Buyers Guide for Authentic Chinese Cooking Sauces

Preparing authentic Chinese dishes like char siu, Peking duck, or red-braised pork belly (Hong Shao Rou) can be a challenge, especially when it comes to balancing complex sauces. Many recipes require a long list of ingredients and multiple preparation steps just for the marinade or glaze. For home cooks who want to experience the genuine taste of Chinese cuisine without investing hours in prep work, ready-to-use Chinese cooking sauces offer a convenient and reliable solution.

This article serves as a guide to help you select the right ready-made sauces for specific Chinese dishes. We will introduce a selection of products based on authentic recipes that will help you achieve consistent results in your own kitchen.

Buyer's Guide: What to Look for When Choosing Chinese Cooking Sauces

Before you buy Lee Kum Kee sauces or opt for other brands, a few criteria can simplify your selection.

1. The Right Sauce for Your Intended Dish

Chinese cuisine is regionally diverse, and so are its sauces. There is no one-size-fits-all universal sauce.

• For grilled dishes: Look for a specific Cantonese barbecue sauce like Char Siu Sauce. It is sweet and savoury, ideal for marinating and glazing pork.
• For Peking duck: A special Peking Duck Sauce, often a variation of Hoisin Sauce for duck, is essential for the characteristic flavour. It is typically served as a dip with the pancakes.
• For braised dishes: For classics like Hong Shao Rou, you'll need a Red Braising Sauce. This gives the dish its typical dark colour, a slightly sweet note, and a thick consistency.

2. Ingredient Authenticity

A look at the ingredients list reveals the quality and authenticity of a sauce. Traditional authentic Asian marinades are often based on fermented soybeans, rice wine, vinegar, and a specific blend of spices. Brands with a long history, like Lee Kum Kee, rely on proven recipes that ensure a consistent and recognisable taste.

3. Intended Use: Marinade, Glaze, or Cooking Base

Ready-made sauces for Chinese dishes are designed for various purposes. Some are intended as an all-in-one solution for marinating and glazing, while others serve as a concentrated cooking base to be diluted with water or broth. Check the instructions on the label to ensure the product fits your planned preparation method.

Our Top Sauce Picks

Here is a selection of sauces developed for specific, popular Chinese dishes, all distinguished by their ease of use.

LEE KUM KEE Char Siu Sauce 397g

Why it stands out This sauce is a ready-to-use marinade and glaze specifically developed for preparing Cantonese barbecue pork (Char Siu). It combines essential ingredients like honey, fermented soybean paste, and spices in a balanced ratio, significantly simplifying preparation. The result is meat with the characteristic reddish glaze and a sweet and savoury flavour profile.

Benefits

• All-in-one solution: Serves as both a marinade before cooking and a glaze during roasting or grilling.
• Versatile preparation: Suitable for use in the oven, air fryer, on the grill, or in a pan.
• Consistent flavour: The proven recipe ensures a reliable and authentic taste experience.
• Ingredient base: Based on sugar, water, salt, honey, and fermented soybean paste.

Who is it for? Ideal for anyone who wants to replicate the classic taste of Char Siu at home without mixing the sauce from scratch. It's suitable for both beginners and experienced cooks looking for a time-saving, foolproof option.

LEE KUM KEE Peking Duck Sauce 383g

Why it stands out This sauce is the classic accompaniment to Peking duck. As a ready-to-use dip, it offers the typical sweet and salty flavour balance that pairs perfectly with crispy duck meat, thin pancakes, and spring onions. Its thick consistency makes it ideal for spreading and dipping.

Benefits

• Ready to use: Can be used directly from the jar as a dip, no cooking or mixing required.
• Authentic profile: Specially formulated to replicate the taste of traditional Hoisin sauce for duck.
• Versatile: Also suitable as a dip for spring rolls, a glaze for poultry, or a flavourful base for wraps.
• Ingredient base: Made from sugar, water, soybeans, salt, and sesame paste.

Who is it for? A must-have for Peking duck enthusiasts who want to serve the dish authentically at home. It's also a great choice for anyone looking for a versatile, sweet and savoury dip for various Asian snacks and dishes.

LEE KUM KEE Red Braising Sauce 410ml

Why it stands out The Red Braising Sauce (Hong Shao) is a complete solution for one of China's most famous home-style dishes. It combines soy sauce, sugar, and spices in a liquid cooking base that gives the braised dish its deep dark colour, rich umami flavour, and a slightly caramelised sweetness.

Benefits

• Simplified preparation: Replaces the need to separately measure soy sauce, sugar, and spices for the braising process.
• Authentic result: Ensures the characteristic glossy, dark glaze and complex flavour of Hong Shao dishes.
• Wide application: Ideal for braising pork belly (Hong Shao Rou), ribs, chicken, hard-boiled eggs, or tofu.
• Ingredient base: Consists of water, sugar, soy sauce, and spices.

Who is it for? Perfect for cooks who want to prepare classic Chinese braised dishes but wish to avoid the effort of traditional sauce making. It allows for a straightforward cooking experience with a result that delivers on flavour.

Discover More Options for Chinese Cuisine

Besides classic cooking sauces, pastes and creams also play a significant role in Chinese cuisine, for example, in noodle dishes or as a base for dips. If you want to expand your repertoire and explore new flavour profiles, taking a look at other product categories could be worthwhile.

Discover a selection of Chinese nut butters and other specialities here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between Hoisin sauce and Peking duck sauce?

Peking duck sauce is often considered a special variation of Hoisin sauce. While Hoisin sauce is a general term for a thick, sweet, and salty soybean-based sauce used for various seasoning and glazing purposes, Peking duck sauce is specifically tailored as a dip for the dish of the same name. It is often slightly sweeter and may contain additional ingredients like sesame paste to round out the flavour.

How long do opened Chinese cooking sauces last?

After opening, most Chinese cooking sauces should be stored in the refrigerator. The exact shelf life varies by product and composition. Generally, they can last for several weeks to months. It is recommended to follow the specific storage instructions and check the best-before date on the packaging.

Can Char Siu sauce be used for other types of meat?

Yes, Char Siu Sauce is very versatile. Although traditionally used for pork, it is also excellent for marinating and glazing chicken wings, ribs, tofu, or even firm vegetables. Its sweet and savoury profile adds a delicious touch to many grilled or roasted dishes.