The first question that comes to mind is, is Oyster sauce made with Oysters? The answer is both yes and no. When it was introduced, it was traditionally made with Oysters. It was made by cooking the Oyster broth for a long time. But now as we know that we have vegan substitutes for everything, so why not this? For all our vegan friends, don’t worry, we got you covered. In this article, you will also be looking at some amazing simple recipes that you can make at home.

You must have heard about a lot of discoveries that were made by accident, well fun fact. Oyster sauce is one such accidental discovery. There are a lot of food recipes that have been discovered by making mistake or by accident. So, mistakes are not always that bad. Just as a mistake, someone in China accidentally overcooked the Oyster broth, and that’s how the recipe for Oyster sauce was born. And now it is a staple food in China and is widely used all over Asia.

Oyster sauce is thick-textured, brown in color liquid, with a savory taste. The contents of the sauce may vary a bit according to the method, but the taste remains the same. Apart from the incredible taste, there are a lot of health benefits to it that we will be covering as we move along.

Nutritional Properties of oyster sauce

As per USDA, 100 grams of Oyster sauce holds the following nutritional values:

Energy: 100 kCal
Protein: 6.67g
Total lipid (fat): 0g
Carbohydrates: 20g
Fiber: 0g

Calcium: 0mg
Iron: 2.4mg
Sugar: 6.67g
Sodium: 4467mg

Health Benefits

Let’s look at a few health benefits of the Oyster sauce. Due to the various Nutritional Properties of oysters, there are various specific benefits according to the various components.

Zinc

According to The National Institute of Health, Oysters contain a maximum amount of Zinc, i.e. 74.0mg per serving. And Zinc is very helpful in boosting the immune system of our body, and also increases metabolism. Zinc is also very effective in wound healing and improves your sense of smell and taste. Having a high zinc content also helps you reduce the risk of age-related issues.

Vitamin B12

According to Harvard Research, there are various health benefits of Vitamin B12 including:

Formation of red blood cells and DNA
Improving the function and development of brain and nerve cells
Helps increase the Bone Health and Prevent Osteoporosis
It May provide an energy boost

Iron

The iron content also has the following benefits: growth and development of the body. Iron also helps the body in creating Hemoglobin. It is a protein in the red blood cells of our body that is responsible for carrying oxygen from our lungs to all the different parts of the body, including the brain. It also leads to a hormone balance in our body.

Sodium

According to the table provided above, we can note that Oyster Sauce has a large amount of Sodium present. Let us walk through the benefits of Sodium.

Sodium maintains the proper balance of water and minerals in our body
Improves nerve impulses, as sodium is responsible for the relaxation and contraction of our body's muscles
Reduces muscle cramps
Helps in the development of the human brain
Improves the health of teeth and skin

Other benefits

Apart from all the discussed minerals and their specific benefits, there are other health benefits like providing a glucose balance in the body. The Oyster sauce has zero Cholesterol, hence it has no trans fat or any saturated fats. Also, it helps in increasing the energy level to a certain extent. The manganese content in the Sauce helps in maintaining the glucose level.

When to avoid the consumption

Now that we know the health benefits of the Oyster sauce, it is important to know if it is good for your body or not. It is important to mention in which condition you should avoid the consumption of Oyster Sauce.

If you are allergic to shellfish, you are surely allergic to Oysters. And obviously, it goes without saying that if you are allergic to oysters do not try the traditional Oyster sauce. In such a case you can pick the alternative, vegan recipe for the sauce. It is a common allergy in adults as well as children. Also, before trying any recipe, go through the ingredients carefully, and find out if you are allergic to any particular component or not.

If you are someone who has high blood pressure, it is suggested that you consume the Oyster sauce with a lot of control. Sauce consumption leads to an increase in uric acid, and if you eat too much it will have adverse effects on your body.

Homemade recipe for Oyster sauce

1. Simple homemade recipe

Buying the Oyster Sauce packet is very convenient, but if you are very particular about your diet. You would like to create your sauce at home. I have a very simple recipe for you to try to create at home.

Here you have a very simply curated recipe. It does not require much effort or time to make the Oyster sauce. Just follow the below steps to make the perfect Sauce for yourself and your family.

Ingredients

Soy sauce: 8 tsp
Liquid from canned oysters: 5 tsp
White granulated sugar: 2 tsp

Instructions

Reserve the Oyster liquid separately
Combine the liquid with soy sauce
Dissolve the sugar in the solution by whisking it in properly
You can adjust the seasoning according to your taste liking

2. Traditional homemade recipe

If you are more into cooking and are willing to put more effort into the process of making a traditionally made recipe at your home, this would be perfect for you. This is the proper way in which the Oyster sauce is made in specific parts of Asia.

Ingredients

Shucked oysters with liquid: 1/2lb (225 g)
Water: 1 Tbsp
Salt: 1/4 tsp
Light soy sauce: 4 Tbsp
Dark soy sauce: 1 Tbsp

Instructions

Reserve the liquid in a bowl and chop the Oysters with a sharp knife into small pieces.

Mix the chopped Oysters, Reserved liquid, and 1tbsp water in a saucepan

Boil them together.
Simmer the ingredients for 10 minutes in low flame
Add salt to the pan
Using a strainer to separate the liquid
Add soya sauce to the liquid in the pan

Simmer the combined liquid for another 10 minutes
The Oyster Sauce is ready. To store it, keep it airtight in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Homemade recipe for Vegan Oyster sauce

In the above section, we used oysters in our recipe. Let us now look at the Vegan recipe for the same.

Ingredients

Dried shiitake mushrooms: 1.75 oz (50 g)
Flax seeds: 1 Tbsp
Vegetable oil: 1-1/2 Tbsp
Sesame oil: 1/2 Tbsp
Ginger (sliced thinly): 3 to 4 inches

Water: 2 cups (500 ml)
Dark soy sauce: 1 Tbsp
Light soy sauce: 1 Tbsp
Sugar: 1 tsp

Salt: 1/2 Tbsp

Instructions

Soak mushrooms and flax seeds in water for 4 hours.
Heat the vegetable oil in the saucepan
Saute the sliced ginger in the pan
When it is brownish, remove the ginger and set it aside.
Now add the sliced mushrooms to the pan with some sesame oil, and cook for one minute

Add salt and soy sauces to it.
Pour water and sugar into the pan
Let it simmer in low to medium flame for 10 minutes
Remove the ingredients from the pan and let it cool

Pour the pre-cooked ginger, the cooled-down ingredients, and flax seeds into a blender.
Heat the paste gently for 5 minutes.
The Sauce is ready, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

EndNote

Oyster sauce is a delicious dark brown color, thick texture solution with a salty taste. The various health benefits are amazing and can be noted in the article. The various important minerals like Iron, Magnesium, Sodium, Zinc, Vitamin B12 and other compositions make it healthy. The fact that it has zero cholesterol and is completely fat-free is one of the reasons everybody looks forward to it. The delicious taste can be enjoyed alongside various dishes and food items. It can be eaten with a snack or with your daily meal. The Oyster sauce adds a lot of flavor to your food and makes it better.

Also, we should not forget everything has its drawbacks and consequences. The amount of consumption should be under control and should not be eaten at all in case of specific allergies. This article has described in detail when to avoid eating oyster sauce. Also, there are amazing homemade recipes for the oyster sauce dish. There is a simple dish where you just have to combine three ingredients to make the sauce easily, then you have the traditional method which is a little bit elaborate and can be followed if you love cooking. Apart from that you also have an alternative recipe if you follow a vegan diet.

Oyster Sauce: Some Facts, Nutritional Benefits and Recipie