Hoisin Sauce

Hoisin sauce is a thick, fragrant, dark-colored, sweet and salty sauce originating in China and prominent in Cantonese cuisine, based on fermented soybean paste and commonly including soybeans, fennel, red chili peppers and garlic along with vinegar, five spice powder and sugar; some versions add starches such as sweet potato, wheat or rice, as well as sesame seeds and salt. It is used as a glaze for meat, an addition to stir fries and a dipping sauce, marinating meats such as char siu and accompanying dishes like Peking duck and moo shu pork in Chinese cooking, while in Vietnamese cuisine, where it is called tuong den, it is served with pho and as a dip for summer rolls. Its name comes from the Cantonese pronunciation of Chinese characters meaning seafood, even though the sauce contains none, reflecting a broader Chinese culinary concept of seafood flavor.