蚝油 (háoyóu) · oyster sauce

Measure Word

一瓶蚝油 píng

Meanings

1 oyster sauce

About the ingredient

调料 Seasonings

A thick, dark brown sauce of oyster extract, sugar and salt, savoury and slightly sweet rather than fishy. Cantonese cooks pour it over blanched greens such as gai lan and use it in beef and noodle stir-fries.

Contains shellfish and wheat

Used in 6 dishes

蚝油西兰花 háoyóu xīlánhuā

鲍汁豆腐 bàozhī dòufu

Characters

Examples

HSK 5

蚝油不能高温久煮,会变苦。

Háoyóu bù néng gāowēn jiǔ zhǔ, huì biàn kǔ.

Oyster sauce shouldn't be cooked at high heat for long or it turns bitter.

HSK 7-9

炒青菜最后加一勺蚝油特别香。

Chǎoqīngcài zuìhòu jiā yì sháo háoyóu tèbié xiāng.

Adding a spoon of oyster sauce at the end makes stir-fried greens extra fragrant.

HSK 7-9

李锦记是最有名的蚝油品牌。

Lǐ jǐn jì shì zuì yǒumíng de háoyóu pǐnpái.

Lee Kum Kee is the most famous oyster sauce brand.

Tips

history

Oyster sauce was invented by Lee Kum Sheung in Guangdong around 1888, reportedly by accident when he overcooked a pot of oyster soup. The company Lee Kum Kee (李锦记) built an empire on it and still dominates the category.