Ingredient Comparison
🐟
Fish Sauce
vs
🫙
Hoisin Sauce
Fish Sauce vs Hoisin Sauce
Both are common in the kitchen, but they behave differently. Here's how to choose between them for your next recipe.
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The short answer
Use Fish Sauce when you need it for western cooking, curries, dipping. Use Hoisin Sauce when you need it for glazes, noodles, stir-fries.
🐟
Fish SauceSauces
Pungent, salty condiment from fermented fish, essential in Southeast Asian cooking.
4 substitutes available
🫙
Hoisin SauceSauces
Thick, sweet-savory Chinese sauce from soybeans, garlic, and spices. For stir-fries, glazes, dipping.
4 substitutes available
Key Differences
| Attribute | Fish Sauce | Hoisin Sauce |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Sauces | Sauces |
| Substitutes | 4 | 4 |
| Diet Options | None |
Diet Compatibility
Fish Sauce
Hoisin Sauce
No specific diet tags
Substitutes
🐟 Fish Sauce Substitutes
- Soy Sauce1:1
- Coconut Aminos1:1 plus extra salt
- Worcestershire Sauce1:1
- Seaweed + Soy Sauce1 tsp soy + piece dried seaweed per tsp fish sauce
🫙 Hoisin Sauce Substitutes
- Soy Sauce + Peanut Butter + Honey2 tbsp soy + 1 tbsp PB + 1 tbsp honey + 1 tsp sesame oil
- Barbecue Sauce + Soy Sauce1:1 BBQ + 1 tsp soy
- Miso Paste + Honey1 tbsp each per 2 tbsp hoisin
- Oyster Sauce + Sugar2 tbsp oyster sauce + 1 tsp sugar per 2 tbsp
Which Should I Use?
Use Fish Sauce when…
✅ Best for
Western cookingcurriesdippingdipping saucesdressingsmarinadespad thaistir-fries
Use Hoisin Sauce when…
✅ Best for
glazesnoodlesstir-fries
⚠️ Not ideal for
subtle oyster flavor needs