If you are looking for the best hoisin sauce substitutes, then you have come to the right place.

Maybe you are halfway through cooking and just realized the jar you thought was at the back of the fridge is empty (been there!). Perhaps you just fancy attempting homemade for a change. Or, you want to try a new recipe that calls for hoisin, but you don't have the time or energy to run to the store.

Whatever the case, these ten hoisin sauce substitutes will do your dinner justice and are sure to satisfy even the most discerning tastebuds.

1. BBQ Sauce And Molasses

Hoisin sauce is commonly known as "Chinese barbecue sauce." Finding a hoisin sauce substitute should not be hard, and of course, the easiest way is to use a bottle of barbecue sauce. Buy it at the nearest store, get ready to be amazed, since this is one of the easiest recipes on our list.

You will need:

3/4 cup barbecue sauce (any store-bought is fine)

3 tablespoons molasses

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1/2 tablespoon Chinese five-spice

Blend the ingredients together to make your sauce. You're looking for a thick, sticky consistency. If it's a bit too much so for your liking, feel free to add a bit of water to loosen the mixture.

2. Peanut Butter And Soy

A peanut butter hoisin alternative works well for a variety of Asian dishes.

If you are familiar with Asian food, you will know that peanut butter is no stranger to many popular dishes (think: satay). In an unexpected twist, PB actually works as a great base for a hoisin sauce alternative, too.

To go down this route, you will need:

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tablespoons peanut butter (creamy, not crunchy)

2 teaspoons sesame oil

2 teaspoons white vinegar

2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce

1/2 tablespoon brown sugar

1/2 tablespoon of honey (substitute for maple syrup to make this recipe vegan)

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Small pinch of ground black pepper

Give the ingredients a good mix in a bowl, and there you have it! Hoisin sauce, PB style.

3. Sriracha And Molasses

Try your sriracha hoisin sauce substitute on hot wings for the ultimate taste sensation.

Most of us always have a bottle of Sriracha handy which makes this recipe a firm favorite. You will need a few other kitchen cabinet staples to make this one work. If you don't stock PB or molasses regularly, I hope you're getting the hint by now.

This one involves some heat, so get your saucepan ready. Begin with one tablespoon of sriracha in the pan and then add the following:

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tablespoons molasses

1 tablespoon peanut butter (you guessed it, the smooth kind)

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon water

1 small clove of garlic, minced very finely

1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice

Use medium heat and stir to combine well. You can use a spoon, but we find a whisk works the best. Once it's looking saucy enough for you, let it sit for a while. You can decant it into a smaller dish or bowl to speed up the cooling process. Then, tuck in!

4. Kidney Beans And Teriyaki

Move over, chili con carne! Kidney beans have a new purpose in life. They contribute to this pretty kick-ass hoisin sauce alternative that will leave everyone wanting more. This variation is pretty garlicky (read: very garlicky), so maybe don't whip this one up for date night.

Gather the following items:

3/4 cup of kidney beans (drain and rinse them, first)

3 tablespoons molasses

3 tablespoons teryaki

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons Chinese five-spice

2 cloves garlic

Go ahead and blend everything. If you still see bits of garlic or beans, pulse it for a while until you have the right consistency. You're good to go!

5. Plum Jam With Ginger

This is one of the hoisin sauce substitutes that use ginger does not taste far from the real deal.

So, this one may be a little more niche. If you are the kind of person who happens to have plum jam and fresh ginger at home, though—you're in for a treat.

Blend the following together to get your hoisin sauce substitute:

2 garlic cloves

2 tablespoons plum jam

1 tablespoon teryaki sauce

1 inch (roughly from your thumb knuckle to tip) fresh ginger, grated

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Once blended, feel free to serve this sweet and savory treat with your favorite stir fry. Or, use it as a dip for egg rolls or even wings!

6. Prunes, Soy, And Garlic

We are on a similar theme to the plum jam here but working with dried fruit instead of a preserve. You will also need to check at the back of the liquor cupboard for that sherry from last Christmas that you know is hiding there somewhere.

Put 3/4 cup of pitted (cannot emphasize this enough!) prunes into a saucepan with 2 cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil. Wait for it to cool, transfer it all to a blender, then add the following:

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons dry sherry

2 cloves garlic

Process it well until it is smooth. You will end up with a rich and delicious hoisin sauce substitute.

7. Black Bean Sauce And Prunes

It is pretty unfortunate if you have black bean sauce in the pantry, yet no hoisin. Still, with a bit of pizzazz, this combination works like magic.

Gather these items and blend them:

3 tablespoons black bean sauce

4 pitted prunes

1/3 cup of compacted dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon water

1/2 tablespoon sesame oil

1/2 tablespoon Chinese five spice

This will produce a fruity dark sauce with the salty-sweet hoisin taste you are looking for.

8. Oyster Sauce

Okay, this one may be cheating a little. But, if you are really stuck, oyster sauce is not a terrible choice for a hoisin replacement. You are missing the sweet tang that hoisin would provide, but it still has a deep flavor that works well with the ingredients you would normally find in a hoisin-based dish.

Naturally, the oyster sauce will suit more fish-flavored dishes. With its intense flavor profile, it will also fit well to beef or even chicken stir-fries, so get creative, and you may stumble upon something great.

The Best Hoisin Sauce Substitutes

Luckily for you, there are plenty of hoisin sauce substitutes that you can try out in the kitchen. Depending on how adventurous you are feeling (and what items you have lurking in the back of the pantry), there should be a recipe or two that works for you.

Embrace your inner Masterchef and get experimental in the kitchen. Who knows, maybe you will find a hoisin sauce substitutes that upstage the real thing!