Skip to Content

Saucy Secrets: What Does Oyster Sauce Taste Like?

One sauce that is loved and used in every kitchen is Oyster Sauce.

It is a favorite among Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Khmer cuisines.

Nowadays, the sauce is gaining worldwide recognition and used by many other countries to enhance their dish. 

Sometimes accidents lead to good things. Oyster sauce is one of them.

An accident led to the invention in China in 1888.

To know the whole story behind the sauce’s creation and to answer the most common question asked by many people, “What does oyster sauce taste like”? 

Read below; the simple sauce may surprise you.  

What Is Oyster Sauce?

what is oyster sauce

When a small tea stall started selling a sauce that became an international product, everyone was intrigued by it.

But the actual truth behind the sauce was an accident. 

Yes, what you heard is correct; oyster since was an outcome because Lee Kum Sheung lost track of time making oyster soup.

But the aroma and taste of the sauce are what made this accident into a goldmine. 

Oyster sauce, as the name describes, is made from oyster extracts. It is a rich, syrup-like sauce that does not taste like fish.

It is a mixture of oyster juice, sugar, salt, cornstarch, and some versions of soya sauce.  

What Does Oyster Sauce Taste Like? Does Oyster Sauce Taste Good?

what does oyster sauce taste like

The taste of the oyster sauce is slightly sweet, salty, and earthly in taste.

Some people feel that the sauce is a combination of barbecue and soy sauce.

The sauce enhances the taste of meat and vegetables. It has less salt content when compared to soy sauce. 

The price of the sauce is similar to soya sauce.

The sauce is sometimes confused with soya sauce, fish sauce, and Hoisin sauces as they are identical in color and have a thick consistency.

They may look similar, but the taste of the sauce is entirely different. 

Hoisin is a vegan sauce, while the oyster sauce is a non-vegan product.

The sauce is called Ho Yau in Cantonese. It may have different substitutes and brands. 

The nutrition value of oyster sauce is only nine calories for one tablespoon.

It is free from cholesterol and has zero fat content.

It contains 492 milligrams of sodium, which is more than Hoisin sauce, which has only 258.4 mg. the sauce contains fewer vitamins and minerals. 

Most of the chefs rely on the main ingredients instead of the sauce. It also contains 0.24g of protein, 3.96mg of phosphorous, and 9.72mg of potassium. The sauce also has only 0.1g of fiber. 

As compared to soy and Hoisin sauce, the oyster sauce contains fewer calories, vitamins, proteins, fats, and cholesterol.

But the sauce is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which play an essential role in the body.

The acids keep the brain and heart healthy and give a lower chance of developing diabetes and heart diseases. 

How to Cook/ Use Oyster Sauce in Recipes?

how to use oyster sauce in recipes

When you are cooking with oyster sauce, try to use it in a small amount.

The intense flavor may be overwhelming if you add too much of the sauce and may lose the umami flavor. 

Using the sauce for cooking, stir fry, combine other ingredients like rice vinegar, soy sauce, and brown sugar.

Pour the sauce from the bottle if you are using it for garnish. 

Use the oyster sauce as an ingredient for different recipes like vegetable stir-fry, Chinese chicken, stir-fry mushroom, and spring rolls.

You can also use the sauce as a marinade for Asian barbecue sauce. 

Check out the Newyork times cooking magazine to learn more about using the oyster sauce in different recipes.

Also, experiment with the sauce to find out new recipes for your won.

Some precautions/ notes when using the notes are:

  • Keep the sauce in the refrigerator once you open it.
  • Do not add the sauce in large quantities.
  • Avoid adding lots of salt if you are using the oyster sauce as it already very salty. 
  • Do not overheat the food after adding the sauce.
  • Add the sauce at the end of the cooking to keep its flavor. 

Conclusion

The sauce adds excellent flavor to a dish without adding calories.

The sauce has a wide array of benefits, and you can also find out more about the health benefits of oyster’s spice from Medindia.

Oyster sauce cannot be wrong, as it is spreading globally for a thousand years and dominating the sauce empire.

what does oyster sauce taste like

What Does Oyster Sauce Taste Like? Does Oyster Sauce Taste Good?

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Food Taste
Servings 1 Serving

Ingredients
  

  • Oyster sauce
  • Ingredients from your favorite recipes

Instructions
 

  • Depending on the recipes you choose, the taste can vastly differ.
  • For authentic results, it is important to choose a recipe that will highlight the original flavor.
  • Have fun experimenting with different recipes and taste tests!
Did you make this recipe?Mention @EatDelights or tag #eatdelights!

About The Author

Sharing is caring!

Recipe Rating