Asian ingredient substitutes
Hoisin Sauce Substitute
For each 1 tablespoon of hoisin sauce, use 1 tablespoon sweet bean sauce or sweet bean paste. The Woks of Life's swap. It gives no amount, so start with the same amount and thin with a little hot water if it is too thick. Sweet bean sauce is mostly fermented wheat, so it is less soy-forward. Other options: 1 tablespoon Chee Hou sauce.
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Hoisin Sauce substitutes at a glance
| Use instead | Notes |
|---|---|
| 1 tablespoon sweet bean sauce or sweet bean paste | The Woks of Life's swap. It gives no amount, so start with the same amount and thin with a little hot water if it is too thick. Sweet bean sauce is mostly fermented wheat, so it is less soy-forward. |
| 1 tablespoon Chee Hou sauce | Same base ingredients as hoisin plus extra spices. No amount given, so use the same amount. |
Where these swaps come from
The swaps and amounts on this page are from The Woks of Life, Hoisin Sauce. Each option's note keeps the source's own advice on when it works. The calculator scales the published amount: substitute = published amount x (your amount / 1 tablespoon).
Other Asian pantry substitutes
Frequently asked questions
What can I use instead of hoisin sauce?
Per 1 tablespoon of hoisin sauce: 1 tablespoon sweet bean sauce or sweet bean paste; or 1 tablespoon Chee Hou sauce.
What do I use for 1/4 cup of hoisin sauce?
1/4 cup sweet bean sauce or sweet bean paste; or 1/4 cup Chee Hou sauce. The calculator above scales any other amount.