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Hoisin sauce served with Asian dishes
Sweet and salty Chinese barbecue sauce made with peanut butter

Homemade Chinese hoisin sauce

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Vegetarian & Vegan Sauces and Gravies
Hoisin means 'seafood' in Cantonese, which is ironic because there is no seafood in the sauce (or most dishes made with it). This is a thick, sweet-spicy sauce, often called 'Chinese BBQ sauce'. The original version is made from fermented soya beans over a long time, but this homemade 'cheat' version with peanut butter brilliantly mimics that creamy, thick texture and nutty profile.
🕒 Prep Time 10 mins
🍳 Cook Time 5 mins
⌛ Total Time 15 mins
🍽️ Servings 4 servings
🔥 Calories 155 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Chinese

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Hand whisk: To ensure the peanut butter is lump-free.
  • Small saucepan: For thickening.

Allergen Information

⚠️ Soya
⚠️ Peanuts
⚠️ Sesame
⚠️ Cereals containing gluten

Instructions

1 ✓

In a cold saucepan (don't put it on the heat yet!), whisk the peanut butter until smooth with the soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar.

Tip: It's easier to mix peanut butter when cold; the oil doesn't separate.
2 ✓

Add the sesame oil, garlic powder, and chilli flakes.

Tip: Garlic powder is better here than fresh, as it gives a smoother texture and doesn't burn in the thick sauce.
3 ✓

Mix the cornflour with the cold water until completely smooth, then pour into the saucepan with the other ingredients.

Tip: Always mix cornflour with cold water!
4 ✓

Now place on the heat. Heat over a medium flame, stirring continuously.

Tip: Don't leave it unattended, as peanut butter and honey burn quickly.
5 ✓

As soon as it boils and thickens (a few minutes), turn it off.

Tip: It will become much thicker as it cools, so it should be a little runnier when warm than the desired end result.
6 ✓

Pour into a jar and let it cool.

Tip: Mandatory with Peking duck or spring rolls!

Recipe FAQ

It turned out too light.
It might be lighter than store-bought (which is full of colouring/caramel) because of the peanut butter. The flavour is what matters! You can darken it with dark soy sauce.
I have a peanut allergy.
You can use black bean paste or tahini instead, but the flavour profile will change.

Ingredients

  • 50 ml Soy sauce
  • 30 g Smooth peanut butter (creamy)
  • 20 g Honey
  • 15 ml Rice vinegar
  • 10 ml Sesame oil
  • 1 tsp Garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Chilli flakes
  • 10 g Cornflour
  • 50 ml Water (cold)