Easy Hoisin Sauce Recipe (2024)

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by Mike Hultquist · Dec 11, 2020 · 46 Comments · Jump to Recipe

This homemade hoisin sauce recipe is easy to whip together with common pantry ingredients. It's sweet and salty and you can make it as spicy as you want it.

Are you a fan of hoisin sauce? I am. There is something special about this wonder sauce used to add big flavor to Chinese dishes and more around the world. You'll find it most often in stir fries but it's great as a dipping sauce or as a glaze.

Hoisin Sauce is a thick, aromatic Chinese sauce similar to American barbecue sauce, though not quite as sweet. It shifts betweensweet, salty, and umami flavors. While the name of the sauce translates literally into seafood, it does not contain seafood elements. Instead, this sauce is made mainly from fermented soybean paste. That is why its consistency is so thick.

While there are many ways to make it, hoisin sauce is usually made with fermented soybean paste, but I'm sharing here a quick and easy version that uses peanut butter instead if you prefer, which is easier to find, though I do offer variations in the Recipe Notes section.

You can very easily find hoisin sauce in grocery stores, but with your own homemade hoisin sauce recipe, you can whip it together anytime you want. Plus, you can control what goes into it, like extra spicy elements!

The homemade version is so much better.

Let's talk about how to make hoisin sauce, shall we?

Hoisin Sauce Ingredients

Soy Sauce. Low sodium is fine for this.
Rice Vinegar.
Peanut Butter or Soybean Paste. Traditional hoisin sauce is made with with soybean paste (like Korean doenjang, preferred), tahini, or black bean sauce. Peanut butter is more readily available and easier for most American cooks. I highly recommend finding doenjang.
Fresh Garlic. Dried or granulated is good, too.
Honey. Used for a touch of sweetness. Brown sugar is a good substitute, as is maple syrup or agave nectar.
Chinese Five Spice Powder. Use as desired. I like a bit more for extra flavor, plus a little black pepper. This is a key ingredient for me, though you can easily omit it and it's still very good.
Sriracha. Or use any Chinese hot sauce, red chili sauce, chili paste or try your favorite hot sauce.
Cornstarch. This is a thickening agent.

How to Make Hoisin Sauce - the Recipe Method

First, add all of the ingredients to a small pot, except for the cornstarch - soy sauce, rice vinegar, peanut butter (or black bean sauce or tahini), garlic, honey, Chinese Five Spice Powder and sriracha (or hot sauce).

Heat to medium heat and warm through, stirring, until the ingredients combine.

In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water, until the cornstarch dissolves.

Pour the cornstarch and water mixture into the hoisin sauce pot and whisk until well combined.

Heat for another 1-2 minutes, until the hoisin sauce thickens.

Serve it up as needed.

Boom! Done! You have just made homemade hoisin sauce. Easy enough, isn't it? Give it a taste. So much better than store bought hoisin sauce, isn't it?

I love this recipe.

Recipe Tips & Notes

Peanut Butter Substitutes & Additions. As mentioned, fermented soybean paste is more readily used to make homemade hoisin sauce, but peanut butter is an excellent substitute for the American cook. Peanut butter is a great thickener and flavor builder. Tahini is great as well, as is maple syrup for sweetness. Sesame oil is a welcomed here. Try it out with other thick pastes, like Korean gochujang, ssamjang, Chinese doubanjiang or harissa for an interesting version. The paste used will affect the final color of your hoisin sauce.
Heat Factor. Mild, though you can spice it up with more sriracha sauce, chili paste, chili peppers, or the addition of spicy chili flakes.

5 Ways to Use Hoisin Sauce - Serving Ideas

Dipping Sauce. Serve it on the side in a small bowl with potstickers, dumplings, sushi, spring rolls or lettuce wraps.
Meat Glaze. Brush it over fish or chicken on the grill during cooking, then just at the end for big flavor. Use it like a Chinese barbecue sauce.
Soup Enhancer. Swirl a few tablespoons into soups as they cook for a Chinese flair.
Noodle Bowls. Swirl hoisin sauce into brothy noodles bowls like pho or ramen for a tasty spin. Asian food has never been so good.
Stir Fries. Add a couple spoons of hoisin sauce at the end of your stir fry for a sweet and salty blast of flavor, like this Hoisin Chicken Stir Fry I whipped together or Chicken Fried Rice.

That's it my friends. I hope you enjoy it! Let me know if you make it, and how you wind up tweaking the recipe. I'd love to hear it! Spice it up!

Check out my post on Hoisin Sauce Substitutes for alternatives to this sauce.

Storage & Leftovers

Storing your homemadeHoisin Saucein anairtight containerin the fridge may allow you to store it for up to 2-3 weeks. To maximize the storage life, make sure to refrigerate it promptly.

Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes

Teriyaki Marinade Recipe
Dan Dan Noodles
Teriyaki Shrimp Stir Fry
Chinese Dragon Chicken
Korean Fried Chicken
Chicken Satay
Chow Mein

Try Some of My Popular Sauce Recipes

General Tso Sauce
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
Homemade Szechuan Sauce
Bulgogi Sauce
Korean BBQ Sauce
Easy Thai Peanut Sauce
Tonkatsu Sauce
Sambal Oelek
Gochujang Sauce
Sweet and Sour Sauce
Kung Pao Sauce

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Easy Homemade Hoisin Sauce Recipe

This homemade hoisin sauce recipe is easy to whip together with common pantry ingredients. It's sweet and salty and you can make it as spicy as you want it.

Save Recipe

Course: Main Course, sauce

Cuisine: American, Chinese

Keyword: condiment, dipping sauce, hoisin, soy sauce, sriracha

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Calories: 25kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Servings: 16 tablespoons

Tap or hover to scale

4.95 from 19 votes

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Ingredients

4 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons peanut butter (Or try it with tahini or black bean sauce - peanut butter is more readily available and easier)
3 cloves garlic minced - 1 teaspoon garlic powder is good instead
2 tablespoons honey (you can use brown sugar instead)
1/2 teaspoon Chinese Five Spice Powder use more as desired
2 teaspoons Sriracha (or use any Chinese hot sauce, red chili sauce, chili paste or try your favorite hot sauce)
1 teaspoon cornstarch

Instructions

Add all of the ingredients to a small pot, except for the cornstarch.
Heat to medium heat and warm through, stirring, until the ingredients combine.
In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water, until the cornstarch dissolves.
Pour the cornstarch and water mixture into the hoisin sauce pot and whisk until well combined.
Heat for another 1-2 minutes, until the hoisin sauce thickens.
Serve!

Video

Notes

Makes about 1 cup of hoisin sauce.

Heat Factor: Mild, though you can spice it up with more sriracha sauce, chili paste, or the addition of spicy chili flakes.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 25kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 274mgPotassium: 25mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 1mg

Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

NOTE: This recipe was updated on 12/11/20 to include new information and video. It was originally published on 3/30/20.

Reader Interactions

Comments

Stan Quick says
August 23, 2023 at 5:47 pm

I often create sauces for stir fry. This one will be used often but I have no idea what the exact ingredients will be. I have specific dietary requirements so love recipes which can be manipulated a bit. I find commercial sauces do not meet my needs so thank you for this.
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  August 24, 2023 at 6:31 am
  
  Thanks, Stan!
  Reply
Combes says
February 27, 2023 at 9:00 am

Would it be possible to make an oister sauce ? thank you,
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  February 27, 2023 at 9:17 am
  
  You can. Usually oyster sauce is made with oysters that are simmered down until everything is caramelized. I don't have an exact recipe for it, but may look into it.
  Reply
kay says
December 13, 2022 at 3:08 pm

Your version is much better than the pre-bottled stuff in the grocery store which I find is just overwhelming sweet.
Yours has a great balanced flavor. . . perfect for stir fry.
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  December 13, 2022 at 3:09 pm
  
  Glad you enjoyed it, Kay. I appreciate your sharing. Yes, this is why I like homemade so much better, so we can adjust to our preferences.
  Reply
Misty says
October 23, 2022 at 3:51 pm

Didn’t have the 5 Chinese spice mix, but did have the ordinary components (but fennel) and it turned out pretty good
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  October 25, 2022 at 8:43 am
  
  Glad you enjoyed it, Misty!
  Reply
Peggy Straathof says
October 13, 2022 at 5:39 pm

I'm not sure what bottled Hoisin sauce tastes like, but this was very good in my recipe. I used tahini. and some chopped dried red pepper flakes. Very good.
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  October 14, 2022 at 5:47 am
  
  Glad you enjoyed it, Peggy! Nice touch with the tahini.
  Reply
Cynthia Armstrong says
October 25, 2021 at 3:23 pm

Delicious!! I made this Hoisin sauce exactly as written.
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  October 26, 2021 at 6:29 am
  
  Glad you enjoyed it, Cynthia!
  Reply
Tracy England says
October 23, 2021 at 3:31 pm

I was teaching a General Tso's cooking class for some ex-pats. Hoisin sauce is a rare commodity where we live in the DR, so I used this recipe as part of my class.
Made both peanut butter version and soybean paste so that my students had options when they can't find a jar of hoisin.
They loved both options.
Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Reply
See Also
Vegan shepherd's pie | Vegetables recipes | Jamie Oliver
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  October 24, 2021 at 6:39 am
  
  Excellent! Thanks so much, Tracy! Glad to be helpful.
  Reply
fiona says
July 24, 2021 at 4:46 am

Thank you! You just saved my crispy duck, can't buy hoisin where I am and this worked beautifully.
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  July 24, 2021 at 7:05 am
  
  Excellent! Glad to help! =)
  Reply
Julie says
May 16, 2021 at 12:40 pm

Soooo yummy! I used Sambal Oelek chili paste instead of siracha, as mentioned. I like that the recipe doesn't make a ton so I don't end up throwing it out. Going to use this in a chicken wonton taco recipe, but so good on its own.
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  May 16, 2021 at 12:56 pm
  
  Nice! Glad you enjoyed it, Julie! I'll take a chicken wonton taco, please! =)
  Reply
Julie says
January 01, 2021 at 4:06 pm

Just made this and substituted Gochujang for the peanut butter and used 2 TBSP of chili paste. I needed hoisin for a General Tso’s Chicken recipe so I searched around and found your recipe. It turned out well! Thanks for the recipe!
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  January 02, 2021 at 9:42 am
  
  Nice! I love the use of gochujang here! Love it. Thanks, Julie.
  Reply
Mel says
December 20, 2020 at 7:55 am

Hi Mike, as I live in Corfu Greece, rice vinegar is virtually unheard of. Do you know if there is a substitute I could use ? Fingers, toes AND eyes crossed !
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  December 20, 2020 at 8:44 am
  
  Mel, you can use a good white wine vinegar as a sub. Let me know how it turns out for you. I hope you enjoy it.
  Reply
Leigh says
December 15, 2020 at 1:15 pm

Mike.....another banging recipe!!!!....Just made this with a chicken stir fry and it was amazing!! Didn't need the cornstartch though and added the chicken stock to loosen the sauce a little. Almost licked the plate in the end....but didn't l! . Thank you again.
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  December 15, 2020 at 1:26 pm
  
  Excellent! Thanks, Leigh! Great to hear!
  Reply
Soner Ali says
December 12, 2020 at 11:24 am

Hi Mike
How long do you think this would last in a sealed glass jar in the fridge.
Thanks.
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  December 12, 2020 at 11:37 am
  
  Hi, Soner. This will easily last a week or longer. It's really mostly condiments, though if using fresh garlic and ginger, I would keep only a week or so.
  Reply
Geraldine says
December 12, 2020 at 4:04 am

Looks lovely. Have tried the szechuan sauce which I loved. This is a little similar but different!. Thank you.
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  December 12, 2020 at 7:06 am
  
  Yes, very similar. I have that recipe on the site as well. Thanks!
  Reply
Geraldine says
December 12, 2020 at 3:44 am

Looks fab. Have tried your szechuan sauce and love it! It's a little bit similar looking at the ingredients. It's really useful that you give alternate ingredients too and explain the differences those alternates can make. Love your website. Thank you!
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  December 12, 2020 at 7:06 am
  
  Thanks so much, Geraldine! Yep, love a good Szechuan sauce. YUM.
  Reply
Barbara M says
December 11, 2020 at 1:55 pm

Recently found your site, and so glad I did!
Do you have any recommendations for a good brand for Korean condiments like doenjang?
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  December 11, 2020 at 2:15 pm
  
  Thanks, Barbara. I don't have a good recommendation. I grab whatever is available at the Asian store near me. There are several options for me. I hope you find a brand you enjoy.
  Reply
Kim says
October 28, 2020 at 4:41 pm

Hi Mike,
What can I use instead of soy sauce, my partner is on a very reduced salt diet?
Any ideas of a healthier alternative.
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  October 29, 2020 at 8:32 am
  
  Becky, you can try low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos, though those might have too much salt for you. Look into a no-salt soy sauce. I'm not sure of the flavor, though. There are also products like "umami powder" available, though I have not tried them. Consider a mushroom powder with vinegar. Let me know if you find a substitute you enjoy.
  Reply
Heidi Voss says
May 09, 2020 at 11:55 am

I cut back on the soy sauce (made it less salty) and used both honey and brown sugar. Also use Tahini for the rich nuttiness. I added 1 T of our homemade red pepper flakes for extra spice and 2 T of hot sauce. I did not need any of the cornstarch-our local honey is pretty thick. I used this for up two weeks and did a bunch of chicken and veg stir fry. Marinated my chicken in the hoisin and partially steamed my veg before putting in with chicken. Added extra hoisin at the and and over rice or noodles this is just amazing!!! I hate bottled hoisin and I will never buy it again!! Can’t wait to try this on the grill with wings.
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  May 09, 2020 at 1:13 pm
  
  Excellent! Sounds wonderful, Heidi! Glad you enjoyed it! Homemade is so much better.
  Reply
Keith GilbertKeith says
April 12, 2020 at 1:08 am

Hi Mike. Thanks for this recipe, just as we wanted some Hoisin sauce. I certainly didn't need the cornflower as it was already thick and cooled to a very thick paste without it. In fact I had to water it down Could be because I used Tahini and a thick honey. Tasted great.
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  April 12, 2020 at 11:23 am
  
  Thanks, Keith! Glad you enjoyed it. Great stuff!!
  Reply
Andrew Morrison says
April 04, 2020 at 4:23 pm

Hey Mike, loving your recipes and this one!! Home made hoisin sauce, the best ever barbecue meat coating of all time.Thanks a bunch.
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  April 05, 2020 at 11:31 am
  
  Hey, Andrew. Thanks so much! Super happy you enjoyed it! I agree, great for bbq!
  Reply
Peg says
April 04, 2020 at 8:37 am

This looks great, going to give it a try. I love that you have given some substitutions on the ingredients!!
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  April 04, 2020 at 10:25 am
  
  Sure thing, Peg! Thanks! I hope you enjoy it.
  Reply
MAXINE says
April 01, 2020 at 1:49 pm

I intend making this during lockdown for my sons birthday, he loves marinated chicken drumsticks so i plan to use it to baste & bake some for him using this hoisin sauce recipe. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks for the recipe.
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  April 26, 2020 at 9:22 am
  
  Thanks, Maxine. I hope you enjoy it.
  Reply
Alice Calandresa says
March 30, 2020 at 9:09 pm

I plan to use this homemade hoisin sauce. Homemade is the way to go. Love your recipes. Also I'm enjoying your 2 books that you wrote. Thank you
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  March 31, 2020 at 7:20 am
  
  Thanks so much, Alice! I greatly appreciate it! Let me know if you find a favorite recipe from my books! Take care.
  Reply

FAQs

What is hoisin sauce made of? ›

Ingredients. The key ingredient of hoisin sauce is fermented soybean paste. Some hoisin sauce ingredients include starches such as sweet potato, wheat and rice, and water, sugar, soybeans, sesame seeds, white distilled vinegar, salt, garlic, red chili peppers, and sometimes preservatives or coloring agents.

What to use if I don't have hoisin sauce? ›

Ready-made hoisin sauce alternatives

soy sauce.
tamari, which is suitable for gluten-free diets.
oyster sauce.
chili sauce.
barbecue sauce.
sweet and sour sauce.
teriyaki sauce.

Feb 2, 2022

Know More ›

What to add to hoisin sauce? ›

To make a delectable dipping sauce, combine hoisin sauce, Sriracha, rice vinegar and sugar. The tangy-spicy sauce is the perfect foil for savory meatballs seasoned with ginger, soy sauce and scallions.

How to thicken hoisin sauce? ›

Molasses: This will thicken up your hoisin sauce. We want that perfect glaze-like texture here. Sesame Oil: Sesame oil adds a distinct nutty flavor to your hoisin sauce. It is one of the key ingredients for getting a complex, rich flavor.

Keep Reading ›

Is hoisin sauce just teriyaki sauce? ›

Hoisin Sauce is Chinese and based on fermented soybean paste, whereas teriyaki sauce only has a small component of soy sauce. Hoisin sauce is therefore much thicker and saltier compared to its Japanese counterpart, as teriyaki sauce tends to be sweeter. Plus teriyaki isn't even really Japanese.

What fruit is in hoisin sauce? ›

A spicy-sweet sauce made from a blend of soya based ingredients with an array of spices and local specialities, including salted plums, sesame and chilli peppers.

Discover More ›

Can I use hoisin sauce alone? ›

You can serve hoisin sauce for dipping by itself, or mix it with an equal amount of peanut sauce for a more traditional spring roll sauce. Feel free to play around with the amounts of peanut sauce and hoisin you mix together to create a custom blend!

Learn More ›

What is a good substitute for hoisin sauce? ›

Thai Chili Sauce

But it gives good texture and color substitutes for hoisin, especially since it adds its own flavor as well. Thai chili sauce and oyster sauce together are a particularly good substitute for hoisin sauce, especially when you add a little garlic powder and Chinese five spice to the mix.

Explore More ›

How to jazz up hoisin sauce? ›

Create a delicious dipping sauce for a variety of foods. Mix hoisin sauce, soy sauce, maple syrup, ginger, and lemon juice together in a bowl. Serve with fresh spring rolls or chicken.

Read The Full Story ›

What do Chinese restaurants use to thicken sauces? ›

Much like French food, which relies on a roux for a perfect bechamel sauce or beef bourguignon and involves butter cooked with flour, Chinese and Cantonese cuisines use cornstarch to thicken sauces. However, it's predominantly added at the end of the cooking process rather than at the start.

Is hoisin sauce vegan friendly? ›

As per Wikipedia, Hoisin (海鮮) is actually the Chinese word for “seafood”, however, the sauce does not contain any seafood ingredients, so it's naturally vegan. Why is it called “hoisin” then? Because the sauce was often used as an accompaniment to seafood dishes.

View Details ›

Is hoisin sauce the same as soy sauce? ›

Hoisin sauce is a thick, dark sauce that is slightly sweet and tangy, with a hint of garlic and five-spice flavor. It is commonly used in Chinese cuisine, particularly in dishes like Peking duck and moo shu pork. Contrastingly, soy sauce is a thin, salty sauce made from fermented soybeans, wheat, and salt.

See Details ›

Does hoisin sauce contain shellfish? ›

Hoisin sauce has a sweeter flavor profile than its counterpart with a soy base. It also does not contain animal or seafood products and has a thicker consistency. The primary ingredient of oyster sauce is oyster extract, giving it a distinct seafood flavor.