Fish Sauce Vs. Oyster Sauce | What’s The Difference?

Fish Sauce and oyster sauce are two popular condiments used in Chinese cuisine that add a salty, savory, umami flavor. But if you thought you could use them interchangeably, think again!

It’s common to assume that fish sauce and oyster sauce can be used interchangeably as they are both seafood products. However, they are far from alike. 

This article will tell you all about fish sauce vs. oyster sauce so that you understand their differences better. 

Fish sauce and oyster sauce may look alike from a distance but have different flavors. While the fish sauce has a salty, savory, and quintessential fishy flavor, the oyster sauce has a distinct sweet, salty, and caramelized flavor.

But there are more differences between the two ends. There’s more to learn about the difference between fish sauce and oyster before using them. All this information you will find right here.

So, let those bottles sit on your shelves for a while and learn more about using fish sauce and oyster sauce correctly. 

Fish Sauce VS Oyster Sauce | Difference Table

What Is Fish Sauce?

Fish sauce is a condiment popularly used in Southeast Asian cuisine. It is prepared by combining fish such as anchovies with sea salt.

The mixture is left to ferment in a closed container for at least one month. The fermented, deep red-brown colored liquid is what you call the fish sauce. 

Fish sauce has a salty, savory, fishy, and umami flavor. Most importantly, it has a thin consistency. This makes it a popular condiment used in marinades, stir-fries, salad dressings, broths, and pasta. 

What Is Oyster Sauce?

Oyster sauce is a rich, syrup-like sauce. It has an earthy, slightly sweet, and salty flavor that tastes like a mix of soy sauce and barbeque sauce.

Oyster sauce is a mixture of boiled oyster juices with salt and sugar. This sauce has a dark brown color and a glossy appearance. The flavors of oyster sauce are so unique that vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes benefit from it.

Some popular dishes where the oyster sauce is used are stir-fry, rice, glaze, marinade, and stews.

Fish Sauce Vs. Oyster Sauce | What’s The Difference?

Fish sauce and oysters are often confused and thought to be the same. However, the two are completely different in all aspects. Let’s find out their differences in detail below.

1. Origin

Fish sauce is said to have originated in ancient Greece. From there, it traveled to ancient China.

On the other hand, oyster sauce originated in Southern China and became a popular choice in Vietnamese and Thai cuisine.

Moreover, while the fish sauce was a culinary experiment, the oyster sauce was a beautiful result of an accident. Oyster sauce was invented by a man who accidentally overcooked his oyster broth. The reduced oyster juices resulted in a flavorful condiment, which we know as oyster sauce. 

2. Appearance

Fish sauce has a reddish-brown, amber, or deep brown color. The highest quality batch comes in a light amber, almost clear color.

Oyster sauce has a dark brown and almost black color.

3. Taste

Despite being seafood products, fish sauce and oyster sauce have unique and distinct flavors. While fish sauce has a fishy, umami, salty, and savory taste, oyster sauce has earthy, caramelized, and salty flavors that hit the taste buds differently. 

4. Consistency

The texture is one of the most important and big differentiating factors between fish and oyster sauce. Fish sauce has a thin- water like consistency, whereas oyster sauce has a thick syrup-like consistency with a glossy finish.

5. Ingredients

Fish sauce is prepared with brine from fermented fish (anchovies), spices such as peppercorns, garlic, sea salt, bay leaves, and lemon. 

Oyster sauce is prepared by cooking oysters in water until their juices begin to thicken. This sauce also contains salt, sugar, water, and cornstarch.

6. Uses

Fish sauce is ideally used in recipes that have a fishy flavor or call for it. Therefore, you will find fish sauce in pasta like marinara, carbonara, or Bolognese, braised meats, fish soups, non-vegetarian stir-fries, and stews. Fish is also commonly used as a dipping sauce.

Oyster sauce is most commonly used in stir-fry sauces, glazes, and marinades. It is also used to flavor chicken, beef, and vegetables like broccoli, noodles, and rice dishes. Moreover, oyster sauce is also the key ingredient in making homemade versions of relishes, such as hoisin sauce or teriyaki sauce. 

6. Nutritional Value

Regarding the nutritional value of both sauces, you will find that both have a dominant sodium content. However, as compared to fish sauce, oyster sauce doesn’t hold many nutrients.

Between the two, fish sauce is rich in protein, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

7. Preservation

Fish sauce and oyster sauce have completely different shelf life. While you can store the fish sauce for 3 to 4 years on pantry shelves, oyster sauce only comes with a shelf life of 18-24 months.

Top Recipes To Make With Fish Sauce

1. Bruised Cabbage and Herb Salad with Spicy Fish Sauce Dressing

Fish sauce is popularly found in salad dressings. One such salad you can try to make the best use of fish sauce is bruised cabbage and herb salad with spicy fish sauce dressing. 

This refreshing salad features cabbage, cilantro, Thai basil, and mint, pounded with chiles, ginger, and garlic, with a dressing of fish sauce and lime. It can be served alongside grilled or roasted fish, chicken, and steamed jasmine rice.

2. Thai Pineapple Shrimp Curry

That pineapple shrimp curry is a spectacular dish that makes the best use of the fish sauce. This quick recipe features shrimp and pineapple in a coconut milk broth with red curry paste, fish sauce, and vegetables.

3. Chef John’s Grilled Flap Steak

Chef John’s grilled flap steak is a delicious recipe that makes good use of fish sauce to infuse the best umami flavors into the steak. The grilled meat is slathered with a dressing made of reserved meat juices, sambal, fish sauce, and rice vinegar.

4. Cambodian Lemongrass Chicken Soup

If you are looking to find a soup recipe enriched with flavors of fish sauce, then you must try the Cambodian lemongrass chicken soup. 

This soup features chicken, vegetables, and fresh herbs simmered in an aromatic lemongrass broth with citrus juices, zest, garlic, soy sauce, ginger, fish sauce, and chili pepper. 

5. Thai Chicken With Basil Stir Fry 

Stir fries get their extraordinary taste from the use of the fish sauce. To savor its flavors, you can try the Thai chicken with basil stir fry recipe. This recipe features chicken strips with mushrooms, onions, ginger, basil, and garlic combined with a coconut milk sauce starring fish sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and red pepper flakes. 

Top Recipes To Make With Oyster Sauce

1. Chinese Chicken With Oyster Sauce

Chinese restaurants are famous for making stellar dishes in no time. The secret? Using some amazing sauces that provide a delectable taste. So, if you have oyster sauce sitting in your pantry, try the recipe for the Chinese chicken with oyster sauce.

Small pieces of chicken are stir-fried to perfection in a sauce made with oyster sauce, rice wine, and soy sauce. This dish is purely delicious.

2. Stir-Fried Beef With Oyster Sauce

Amp up the flavors of beef with oyster sauce in this recipe. Stir-fried beef with oyster sauce features marinated slices of lean beef steak, pan-fried with chunks of red pepper and oyster sauce.

3. Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

Enjoy this recipe’s goodness of oyster sauce in Thai chicken noodle soup.

This soup features rice noodles, mushrooms, chicken breast, herbs, and oyster sauce to achieve that mouth-watering umami flavor.

4. Chinese Cold Salad Dressing

Try out this Chinese cold salad dressing featuring oyster sauce to any mix of vegetables, tofu, seaweed, and noodles. 

5. Beef Stew

Make the best use of oyster sauce in beef stew using this recipe that features oyster sauce as a key ingredient to flavor the stew. 

This stew is made with blanched and stir-fried beef, potatoes, and carrots swimming in a broth made with spices and oyster sauce

Fish Sauce Vs. Oyster Sauce | Which One Is Healthier?

When it comes to the nutritional values of both the sauce, there’s a noticeable gap between fish sauce and oyster sauce.

If you look at the nutritional table content of one tablespoon of both sauces, you will find the fish sauce healthier. The fish sauce contains more protein and calcium and is rich in magnesium and potassium compared to oyster sauce.

However, fish sauce should be consumed in moderation as it has a high sodium content.

Fish Sauce Vs. Oyster Sauce | Which One Is Tastier?

Both fish sauce and oyster sauce bring unique flavors to the table. But which one turns out to be tastier depends on what you are cooking. 

If you are looking for fishy and umami flavors, you must go for fish sauce. However, the oyster sauce will be the best bet if you are looking for subtle and sweeter notes.

Fish Sauce Vs. Oyster Sauce | Which Is More Versatile?

In the war of flavors and keeping in mind other factors, oyster sauce is definitely more versatile than fish sauce. That’s because the oyster sauce has a subtle flavor. Fish sauce has a pungent taste that can be overpowering at times.

Oyster sauce can be used in all the items that call for fish sauce. Whereas, the result may vary if you use fish sauce for the oyster sauce as it has a pungent flavor.

Fish Sauce Vs. Oyster Sauce | Which Is Better?

After reading all those pointers with starking dissimilarities, it is quite evident that oyster sauce is much healthier than oyster sauce. However, if we go by other factors, oyster sauce wins the battle by one governing characteristic of flavor. 

Due to its subtle flavor, you can use oyster sauce in almost anything. You get the umami, salty, and briny flavors without them being overpowering. Moreover, if you’re not a fan of fishy flavors, you’re likely more sensitive to the taste of the fish sauce.

Can You Swap The Two Sauces?

By now, it’s quite clear that oyster sauce and fish sauce have many differentiating factors. They are made from two very different seafood products and methods. While fish sauce is fermented, oyster sauce is caramelized. 

However, the primary differentiator is the flavor that the two sauces offer. Fish sauce is pungent and saltier in flavor than oyster sauce. It also doesn’t have the unique sweetness of oyster sauce. Therefore, swapping these two needs to be done mindfully.

That being said, oyster sauce can be a good replacement for fish sauce in most recipes. Oyster sauce is less potent. It will give the food that umami and briny note you are looking for. You can use a 1:1 ratio to replace fish sauce with oyster sauce.

But if you plan to use fish sauce for oyster sauce, you will have to use it in a lesser proportion and add some sugar.  

Fish sauce is popularly found in salad dressings. One such salad you can try to make the best use of fish sauce is bruised cabbage and herb salad with spicy fish sauce dressing. 

This refreshing salad features cabbage, cilantro, Thai basil, and mint, pounded with chiles, ginger, and garlic, with a dressing of fish sauce and lime. It can be served alongside grilled or roasted fish, chicken, and steamed jasmine rice.

Conclusion

I’m sure; by now, you must be happy and surprised to know the difference between fish and oyster sauce. These two sauces bring unique flavors to the table, but you must be mindful while using them.

If you have any questions about these two sauces, feel free to ask me in the comments below. To find more information like this, head to our website to discover cooking secrets.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)