What Is An Oyster Sauce Substitute?

While cooking, an oyster sauce substitute comes in handy when you run out of oyster sauce. Oyster sauce is made from oysters and is slightly sweet in taste. It will bring both sweet and salty flavor to any dish. In today’s article, I have found 10 different substitutes for an oyster sauce that are easily available in online as well as offline grocery stores. Here, I have also explained how to make an oyster sauce in case you want to make the oyster sauce by yourself. You can keep on reading to find out the best oyster sauce substitute to achieve the perfect umami flavor.

Top 10 Best Oyster Sauce Substitute

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There are many substitutes for oyster sauce in the market. Here, I have gathered the best oyster sauce substitute for you.

  1. Fish Sauce
  2. Sweet Soy Sauce
  3. Soy Sauce
  4. Hoisin Sauce
  5. Soy And Hoisin Sauce
  6. Mushroom Broth
  7. Black Bean Paste
  8. Mushroom Stir Fry Sauce
  9. Worcestershire Sauce
  10. Teriyaki Sauce

You can keep on reading to know about these oyster sauce substitutes more in detail.

10 Substitute For Oyster Sauce

Each of the above-listed oyster sauce substitutes differs from the other. Let us explore all the items one by one.

  • Fish Sauce

Though Fish sauce is not the perfect oyster sauce substitute, you can still use it in few dishes. Fish sauce is not as sweet as an oyster sauce by is quite salty and sharp in flavor. They are usually made from fermented fish and have a thinner consistency. Thus, you can definitely substitute fish sauce for an oyster sauce without any doubt!

  • Sweet Soy Sauce

You can also substitute oyster sauce with sweet soy sauce. Sweet soy sauce was first originated in Indonesia and is also known as “kecap manis”.  They have a salty umami flavor with plenty of sweetness! As this Indonesian sauce is sweeter in taste, make sure you begin with the less quantity first. 

  • Soy Sauce

This oyster sauce substitute soya sauce is perfect for those who don’t like eating seafood! It has more liquidity consistency than oyster sauce. This vegetarian substitute for oyster sauce is less sweet and saltier in taste. So, you might need to add a little extra sugar to achieve the desired sweetness. You can easily find this sauce in Asian food markets or nearby grocery stores.

Now, let’s move towards the next oyster substitute, Hoisin.

  • Hoisin Sauce

Another sweet and salty Chinese sauce is Hoisin sauce. It can be used as a great oyster substitute for stir fry dishes. This Chinese sauce is made with various ingredients like vinegar, chili paste, and garlic. This hoisin sauce can substitute oyster sauce as a more potent flavor. But you have to use this sauce in a smaller amount.

  • Soy And Hoisin Sauce

You can also find both hoisin and soy sauce in a combination named soy-hoisin sauce. It has a taste similar to the oyster sauce with an umami flavor. You have to take both these sauces in a 1:1 ratio and mix them well. You will get a partially sweet and partly salty combination in this sauce. A pinch of sugar can also be added for a slightly more intense flavor. 

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  • Mushroom Broth

The mushroom broth is a good oyster sauce substitute for vegan dishes. They are usually made up of dried shiitake mushrooms and have a real mushroom flavor. You can also add teriyaki sauce, sesame oil, miso paste, and umami if you want a spicy flavor.

  • Black Bean Paste

You can substitute black bean paste with oyster sauce to give a beautiful texture to your dish. This paste is usually made by mixing vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and sugar. I guarantee this past will definitely give you a similar color and consistency just like oyster sauce.

  • Mushroom Stir Fry Sauce

Yet another vegan substitute for oyster sauce is mushroom stir fry sauce. They are made by mixing soybeans and then flavored with sugar, salt, flour, cornstarch, and mushrooms. You can use this sauce in the same quantity as the oyster sauce in your recipe.

  • Worcestershire Sauce

Generally, Worcestershire sauce acts as an excellent oyster sauce substitute for fried rice.  Both of them have similar ingredients and have an umami flavor. You can also mix this sauce with soy sauce and sugar to intensify the flavor.

  • Teriyaki Sauce

Even teriyaki sauce has a similar consistency to vegan oyster sauce. Teriyaki sauce is made by mixing sugar, soy sauce, and sake/mirin. Teriyaki sauce works great in the place of oyster sauce in several dishes. This oyster sauce substitute teriyaki in dishes like noodle dishes, stir-fries, marinades, and dipping sauces.  

What Is Oyster Sauce?

The sauce made from oysters is known as an oyster sauce. This sauce is slightly sweet in taste almost like caramel. And its texture is similar to ketchup. 

Sometimes, you might not find the exact oyster sauce substitute easily in the market. Don’t panic, I am sharing with you my secret ingredients from which you can make a homemade oyster sauce. Let’s have a look at the ingredients first!

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz of oysters
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • Soy sauce as needed

Instructions

  1. First, strain the oysters and keep the juice aside.
  2. Place these oysters into a food processor till they are finely chopped.
  3. Now, transfer them into a saucepan.
  4. Add the leftover oyster juice and bring it to a boil.
  5. Cover the saucepan and leave it to simmer for at least 10 to 20 minutes.
  6. Afterward, add salt and let it cool down a little.
  7. With the help of a sieve, drain the sauce.
  8. Now, slowly add soy sauce and bring to boil again.
  9. Then, turn down the heat and let it simmer for few minutes.
  10. Once this mixture is completely cooled, the oyster sauce is ready to use.

This homemade oyster sauce will last for at least a month in the refrigerator. And always make sure you keep this mixture in an air-tight container.

FAQ

What Can Be Used In Place Of Oyster Sauce?

You can use the following ingredients in the place of oyster sauce.

  1. Fish Sauce
  2. Sweet Soy Sauce
  3. Soy Sauce
  4. Hoisin Sauce
  5. Soy And Hoisin Sauce
  6. Mushroom Broth
  7. Black Bean Paste
  8. Mushroom Stir Fry Sauce
  9. Worcestershire Sauce
  10. Teriyaki Sauce

What Can I Use Instead Of Oyster Sauce In Stir Fry?

You can use the following sauces instead of oyster sauce in stir fry.

  1. Fish Sauce
  2. Sweet Soy Sauce
  3. Soy Sauce
  4. Hoisin Sauce
  5. Soy And Hoisin Sauce
  6. Mushroom Broth
  7. Black Bean Paste
  8. Mushroom Stir Fry Sauce
  9. Worcestershire Sauce
  10. Teriyaki Sauce

Is Oyster Sauce And Worcestershire Sauce The Same?

No, oyster sauce and Worcestershire sauce are not similar. They both have different tastes. When you taste the oyster sauce, you will get a briny, salty flavor with umami flavor. Whereas in Worcestershire sauce you will get a subtle fruity sweetness.

Can I Use Teriyaki Sauce Instead Of Oyster Sauce?

Yes, you can use teriyaki sauce instead of oyster sauce. Here, you have to use 2 teaspoons of teriyaki sauce instead of oyster sauce.

Can I Substitute Fish Sauce For Oyster Sauce?

Yes, you can substitute fish sauce for oyster sauce. But the Fish sauce is not as sweet as an oyster sauce by is quite salty and sharp in flavor. They are usually made from fermented fish and have a thinner consistency.

What Is Oyster Sauce Made Of?

Oyster sauce is typically made with oysters, water salt, sugar, MSG, modified corn starch, wheat flour, and caramel color. The vegetarian versions of it are usually made of the same ingredients but instead of oysters, there’s soybeans, brown sugar, and mushroom flavor.

Is Oyster Sauce The Same As Hoisin Sauce?

They are very different in taste. Oyster sauce is made from oyster extract, whereas the key ingredient in hoisin sauce is fermented soybean paste. Hoisin sauce is sweet with a fragrance of warm, toasted spices, whereas oyster sauce is salty with an ocean-like flavour.

Do You Have To Use Oyster Sauce?

While you can eat oyster sauce on its own, many people combine it with other ingredients to enhance their flavors. Oyster sauce is best known for bringing out the savory taste of other foods. The most common uses for oyster sauce include stir-fry sauces, glazes, and marinades.

Can You Substitute Oyster Sauce For Soy Sauce?

You wouldn’t necessarily think it tastes of seafood the flavor is definitely savory. However, as Healthline notes, soy sauce is saltier than oyster sauce. Therefore, to substitute oyster sauce for soy sauce, you’ll want to use a little more than a 1:1 ratio.

Conclusion

In my above article, I have shared the best oyster sauce substitute that you can use in the place of oyster sauce. This includes soy sauce, fish sauce, hoisin sauce, and many more. You can even mix soy sauce and hoisin sauce together to achieve the perfect sweet and salty flavor. Even Mushroom Stir Fry Sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, Teriyaki Sauce can be used instead of oyster sauce. All of them have similar ingredients and have an umami flavor. You can also mix this sauce with soy sauce and sugar to intensify the flavor. You can now achieve the perfect umami flavor by using an oyster sauce substitute.