10 Best Oyster Sauce Substitutes: Complete Guide

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Oyster Sauce Substitutes

Oyster sauce can make a dish more delicious. However, if you are looking for an alternative, many options are available. No matter if you are running out of oyster sauce or looking for a vegan option, you have to know about oyster sauce substitutes.

If you are not worried about the different flavors of the dish, you can try out these alternatives. In this guide, we will share the top alternatives to this sauce. Moreover, we will also share extra information about these alternatives. So, let’s get started.

What Is Oyster Sauce?

As we noted before, oyster sauce is a popular product right now. Majorly used in Chinese cuisine, this sauce adds a rich flavor to all dishes. The rich, earthy, sweet, and salty taste of this sauce can be a game-changer.

Oyster Sauce Substitutes

Oyster sauce has a thick texture and is black in color. Besides Chinese cuisine, this product is popular in Vietnamese and Thai cuisines. The best thing is this sauce can be used in both vegetables and meat dishes.

Uses of Oyster Sauce

You might know that oyster sauce is one of the most popular products right now. The best thing is there are several uses. Let’s find out about the common uses of this product:

Stir-Fries

Most people use the oyster sauce for stir-fries. Be it brown rice or noodles, it plays a crucial role to add more flavor to the dish. That’s the reason why most Chinese stir-fries dishes have this sauce as an ingredient.

Boiled Dishes

We know that the oyster sauce is popular for stir-fries and marinades. However, many people prefer this product for boiled dishes. You can use this sauce while preparing boiled vegetables.

Dipping Sauce

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Oyster sauce is good for making a dipping sauce. You have to follow the right method to complete this preparation. Add water, minced chili, and garlic to the sauce and start stirring. You can use it with various boiled dishes.

Marinades

In most cases, people use the oyster sauce for marinades. Hence, most Chinese cuisines add this product for marinades. Besides the rich taste, this sauce gives a beautiful color to a dish.

Top Oyster Sauce Substitutes

Even if it’s a popular product, you can have a shortage of oyster sauce. On the other hand, many people want to avoid using it to taste something new. If you want to try something new, you have to know about the best oyster sauce substitutes. In the following list, we will share our handpicked alternatives. Let’s find out:

1. Soy Sauce

Soy sauce is one of the most common alternatives to oyster sauce. You can find this product anywhere. Plus, you can use it for vegetarian dishes. However, soy sauce is a little bit saltier than oyster sauce.

2. Fish Sauce

If you are looking for the perfect oyster sauce substitute, you can try the fish sauce. Prepared from fermented fish, it has a rich taste. Even though it adds a good flavor, this product is not suitable for all dishes.

3. Teriyaki

If you are looking for an alternative with a similar consistency, teriyaki is the ideal product. On the other hand, it’s good if you don’t want to use a salty sauce. Teriyaki is also good for marinades.

4. Kecap Manis

Kecap Manis is sweet soy sauce. If you don’t want to use regular soy sauce, it’s a good option. This sauce is made from soybeans, salt, and sugar and has a rich sweetness. It’s the best product to balance the taste.

5. Black Bean Paste

Made from ripe black beans, this is one of the best oyster sauce substitutes. This sauce also has a rich aroma, thick texture, and salty taste. You can also use black bean paste as a topping for several dishes.

6. Hoisin Sauce

Hoisin sauce is one of the best oyster sauce substitutes that make dishes attractive. Many people use hoisin for cooking. Hoisin sauce has a mixed flavor of sweet, salty, and spicy.

7. Anchovies

If you want something different, you can try anchovies. Well, many people don’t prefer this product but it can be the best one for fish lovers. On the other hand, you can use anchovies for preparing fish dishes.

8. Mushroom Stir-Fry Sauce

Mushroom stir-fry sauce can be the best product for preparing vegetarian dishes. Made from soybeans, it can give your dish an attractive flavor. Plus, you can use mushroom stir-fry sauce for meat dishes as well.

9. Worcestershire Sauce

Worcestershire Sauce is another good product to make dishes tasty. The consistency of this sauce is quite similar to oyster sauce. You can use it for various dishes, salads, noodles, and other food items.

10. Tamari

Last but not least, Tamari is one of the most popular oyster sauce substitutes. Hence, it’s a good alternative to soy sauce. The main ingredient of Tamari is soybeans. So, it can give a rich flavor.

Conclusion

You see, there are several oyster sauce substitutes available in the market. You can use them to explore different tastes. However, these alternatives are good when you are running out of oyster sauce.  If you are using these products for the first time, make sure you learn the right methods.

FAQs

Q: Is oyster sauce used for vegetarians?

Oyster sauce is not a vegetarian product. The key ingredient of this sauce is oysters. If you want to use it for vegetarian dishes, you can get the vegan oyster sauce. 

Q: What can I use instead of oyster sauce in a stir fry?

There are so many options available as an alternative to oyster sauce. If you prefer common substitutes, you can go for fish sauce or soy sauce. However, hoisin and teriyaki are great alternatives as well. 

Q: Can I use hoisin sauce instead of oyster sauce?

Yes, you can hoisin as an alternative to oyster sauce. Many people use hoisin for stir-fried recipes. It tastes a bit different but you will love using this sauce.

 

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