Recipe: Hoisin Sauce
Simple sauces are always an easy way to make a meal special. But this feature is especially appreciated in summer when we’re looking for ways to minimize cooking and want to let summer’s luscious produce mostly stand on its own, with just a little sauce on the side.
Following is a quick summary of the recipe. See the full sauce recipe with helpful hints here.
Makes 1/2 cup
Step 1: Sauté Garlic
- 2 Tbsp. neutrally-flavored oil (e.g. canola or swunflower)
- 1-2 Tbsp. well-chopped garlic, to taste
Step 2: Stir In and Cook Remaining Ingredients Until Thickened
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp. honey
- 2 Tbsp. white vinegar
- 2 Tbsp. tahini (see notes in full recipe)
- 1 tsp. Sriracha, more or less to taste
- 2 to 4 Tbsp. broth, as needed or desired
Now experiment by using the sauce as an intriguing salad dressing in the recipe below:
Recipe: Wilted Hoisin Salad
In this version of a wilted salad, shredded or chopped cooked meat is simmered in hoisin sauce which is then used as a “salad dressing.” I like to keep the salad base pretty simple, but feel free to add as many other toppings as you like!
Following is a quick summary of the recipe. See the full salad recipe here.
2 Servings
Step 1: Simmer Meat
Simmer about 2 cups meat (chicken, pork or beef) with one recipe of hoisin sauce and about a cup of broth until heated through and sauce is reduced by about half, to resemble a thick salad dressing.
Step 2: Assemble Salad Base
Combine a bed of greens with toppings of choice, e.g.,
- Shredded carrots
- Shredded kohlrabi
- Sliced red peppers
- Thinly sliced red cabbage
- Diced cucumber
- Cherry tomatoes (roasted or fresh)
- Sliced Mushrooms
- Sliced or slivered almonds
- Pumpkin seeds
Top salad with meat sauce and serve immediately with Sriracha on the side for a spicier dish.
The Hoisin Mystery
I see hoisin used in a lot of dishes and recipes, but I’ve always been mystified trying to identify exactly what constitutes a hoisin sauce.
- For instance, a neighbor’s hoisin sauce recipe called for ketchup, Worcestershire, tamari, balsamic vinegar, honey, chile oil, toasted sesame oil, garlic and ginger.
- Meanwhile, my store-bought San-J Hoisin features brown sugar, red miso, molasses, tamari, apple cider vinegar, garlic, ginger and plum juice.
- As you can see, both of these versions are wildly different than the one shared above which I found in a decade-old recipe article while cleaning out my recipe stash.
The best I can deduce about the essence of hoisin is that it’s a sweet-sour-hot sauce—that can be made with all sorts of ingredient combinations!
Other Ways to Use Hoisin Sauce
No matter what its ingredient combo, hoisin is a very versatile sauce that can easily dress up proteins like beef, chicken, fish and pork; perk up whole grain brown rice; or add pizzazz to practically any vegetable whether stir fried or solo, e.g.,zucchini, yellow squash, bok choy, cabbage, eggplant and broccoli. Start experimenting with the Wilted Hoisin Salad above or the following stir-fry!
Hoisin Stir-Fry
In last month’s newsletter I shared a quick Food Processor Stir-Fry that I topped with my store-bought San-J Hoisin Sauce. Served over brown rice with leftover cubed chicken, it made a totally satisfying and healthy meal! And great color with yellow squash, red pepper and onion.
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