classic Chinese dishes. Often described as 'Chinese BBQ sauce', it combines sweet, salty, and umami notes. Despite its name coming from the Cantonese word for 'seafood' (hoi sin), it contains no seafood ingredients. Its complex profile is built on fermented soybean paste, garlic, sesame oil, vinegar, sugar, and Chinese five-spice.

Key Ingredients

  • Fermented Soybean Paste: The savoury base providing depth.
  • Garlic: Adds pungency and spice.
  • Sugar or Molasses: Gives the sauce its signature sweetness and thick glaze consistency.
  • Vinegar: Provides acidity to balance the sugar.
  • Five-Spice Powder: Anise, fennel, cinnamon, cloves, and peppercorns create the aromatic backdrop.
  • Sesame Oil: For a nutty finish.

Culinary Uses

Hoisin sauce is incredibly versatile:

  • Glazes: Essential for Peking Duck, Char Siu pork, and sticky ribs.
  • Stir-fries: Adds instant depth to vegetables and noodles.
  • Dipping: A classic accompaniment for spring rolls and dumplings.
  • Broths: Enhances the richness of soups like Pho.
  • Condiment: Use in sandwiches or wraps for an Asian twist.

Due to its potent flavour, a little goes a long way. It excels in both hot cooking and as a cold dip.

Storage

Hoisin sauce keeps well in the refrigerator due to its high sugar and salt content. Ensure the jar is sealed tightly to preserve its quality for months.

Hoisin sauce is more than a dip—it is a complex, fermented culinary staple that brings the authentic taste of Cantonese cooking to your home kitchen.

Recipes with this Ingredient

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Peking Duck Pizza with Chinese duck and hoisin sauce Main Courses

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Chinese Char Siu pizza