What is oyster sauce and how can it be replaced in a recipe? The benefits and harms of the sauce

Oyster sauce originated relatively recently in China. Immediately gained wide popularity and popularity because of its spicy taste.

What is oyster sauce

The composition is determined by the type of sauce: classic (also called "traditional") and vegetarian.

The real sauce is an extract of boiled oysters: thick, viscous, dark in color (closer to brown).

The classic one, if prepared according to a precise recipe which dates back to the 18th century, must include oysters. The preparation procedure is long and financially expensive. So a quick and cheap way of making it that doesn't require oysters was invented.

The sauce has a sweet-salty taste, a red-brown color and a subtle aroma rather than the pungent smell of spices.

Composition

If it's really oyster sauce, it can't have many ingredients. You should carefully read the composition on the label.

It should always say "oyster extract" (decoction). It may say "extraction," which also corresponds to real oyster sauce.

There are manufacturers who add unhealthy substances. For example, the flavor enhancer is the chemical monosodium glutamate. It can be recognized by the designation - E621. It contributes to obesity, because it causes unbridled appetite. It even affects brain cells by damaging them. It can cause palpitations, weakness, numbness.

A classic sauce contains oysters themselves, salt, sugar, water, corn starch, and wheat flour, sodium glutamate (if natural - so it will be written) and caramel (sugar brought to brown on the fire). The sauce at the same time is endowed with vitamins and micronutrients, useful for the human body.

Vegetarian is a budget option. You do not have to chase for fresh clams, emptying your wallet. It is enough to have salt, sugar, mushrooms, glucose syrup and soy sauce as a base.

Where to add oyster sauce

Oyster sauce has a unique ability. It enhances the aroma and flavor of food and even transforms it. The result is an unusual dish.

It is added when frying chicken, in mushroom salads, seafood soups, pasta dishes (Chinese noodles), meat, fish, marinades, vegetables, rice. It can also be used to make another sauce. This gives the right to judge its versatility. This sauce is a godsend for cooks and passionate cooks!

The benefits and harms of the sauce

Oyster sauce contains vitamins B, acids (ascorbic, folic, nicotinic), iodine, potassium, zinc, phosphorus, fluorine, iron, glucose, vitamin PP.

The consumption of any product has its pros and cons. However, oyster sauce has more advantages than contraindications:

• it strengthens the immune system (it is always relevant);
• it reduces the level of stress;
• it supports the cardiovascular system (it even improves its performance);
• increases appetite;
• normalizes the metabolism;
• Helps to improve performance (without coffee and energy drinks).

Contraindications:

1. Overweight (people at risk of obesity should not add this sauce - it increases appetite and improves the taste of food).
2. Diabetes mellitus.
3. Gastrointestinal problems (this is an exotic condiment, so you should not experiment).

You should always remember the commandment of gourmets: "Everything tastes good, if it is not enough".

How to choose and where to buy

Oyster sauce is sold in large stores. To avoid wandering around the whole building for a long time, you should go straight to the spice department.

An affordable option for everyone is to use the services of online stores, such as Ashanti. This store supplies oyster sauce Real Tang, OusterSause. These are natural and healthy products made according to the recipe "Classic".

But here, too, you can run into a fake. For example, Ouster Flavoder is a soy sauce laced with the taste and smell of oysters, which are not there at all. Before buying, you should carefully read the text on the label, especially the composition and expiration date.

What to replace the oyster sauce

There are situations when a housewife is faced with the problem of what to replace the oyster sauce. It's not always possible to buy this delicacy. There is a way out of this problem. It is enough to find a worthy substitute. A good-quality soy sauce gives a dish a flavourful flavour and replicates the oyster sauce.

1. Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce can be used as a good substitute.
2. A one-to-one mix of fish sauce and soy sauce is also a good option.
3. And for "vegans", a mixture of one cube of mushroom broth, sugar (one tablespoon) and soy sauce is fine. Take water based on the concentration of the product.

Guests are coming - no problem. Anything ordinary will become a delicacy if you add oyster sauce. Of course, not in banal fried potatoes or pasta and sausages. Although, even here you can experiment. And the person who cooks the dish will automatically be elevated to the rank of a great cook.

No sauce - do not panic. It can be replaced. An alternative is not difficult to make.

First, you must analyze the quality of the sauce. It should have the consistency of broth (meat, bone, brain, fish). There should be no smell of fish. And a faint taste of salt. Then fine fish will do. You will have to cook a concentrated broth, i.e. more fish, less water. As it is difficult to get rid of fish smell, it is better to take brains, or meat on the bones. Add starch, flour, salt and sugar diluted in cold water to the broth. Add spices. It is possible to take a large fish, but only carp. It does not have a pronounced fishy smell. All that remains is to add soy sauce and spices.

How to cook oyster sauce at home

You can make oyster sauce at home. The sauce will be just as good as the store-bought ones. And, most importantly - without any E, thickeners, flavorings and flavor enhancers.

Classic Oyster Sauce

What you need:

• About 150 grams of canned oysters.
• 60 ml of regular store soy sauce.
• 40 gr. onions.
• 8g. butter.
• 35 gr. flour.
• 20 gr. grated ginger.
• 5 gr. dried herbs.
• 120 gr. chicken broth.
• 120 ml of heavy cream.
• Marinade or broth made from oysters.
• Garlic - 1 clove.
• Thyme - 5 g.

Method of cooking:

1. Remove the oysters from the can and finely chop them. If you manage to get fresh oysters, peel them and boil on very low heat for 1 hour. But it is better to cook in the shells. It will be told below why. Only after cooking, you will need to remove the shells.
2. In butter, fry chopped onion, garlic. Five minutes is enough. Stir all the time, so that there are no burnt pieces. Add ginger and stir-fry for 2 more minutes. All over low heat!
3. Now it's time for the oysters. Add the chopped seafood to the onion, garlic and ginger and sprinkle with basil and thyme. Stir and cook for 6 minutes over a low heat.
4. Add flour and cook for another 1 minute.
5. In another bowl, mix the soy sauce, cream, chicken broth and oyster marinade. If the oysters were fresh and boiled, then the oyster broth. Whisk with a whisk.
6. Pour this liquid into vegetables in thin streams, stirring all the time. Cook for 3 more minutes.
7. Let it cool, then whisk in a blender. Done.

Oyster sauce classic: a budget version

What you need for cooking:

• 250 g of canned oysters.
• Salt - 1 spoon.
• Soy sauce - to taste.

Method of preparation:

1. Drain the marinade from the oysters into another bowl (pot).
2. Finely chop the oysters.
3. Add shredded oysters to the marinade, put on high heat. Bring to the boil, lower the fire and cook for 10 minutes. If marinade is not enough - add water. Or meat broth.
4. Salt and leave to cool.
5. Strain through a fine sieve. Discard the remaining pieces.
6. Add soy sauce (usually 2 tbsp.) and simmer for another 10 minutes. Done.

Oyster sauce simple.

Ingredients:

• Oyster extract - 25 ml.
• Starch (corn or potato) - 20g.
• Sugar - 5 gr.
• Fish broth (or water) - 0,5 ml.

Method of preparation:

1. Caramelize the sugar until light brown.
2. Mix the broth with the sugar and cook for 10 minutes.
3. Pour off a little broth, mix it with the starch, add it to the pot.
4. Boil until jam is thick. Done.

Imitation oyster sauce.

Ingredients:

• Dried mushrooms (mushrooms, but shiitake is better) - 50 g.
• The rest of the ingredients from any recipe above.

Method of preparation:

1. Wash the mushrooms, boil for 30-40 minutes. Cool and chop in a blender.
2. Add the ingredients from your favorite recipe (except for the oysters) and cook for another 5 minutes.

This imitation sauce is difficult to distinguish from the classic sauce. The taste and color will be appropriate. And the dish with it will acquire a new flavor and unusual taste.

Pepper and oyster sauce

Ingredients:

• Oysters - 200 g.
• Soy sauce - 2 tbsp.
• Sweet pepper - 1 item.
• Stewed chicken broth - 0,5 l.
• Dry white sherry - 2 tbsp.
• Ground black pepper - 0,4 t. p.
• Olive oil - 2 tbsp.
• Sugar cane (beet sugar is ok) - 2 tbsp.

Method of preparation:

1. Pan-fry oysters in olive oil for 10 minutes.
2. Caramelize the sugar until light brown.
3. In a saucepan with oysters, add the chicken broth and cooked sugar. Cook for 20 minutes over low heat. At the end, add wine, ground pepper and bell pepper (finely chopped). After 1 minute, it's ready.

With oyster sauce, you can make Asian dishes with a spicy taste.

For example, Thai-style soup. Make a batter of onions, carrots, potatoes. Put the chicken and add water so much that it covers 3-4 cm. Pour salt, spices to taste. Add 2 tablespoons of sauce and cook until the chicken is ready. At the end of cooking add cream. It will make the soup more tender.

Restaurant dish of shrimp is quite affordable and at home. Again, make a roast of vegetables. Separately fry the shrimp. Mix everything in a bowl and stew some more, adding green onions, cilantro, sesame and sauce.

Note! Store the sauces in a glass, tightly sealed container. But the shelf life is not infinite. If it has lost its color, an unpleasant smell appeared - you can throw it away.

Tips and tricks

1. Oysters are cooked while still alive. But if the shell has not opened, it can not be eaten. Such oysters can cause poisoning.
2. You can not cook the sauce on high heat. This could result in a bitter taste.
3. There is a risk of over-salting the dish. The product already contains sea salt. This should be considered when adding salt to the dish.
4. Add the sauce at the end of cooking. Then it will not lose its flavor and aromatic qualities.
5. The seasoning-alternative should have a sweet-salty taste. It is necessary to taste it.
6. If oyster sauce is used, it is advisable to add fish sauce as well. This will increase the amount of sauce and give a new flavor.
7. If an imitation sauce is being made, rice vodka or white wine, sugar and honey should be added. This will bring the taste of the real oyster sauce as close as possible.
8. If you like it spicy, you should add pickled onions, garlic and ground pepper.
9. Onions and garlic should be marinated in wine vinegar. The taste will be more pronounced.
10. All the aroma and flavor of the sauce is preserved for six hours. Therefore, it is better to make it in small portions.

Dishes with oyster sauce in restaurants are expensive. The product itself is not cheap, and even restaurant markups. We hope that this article will help to make it at home. In addition, the sauce will diversify the family menu just because of the new unusual taste. Such a seasoning is not only tasty product, but also very useful for the body.