If you regularly cook Chinese food at home, the worst thing that can happen is to run out of sauces that are essential when it comes to the flavours of your favourite Chinese dishes. With that in mind, what are some of the main Chinese sauces you must always have on hand? Here is a recommended list of sauces you must have in your kitchen.

A must have for Chinese cooking – Oyster Sauce, Soy Sauce (light and dark), Sesame Oil

1. Soy Sauce

   Light Soy Sauce is used to enhance the taste and flavours of any dish, and can also be used as a meat marinade, dipping sauce and seasoning. It draws out the flavour of any meat, noodles or rice dishes. Lee Kum Kee Premium Soy Sauce has upgraded its formulation with no added additives. It is so versatile, it can also be added to caramel sauces and baked into cakes. A few drops of soy sauce would add some umami and even help balance the sweetness of baked goods.

    

2. Oyster Sauce

   Oyster sauce has a robust flavour and a rich colour which makes it an ideal all-purpose sauce for marinating or stir-frying. It can be added to other sauces, or used on its own e.g. drizzled on top of steamed vegetables (often Chinese broccoli in Cantonese cuisine) as a finishing touch. It is a key ingredient if you regularly cook Chinese stir fries at home. You can also add a dollop to your fried rice or stir-fry noodles, you can tell the uplifted taste with a good oyster sauce.

    

3. Pure Sesame Oil

   Made from selected roasted sesame seeds, it is great for marinating and serving with noodles, vegetables, soups and salads. To enhance the overall aroma, flavour and taste of any dish – add a few dashes just before serving.

    

4. Dark Soy Sauce

   Dark soy sauce is used to add deep colours to meat stews and casseroles and often paired with light soy sauce to achieve the perfect balance in taste and colour. Perfect for winter stews, sticky slow cooked meats, as well as flavouring your favourite BBQ dishes.

   

   Easy re-creation of restaurant style dishes – Char Siu Sauce, Hoisin Sauce                                                                                                                                                                                  

5. Char Siu Sauce

   Char Siu sauce is a ready-to-use oriental barbecue sauce that helps you easily re-create restaurant grade Char Siu at home. It’s perfect for marinating or roasting pork and ribs with a distinctly sweet flavour that’s commonly tasted in Asian cuisine. Use it as a marinade or glaze for barbecued pork, chicken or seafood. Brush it on grilled vegetables to add a sweet smoky flavour, or add to soups or toss with cooked noodles. This sauce can also be added to stir fries, as well as drizzled over rice or dumplings.

    

6. Hoisin Sauce

   Hoisin sauce is a thick and intensely flavoured sauce made with a base of fermented soy bean paste which gives it the salty, sweet, and tangy flavour profile. The addition of a variety of spices and sugar add to the depth and complexity of the sauce. Use it in marinades, roasts, and stir-fries, or as a condiment.

   

   To add a spicy touch in dips and stir fries – Chilli Garlic Sauce (family friendly), Chiu Chow Style Chilli Oil (multiple texture excitement)                                                                                      

7. Chilli Garlic Sauce

   A medium hot chilli sauce made from a careful blend of ripened chillies and a hint of garlic. This sauce is delicious for use as a condiment (especially for poached chicken or Chinese entrees such as spring rolls, steamed dumplings, wontons etc) or for stir-frying.

    

8. Chiu Chow Style Chilli Oil

   Made with a balanced blend of chillies, garlic and other spices. It packs an appealingly complex, savoury, piquant hit and subtle crunch, which make it perfect for adding to stir-fries, dim sum, noodles and even as salad dressings.

   

   Ready-in-minutes – Lee Kum Kee Ready Sauces                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

9. Ready Sauce for Honey & Soy Chicken

Classic Chinese cuisine is especially well known for its delicate, well-balanced flavours which enhance the freshness of the ingredients. A packet of Ready Sauce will make any weeknight meal convenient and delicious! Honey & Soy Chicken is most peoples’ all time favourite. Whip up a quick and delicious chicken and vegetables stir-fry in less than 20 minutes, and serve with steamed rice. This Pantry Essential sauce is going to come in handy especially on busy and hectic days. Lee Kum Kee’s Ready Sauce range includes more than 10 different Chinese/Asian flavours – check out your favourites at your local supermarkets and enjoy Chinese cooking tonight.