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Substitute for Oyster sauce

What it does in a recipe: Briny-sweet umami thickener for stir-fries and marinades.

3 substitutes, ranked by what's already in your pantry. Amounts are dataset values — US and metric where a ratio exists.

Soy sauce + hoisin

per 2 Tbsp oyster sauce

US1 Tbsp soy sauce + 1 Tbsp hoisin + pinch of sugar
Metric15 ml soy sauce + 15 ml hoisin + 1 g sugar
CommonBaking-safe ✓Alcohol-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeFish-freeNut-freePeanut-freeShellfish-freeVeganContains glutenContains soy

Rebuilds the salty-sweet depth; less briny.

What changes: Less briny depth

Best for: Stir-fries, marinades

Vegetarian mushroom stir-fry sauce

per 2 Tbsp oyster sauce

US2 Tbsp
Metric30 g
SpecialtyBaking-safe ✓Alcohol-freeEgg-freeFish-freeNut-freePeanut-freeShellfish-free

Sold as 'vegetarian oyster sauce' — same texture, mushroom umami.

What changes: Mushroom umami instead of shellfish

Best for: Vegetarian stir-fries

Fish sauce + soy sauce + sugar

per 2 Tbsp oyster sauce

US1 Tbsp fish sauce + 1 Tbsp soy sauce + pinch of sugar
Metric15 ml + 15 ml + 1 g
CommonBaking-safe ✓Alcohol-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freePeanut-freeContains fishContains glutenContains soy

Briny and savory; not vegetarian.

What changes: Brinier

Related swaps

Common questions

What can I use instead of Oyster sauce?
Soy sauce + hoisin: 1 Tbsp soy sauce + 1 Tbsp hoisin + pinch of sugar. Fish sauce + soy sauce + sugar: 1 Tbsp fish sauce + 1 Tbsp soy sauce + pinch of sugar.
What is the exact ratio to substitute Oyster sauce?
Soy sauce + hoisin (per 2 Tbsp oyster sauce) — US: 1 Tbsp soy sauce + 1 Tbsp hoisin + pinch of sugar. Metric: 15 ml soy sauce + 15 ml hoisin + 1 g sugar.
What changes when you substitute Oyster sauce?
Less briny depth. Mushroom umami instead of shellfish.

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