What is Oyster Sauce, Where to Buy It, Recipes to Make with It (2024)

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What is Oyster Sauce, Where to Buy It, Recipes to Make with It (1)

Sweet, salty, and earthy,oyster sauceis a thick syrup-like sauce that is made out of…. oysters! But it’s more than just sweet and salty — the oyster juices from cooking the oysters are caramelized and sugar, salt, and cornstarch (or another thickener) are added to it. There’s quite a layer to the taste. Compared to hoisin sauce, it’s less sweet and saltier.

Oyster sauce (蚝油) was invented accidentally by Lee Kum Sheung in China, in 1888 when he left a pot of oyster soup on the flame and only remembered when it had simmered down to a thick gravy. Luckily for us, he gave it a taste and decided it was delicious AF, and started selling it. That’s pretty much how Lee Kum Kee Chinese cooking sauces started!

The image up above is an oyster sauce that is made with oyster extract and in my opinion, tastes lighter but Lee Kum Kee also has a Premium Oyster Sauce that is richer and is made from fresh, mature, and well-nourished oysters (pictured down below).

What is Oyster Sauce, Where to Buy It, Recipes to Make with It (2)

Where to Buy Oyster Sauce

I’ve started noticing the iconic panda label and red lid in my local grocery stores now instead of just being sold at specialty Asian markets. If you cannot find it in stores, it’s easily found online as well!

Recipes that Uses Oyster Sauce

  • Air Fryer Orange Chicken — Sweet and tangy but with a hit of heat, this Air Fryer Orange Chicken is a classic take out recipe that you can easily make at home! You won’t believe how crispy this orange chicken is without deep-frying!
  • Hibachi Shrimp with Fried Rice — This Japanese-style Hibachi Shrimp made with sautéed vegetables served over top of a simple fried rice is an easy and delicious dinner that also serves as a delicious meal prep.
  • Hibachi Chicken with Fried Rice — This Japanese-style Hibachi Chicken made with sautéed vegetables served over top of a simple fried rice is an easy and delicious dinner that also serves as a delicious meal prep.
  • Black Pepper Beef — A classic Chinese dish, this Black Pepper Beef (黑椒牛柳) is surprisingly easy to make at home! Tender, melt in your mouth beef, covered in a bowl-licking black pepper sauce, this is the perfect weeknight dinner.
What is Oyster Sauce, Where to Buy It, Recipes to Make with It (3)
  • Yaki Udon — Made in less than 20 minutes, you can have Yaki Udon in next to no time. Packed with vegetables and made with only a handful of ingredients, you’ll love how easy it is to make.
  • 10 Minute Sesame Ramen Noodles — Dress up your ramen noodles in 10 minutes or less by making this Sesame Noodles recipe. Ditch the seasoning packet and make this flavour-packed sesame ramen noodles instead!
  • Hoisin Beef Noodles — This Hoisin Beef Noodles recipe is SO easy to make and takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish! Perfect for busy weeknights or as a meal prep.
  • Sriracha Fried Rice — This Sriracha Fried Rice is a quick and easy recipe that is the perfect quick meal or meal prep. This freezer-friendly meal is made with leftover rice, eggs, shredded chicken, and peas, you’ll love how easy it is to throw together.
What is Oyster Sauce, Where to Buy It, Recipes to Make with It (4)
  • Vietnamese inspired Beef Noodle Salad — This Vietnamese-inspired Beef Noodle Salad is super easy to throw together on a busy weeknight for dinner and works as a meal prep as well!
  • Hawaiian Breakfast Fried Rice — Made with easy to find ingredients, this Hawaiian Breakfast Fried Rice makes for a delicious morning!
  • Hong Kong Style “Bolognese” — A fusion of flavours, this Hong Kong style Chinese Bolognese is a bowl of comfort! Usually sold in 茶餐廳/Hong Kong style cafes, you’re going to want to give this twist on bolognese a try!
  • Deconstructed Spring Roll in a Jar — This easy deconstructed egg roll in a jar is a fun and delicious way to get your spring roll fix without having to fry or wrap an spring roll!
  • Healthy Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry — Craving a delicious satay stir fry from your local take out place? Skip the take out and make your own healthy chicken and vegetable stir fry with peanut sauce. It takes less than 30 minutes and you can pack the leftovers as a work lunch!
What is Oyster Sauce, Where to Buy It, Recipes to Make with It (5)

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What is Oyster Sauce, Where to Buy It, Recipes to Make with It (2024)

FAQs

What can I use oyster sauce with? ›

The most common uses for oyster sauce include stir-fry sauces, glazes, and marinades. Oyster sauce flavors chicken, beef, vegetables like broccoli, noodles, and rice dishes. It is an important component to cashew chicken and even a type of radish cake. Make homemade hoisin sauce or teriyaki sauce by using oyster sauce.

Is oyster sauce good for stir fry? ›

Oyster sauce is a predominantly salty seasoning that is most commonly used in stir fries, but is also used in stews, soups, marinades, and even straight up as a drizzle over steamed vegetables.

Where can I add oyster sauce? ›

Oyster sauce adds a delicious savoury flavour to many dishes, and is popular in Chinese cooking. Try it in meat or vegetable stir-fries, as well as side dishes.

Where do you find oyster sauce? ›

Oyster sauce can be found at specialty Asian grocery stores or international or Asian sections of local grocery markets.

What does oyster sauce taste like in stir-fry? ›

Gently salty and briny, with a velvety smooth, thick texture, oyster sauce is in a number of Asian dishes. The condiment brings rich, savory flavor to whatever you pour it over or into – from Chinese broccoli to stir-fry marinades – and it's a mainstay in many Asian and Asian American kitchens.

How long does oyster sauce last when opened? ›

Oyster sauce: 18 to 24 months; 3 to 6 months. Peanut butter: 1 year when stored in refrigerator and 3 to 4 months refrigerated after opening (natural); 6 to 9 months when stored in pantry or 12 months stored in refrigerator, 2 to 3 months in pantry or 3 to 4 months refrigerated after opening (commercial, stabilised).

Can you eat oyster sauce directly? ›

You can use oyster sauce on its own as a dipping sauce, as an addition to soups, or as a marinade for meats or vegetables.

What taste does oyster sauce add? ›

Oyster sauce is a sweet and salty condiment made primarily from oyster juices, salt, and sugar. It also boasts umami, which is a savory, tangy flavor. It's commonly used in Asian cuisines, including Chinese and Thai dishes, for stir-fries, meat marinades, and dipping sauces.

Is oyster sauce healthy? ›

A salty sauce created from oysters and used often in Asian cuisine, oyster sauce contains little calories, no fat, and a healthy dose of calcium for bone strength. The sodium content comes from its soy sauce component, something individuals on a low-sodium diet should take note of.

Can you put oyster sauce in Bolognese? ›

Stir in the hot sauce, tomato sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce and ketchup . Reduce heat to low and simmer the sauce for about 3 to 5 minutes or until thickened.

Is oyster sauce ready to eat? ›

Oyster sauce is used straight from the bottle. It is added to other sauces, used as a sauce on its own, or drizzled on top of steamed vegetables (often Chinese broccoli in Cantonese cuisine) as a finishing touch. The most popular way to incorporate oyster sauce into a recipe is in a stir-fry sauce.

What sauce is closest to oyster sauce? ›

What Are Some Good Oyster Sauce Substitutes?
  1. Fish Sauce. Fish sauce makes a great substitute because of the flavor backbone similarities. ...
  2. Hoisin Sauce. ...
  3. Soy Sauce. ...
  4. Teriyaki Sauce. ...
  5. Black Bean Paste. ...
  6. Kecap Manis (Sweet Soy Sauce) ...
  7. Mushroom Broth. ...
  8. Worcestershire Sauce with Soy Sauce and Sugar.

Does Aldi have oyster sauce? ›

from Aldi.

Do you need to refrigerate oyster sauce? ›

Refrigeration not needed

Common condiments that don't require refrigeration include soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, honey and hot sauce. Feingold says vinegars and olive oil (stored in a cool, dark place) are pantry-bound; coconut oil is actually best kept out of the fridge since it hardens below room temperature.

Is hoisin the same as oyster sauce? ›

One of the main differences between hoisin sauce and oyster sauce is that the latter contains oyster. Hoisin sauce is plant-based, so it can be an oyster sauce substitute for vegetarians if necessary.

What flavor does oyster sauce add? ›

If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Oyster sauce stands alone! With the shake of a bottle, I can bless just about any pile of meat and vegetables with layers of complex salty-sweet umami flavor.

Is oyster sauce the same as hoisin? ›

Often used as a cooking ingredient, oyster sauce has a richer and more intense taste than hoisin but it does not have the sweetness. If you want to cook with an oyster sauce substitute, hoisin sauce works fine if you like a sweet, tangy flavor.

What's the difference between fish sauce and oyster sauce? ›

Taste: Fish sauce is much fishier and saltier in flavor than oyster sauce, which has more of a sweet and briny taste to it. Ingredients: Fish sauce typically is made out of a base of fermented anchovies. As its name reflects, oyster sauce is made out of reduced and caramelized oysters.

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