Hoisin sauce is a delicious Chinese sauce that is made up of a combination of fermented soy beans, vinegar, garlic, chili peppers and sugar. It normally has a deep dark brown color and is semi thick in consistency. It imparts the wonderful flavors of sweet, salt and spice all balanced to create an amazing taste. This delectable sauce has many different uses. It is found in stir fries, dipping sauces, and stews. Hoisin sauce is also known as Chinese barbeque sauce and is scrumptious on Peking duck, barbequed chicken and ribs. For an amazing flavor, try the homemade sauce recipe below on these Chinese barbeque ribs.

Hoisin sauce can be purchased pre made in the ethnic section of your local grocery store, or in an Oriental market. There are many different brands of this sauce, each with a slightly different flavor. Try several different brands and find the one that most suites your tastes. You may find that one type of Hoisin sauce is great for dipping, while another brand may be better in stir fries.

Hoisin sauce can also be homemade from scratch using several different ingredients. As with the pre made sauces, there are various different recipes out there each using about the same ingredients with slight variations. The recipe below is my own concoction of this delicious sauce. Try this recipe as it is to start, and then experiment according to your own tastes. For instance, if you enjoy a sweeter Hoisin sauce, simply add a teaspoon or more of honey. If you enjoy a hotter, spicier sauce, add more of the hot chili garlic sauce, or even try chopping up a dried chili pepper for extra heat. There are hundreds of ways to make a delicious Hoisin sauce that fits the tastes of you and your family. The key is to experiment and enjoy!

3 tbsp black bean sauce
1 tsp hot chili garlic sauce
2 ½ tbsp honey
2 tsp dark soy
2 tsp ketchup

1. Mix together the black bean sauce with the hot chili garlic sauce and honey. Stir together thoroughly. For this recipe I used Asian Gourmet Authentic Black Bean Sauce, however, you can use any black bean sauce that you choose.


2. Then add the soy and slowly stir mixing it in completely. Then add the ketchup and the sauce is ready to use. Store it in the refrigerator in a container with a tight fitting lid.


3. Makes 1/3 of a cup. This recipe may be doubled to make extra sauce.