Plum Sauce vs Hoisin Sauce: What’s the Difference?

Chinese cuisine has always been known for its unique and varied flavors.

And one thing that adds a lot of flavor to Chinese dishes is the dipping sauces, condiments, and marinades.

Two such popular ingredients are Plum Sauce and Hoisin Sauce.

While both these sauces have a sweet and sour flavor, there are several differences between them that can impact your recipe.

This blog post will delve into those differences to help you choose between plum sauce vs hoisin sauce.

What is Plum Sauce?

Plum sauce has been a significant part of Chinese cuisine for centuries. Traditionally made with dried plums, sugar, vinegar, ginger, and chili peppers, it has a unique blend of sweet and sour flavors that make it perfect for dipping or glazing meat dishes.

The sauce also contains garlic powder, onion powder, salt, water starches like wheat flour or cornstarch to thicken it up.

Plum sauce is often used as an accompaniment to pork dishes like Peking duck or roasted pork belly. It’s also great with chicken wings or as a dip for spring rolls or dumplings.

What is Hoisin Sauce?

Hoisin sauce is another popular Chinese condiment that has become a staple in many households around the world. Originating in southern China’s cuisine around 200 years ago (during the Qing dynasty), Hoisin sauce traditionally contains soybeans, sugar, vinegar (or rice vinegar), garlic powder، red chili peppers، starches like wheat flour or cornstarch، sesame oil، five-spice powder، salt

Its unique blend of sweet and savory taste makes it an ideal ingredient for stir-fry recipes or even as a marinade for BBQ meats.

Differences Between Plum Sauce and Hoisin Sauce

The primary difference between plum sauce and hoisin sauce lies in their primary ingredients. While plum sauce primarily uses dried plums, Hoisin sauce uses soybeans as its base ingredient. This difference gives the sauces their unique flavor profiles.

Another significant difference is that hoisin sauce is a lot thicker than plum sauce. This means that it is often used as a cooking ingredient rather than a dipping sauce or condiment. The thickness of hoisin sauce can make it more difficult to use in dishes like stir-fries, where thinner sauces are preferred.

The spices and flavoring agents used in both sauces are also different. For example, Plum Sauce typically contains ginger and chili peppers, while Hoisin Sauce uses garlic powder and five-spice powder.

Similarities Between Plum Sauce and Hoisin Sauce

Although there are differences between plum sauce vs hoisin sauce, there are some similarities too.

Both sauces have a sweet and sour flavor profile, which makes them perfect for adding depth to Chinese dishes. Plum sauce’s sweetness comes from the dried plums and sugar added to it while the sweetness of hoisin sauce comes from sugar.

Both these sauces can be used as dipping sauces or glazes for meat dishes like chicken wings, pork belly or ribs. They can also be used as an accompaniment to stir-fry recipes with vegetables or noodles.

Plum Sauce vs Hoisin Sauce: How to Choose Between Them?

Knowing the differences between plum sauce vs hoisin sauce will help you choose which one to use in your recipe better. Here’s how you can decide:

If you’re looking for a thinner consistency, go for plum sauce if you prefer thicker ones then opt for hoisin sauce;

If you want something sweet but without soybeans’ taste elements (which might overwhelm other flavors in your dish), then reach out towards plum jam;

For those looking for more savory flavors with hints of umami taste profile, we recommend using Hoisin Jam instead because this variety has stronger umami undertones due mainly composed of soybean paste;

Ultimately, choosing between plum sauce and hoisin sauce comes down to personal preference. You can try both and decide which one complements your dish better!

Nutritional Comparison of Plum Sauce and Hoisin Sauce

Both sauces contain sugar, so moderation is key when it comes to adding them to your dishes.

Per 1 tablespoon (18 grams), plum Sauce provides around:

• Calories: 35
• Carbs: 9 grams
• Sugar: 8 grams
• Fat: 0g

On the other hand, per tablespoon (20 grams), Hoisin Sauce provides around:

• Calories: 45
• Carbs: 10 grams
• Sugar: 7 grams
• Fat: less than a gram

Although hoisin sauce contains slightly more calories and carbs than plum sauce, the difference isn’t significant enough to impact your diet unless you’re consuming large amounts of either condiment.

In conclusion, Plum Sauce vs Hoisin Sauce debate is only a matter of individual taste preferences. Both sauces compliment Chinese cuisine with their sweet-and-sour flavors, providing an array of options for dipping sauces, glazes, or marinades. However, understanding the differences between these two popular ingredients will help you choose which one suits your recipe better!