Oyster Sauce

Oyster sauce is a traditional Chinese seasoning made with oysters cooked in soy sauce and brine to produce a thick, brown concentrated sauce. Although it contains oysters, it does not in fact taste at all fishy, instead having a rich, savoury flavour with a hint of sweetness.

Sold in bottles, it may be used as a condiment, in stir-frying and to season other meat, poultry and vegetable dishes, where it enriches the flavour of the food without overpowering its taste. One of its classic uses is in Cantonese pork-filled dumplings.

Oyster sauce may be stored in a cool, dry place for up to a year, although once opened, it should be kept in the fridge and used within a week.