Hoisin Sauce Recipe (Vegan)

5 from 2 votes

Rev up your blender and make the best homemade hoisin sauce recipe that's naturally vegan, without added oil, with an easy gluten-free hack.

Prep Time15

Total Time15

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: Chinese

Diet: Vegan

Servings:

Calories: 49kcal

Prep and measure the ingredients and add them to a high-speed blender or food processor. Alternatively, finely mince or press the garlic and add it to a medium bowl.
Start at a low speed and gradually increase until you have a smooth, thick sauce. For the bowl method, whisk the ingredients.
Taste the hoisin sauce and adjust the seasonings. Use additional liquid ingredients or a few drops of water to thin the sauce if desired.
Makes 1 cup.

To make this recipe with whole dates, place ½ a cup of pitted dates in a small bowl and cover them with 1 cup of boiling water. Soak for 15 minutes, then drain and reserve the soaking water. Blend the dates with ½ a cup of water, adding more until you have a thick paste. Add the rest of the hoisin ingredients and continue blending.
To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute tamari for soy sauce. Be sure to check the miso paste. Typically, it is gluten-free, but brands can vary.
Keep leftover sauce in the fridge in a sealed container for 2 weeks or freeze it in covered ice cube tray slots for up to 3 months.
To make your Chinese 5-spice blend, combine 1 teaspoon each of fennel seeds, Sichuan peppercorns, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground star anise. Toast the fennel and peppercorns if desired, and then use a spice grinder to make the blend.
Sambal Oelek is an Indonesian chili paste with red chilis, vinegar, and salt. If you substitute with another chili paste, such as sriracha, be mindful that it will have extra garlic or other flavors. You may want to make adjustments depending on your tastes.
If you use whole coriander seeds, grind them before adding them to the sauce ingredients. You'll need ⅔ of a teaspoon of seeds, ground for the equivalent of ½ a teaspoon for the hoisin sauce.