10 Flavorful Alternatives When You’re Out of Hoisin Sauce

Hoisin sauce brings a unique sweet and savory punch to many Asian recipes, especially in stir-fries and dipping sauces.

Running out of hoisin sauce calls for creative alternatives such as plum sauce, barbecue sauce with added spices, or a mix of soy sauce and honey.

Each substitute introduces different flavor layers, so fine-tuning ingredients can help replicate hoisin’s complexity.

The top ten hoisin sauce substitutes provide practical and flavorful options for a variety of culinary needs.

Understanding the balance between sweetness, saltiness, and tang will keep dishes authentic.

Enhance your cooking with these hoisin alternatives that save the day when the original is missing.

What is Hoisin Sauce?

Hoisin sauce is a thick, fragrant sauce from Chinese cuisine that’s known for its bold, sweet, and slightly tangy flavor. It’s made from fermented soybeans, sugar, vinegar, and spices, giving it a rich, complex taste that’s both savory and a bit smoky.

It’s often dark in color and has a sticky texture ideal foradding depth and a touch of sweetness to dishes.

Typical Uses of Hoisin Sauce

You’ll find hoisin sauce in a bunch of delicious ways. It’s great as a dipping sauce for spring rolls, a glaze for grilled meats like ribs or duck, and a key ingredient in stir-fries and noodle dishes.

It’s also fantastic in marinades, adding that lovely balance of sweet and savory, and can be used as a flavorful condiment for wraps and sandwiches.

When You Need a Substitute of Hoisin Sauce

Dietary Restrictions: Traditional hoisin sauce often contains soy, wheat, or added sugar, which may not fit certain diets like gluten-free, low-sugar, or soy-free plans.

Allergies or Sensitivities: Those allergic to soy or sesame might need a swap that avoids these ingredients but still adds rich flavor.

Flavor Tweaks: Some dishes may call for a milder, spicier, or less sweet taste, and using a different sauce can help better match the overall flavor.

What to Swap Hoisin Sauce With

Hoisin sauce replacements keep sweet, savory, and slightly tangy flavor in Asian dishes. Several sauces offer similar complexity. Discover which swaps could enhance your meals.

Garlic Teriyaki & Kidney Beans

Teriyaki sauce makes an excellent substitute for hoisin sauce in many Asian recipes, with the main difference being teriyaki's stronger soy flavor and saltier profile.

When making the swap, equal amounts usually work well, though you might need slightly less teriyaki to avoid oversalting your dish.

For a closer match to authentic hoisin, homemade versions blend kidney beans, molasses, teriyaki sauce, red wine vinegar, five-spice powder, and garlic until smooth, creating that distinctive thick texture and complex flavor.

Adding brown sugar can balance the flavor if you prefer a sweeter sauce similar to traditional hoisin.

Garlic & Prunes

Homemade hoisin sauce substitutes can save your Asian-inspired dishes when your pantry runs low on this essential ingredient.

Prunes deliver the perfect natural sweetness without adding refined sugar, making them an excellent base for a flavorful alternative.

The combination of boiled pitted prunes, soy sauce, dry sherry, and fresh garlic creates a rich, complex flavor profile that closely mimics traditional hoisin sauce.

Simply boil the prunes until soft, blend all ingredients in a food processor with two cups of water, and adjust the consistency as needed for your particular dish.

This simple 1:1 replacement works beautifully in stir-fries, marinades, and dipping sauces, often with results so delicious that you might prefer it to store-bought versions.

Bean Paste & Brown Sugar

Hoisin sauce, a savory-sweet Asian condiment, can be easily recreated at home with bean paste as the key ingredient.

Bean paste combined with brown sugar creates that perfect thick, sticky texture ideal for noodles and rice dishes.

Our simple recipe calls for dark brown sugar, Chinese black bean paste, soy sauce, water, rice vinegar, Chinese five spice powder, and sesame oil - all working together to deliver that authentic flavor profile.

Many people find they can customize the sauce by adjusting measurements or adding pantry items like honey, chili paste, or garlic to match their taste preferences.

For best results in recipes, a quarter cup of this homemade mixture perfectly replaces the same amount of store-bought hoisin sauce.

Sriracha & Molasses

Sriracha, that beloved hot sauce with its distinctive red bottle, is an amazing kitchen multitasker when certain Asian ingredients aren't available.

Many people don't realize that sriracha can stand in for five-spice powder in a pinch, adding heat and complexity to dishes that call for this traditional Chinese spice blend.

For a truly impressive substitution trick, sriracha can be transformed into homemade hoisin sauce by combining it with soy sauce, molasses, peanut butter, rice vinegar, sesame oil, water, garlic, and a touch of five-spice powder if available.

The magic happens when these ingredients bubble together in a pan, creating a sauce with remarkably similar flavor notes to traditional hoisin but with sriracha's distinctive kick.

Soy Sauce & Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is an excellent base for creating homemade hoisin sauce, providing the perfect balance of savory and salty notes that commercial versions offer.

This simple substitute combines soy sauce and creamy peanut butter with hot sauce, sesame oil, white vinegar, brown sugar, honey, black pepper, and garlic powder for an authentic flavor profile.

Many people are amazed at how closely this mixture mimics traditional hoisin sauce, making it perfect for stir-fries and BBQ meats without requiring a special trip to the store.

The recipe comes together in minutes - just mix the ingredients in a bowl until combined or heat them gently for a smoother consistency.

For those who enjoy stronger nutty flavors, an additional tablespoon of peanut butter works wonderfully without compromising the sauce's balance.

Barbecue Sauce & Molasses

Homemade hoisin sauce can be whipped up in minutes by simply mixing barbecue sauce, molasses, soy sauce, and five-spice powder together in a bowl.

No special equipment or heating is required for this quick substitute that saves both time and money.

The basic formula starts with about 3/4 cup barbecue sauce, 3 tablespoons molasses, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of five-spice powder, though you can adjust these amounts to match your taste preferences.

Five-spice powder gives the sauce its authentic flavor, but allspice or masala blends work well if that's what you have in your pantry.

Ginger & Plum Jam

Plum jam can transform into a delicious homemade hoisin sauce with just a few pantry ingredients, making it a smart alternative when cooking Chinese dishes at home.

For the best flavor, mix two tablespoons of plum jam with teriyaki sauce, freshly grated ginger, garlic cloves, and crushed red peppers until smooth.

The sweet-savory combination creates a remarkably similar taste profile to traditional hoisin, perfect for glazing meats or adding to stir-fries.

Grape jam works as a backup option when plum isn't available, though the flavor will be slightly different.

Swapping a quarter cup of this homemade mixture for the same amount of store-bought hoisin sauce keeps your recipes on track without an extra trip to the grocery store.

Black Beans & Plums

Black beans offer a fantastic alternative when making homemade hoisin sauce, especially when combined with sweet plums for that perfect balance of umami and sweetness.

The simple recipe calls for chopped plums, brown sugar, water, black bean sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and five-spice powder – ingredients that create magic when mixed together.

Making this substitute starts with cooking plums into a jam-like consistency before adding black bean sauce and allowing it to cool completely.

After cooling, the mixture gets blended with remaining ingredients for a smooth, flavorful sauce that perfectly mimics traditional hoisin in both texture and taste.

A dash of Sriracha can add some heat if you enjoy spicier flavors, though the basic recipe stands wonderfully on its own.

Miso Paste, Mustard & Raisins

Miso-based hoisin sauce offers a delicious umami-rich alternative when you're out of the real thing.

Combining miso paste with pantry staples creates a surprisingly authentic flavor that mimics traditional hoisin's sweet and savory profile.

Soaked raisins provide natural sweetness while sesame oil, garlic, and a touch of heat from crushed red peppers round out the complex taste.

Making this substitute couldn't be simpler- just blend one cup of water-soaked raisins with water, a teaspoon of miso paste, some mustard, garlic cloves, and sesame oil until smooth.

The beauty of this homemade version lies in its adaptability, as you can easily adjust ingredients to match your preferred consistency and flavor intensity.

Oyster Sauce

Oyster sauce stands out as the closest substitute for hoisin sauce with similar flavors that work well in stir-fries and noodle dishes.

Most supermarkets and Asian markets carry this slightly fishy alternative, making it easy to find when you need a replacement.

The main difference lies in sweetness levels, so adding a bit of honey or brown sugar helps create a more authentic taste experience.

Balancing sweet, salty, and savory notes remains key when making this swap in your cooking.

For best results, simply use equal amounts - 1/4 cup oyster sauce replaces 1/4 cup hoisin sauce in any recipe.

Homemade Hoisin Sauce Alternative

• 3 tablespoons peanut butter or black bean paste
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or soy-free option)
• 1 tablespoon vinegar (rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar)
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar or molasses
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• A small pinch of five-spice powder (optional)
• A few drops of hot sauce (optional)
• 1–2 tablespoons water to thin it out

• Step 1: Mix everything in a small bowl.
• Step 2: Add a little water until it’s as thick or thin as you like.
• Step 3: Taste and adjust; add more vinegar if it needs more tang, or a bit more sugar if it needs sweetness.
• Step 4: Use right away, or store in the fridge for up to a week. Stir before using.

Choosing Right Hoisin Sauce Substitutes to Specific Dishes

Not all hoisin substitutes work the same way in every dish, so it helps to think about what role the sauce plays. Here are some dish types with ideal substitutes' traits to follow.

For Grilled or Roasted Meats

Choose a substitute that’s thick and sweet enough to create a sticky, caramelized glaze. This helps mimic the rich, bold flavor and glossy finish hoisin sauce adds to dishes like ribs or duck.

For Dipping Sauces

Look for a substitute with a balanced sweetness and tang. It should complement fresh or fried appetizers without overpowering their delicate flavors.

For Stir-Fries and Noodle Dishes

Pick a substitute that blends smoothly and adds a mild sweetness without making the dish too heavy or cloying. This keeps the flavors vibrant and well-rounded.

For Marinades

Select a substitute with enough acidity and complexity to tenderize proteins and enhance overall flavor. This ensures your marinade still packs a punch even without hoisin sauce.