Hoisin Sauce

Chinese food · umami flavor · kitchen staple

Chinese invention. Hoisin sauce comes from China and is especially popular in Cantonese cooking, which is the style of food from the southern part of China.

Flavorful blend. Most hoisin sauce includes soybeans, fennel, red chili peppers, garlic, vinegar, five-spice powder, and sugar all mixed together to create a rich, complex taste.

Glazes and dips. Cooks use hoisin sauce as a glossy glaze for roasted meat, swirl it into stir-fries with vegetables, or serve it as a dipping sauce for spring rolls and dumplings.

Dark and glossy. Hoisin sauce has a dark brown color and thick, sticky texture that clings to food beautifully.

Regional variations. Different regions of China make hoisin sauce slightly differently, so you might taste subtle differences depending on where the sauce comes from.