How Are Fish, Oyster and Soy Sauces Used?

Fish, oyster, and soy sauce are three Asian condiments that can be used in many dishes. In their respective countries of origin, they are very common as an all-purpose spice. In this country, too, they give many dishes a tasteful round and an Asian touch.

The fish sauce comes from Southeast Asia and is still used there very often today, for example in Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. There it is considered the main condiment and is used in many ways: for example as a dip or marinade or to round off hearty dishes such as soups, curries, or salads. It smells very strongly of fish but doesn’t taste like it. Rather, the taste is very spicy and salty. Due to its strong flavor, the fish sauce should be used sparingly. To soften the fishy smell, we recommend adding lemon and chili. Fish sauce is one of the oldest condiments in the world and is made from anchovies, shrimp, or oysters. It used to be widespread throughout Asia but was later replaced by soy sauce in some countries. There are also European fish sauces, for example, the Colatura di Alici as a regional Italian specialty. Unlike the Asian variant, however, these are usually not fermented.

Oyster sauce comes from Chinese cuisine. In addition to fermented oysters, it also contains soy sauce, garlic, and salt. The vegetarian version is made from shiitake mushrooms. Their aroma is salty, a little sweet, spicy, piquant, and quite strong. It is used in a variety of ways in Chinese cuisine: for fish and meat dishes, as a dip or marinade. Similar to soy sauce, it is also often on the table for seasoning.

Soy sauce is considered a Japanese condiment classic, and it is also particularly well-known and widespread in this country. In addition to the Japanese variant, there are also soy sauces from other Asian countries, such as China. These often have a slightly different aroma, for example, they are sweeter. The Japanese sauce is very salty and spicy in taste. It is particularly suitable for marinades or as an accompaniment to sushi or gyoza, is an integral part of stir-fries and many other savory dishes and sauces, but is also used to taste. Is sushi healthy? Also, read the answer to this question.