Oyster Sauce

A popular seasoning from the fishing villages in southern China, this important sauce is an essential ingredient of Cantonese (southern) cuisine. It is thick and brown and is made from a concentrate of oysters cooked in soy sauce, seasonings, and brine. Despite its name, oyster sauce does not taste fishy. It has a rich flavour and is used not only in cooking but as a condiment, diluted with a little oil, for vegetables, poultry, or meats - a very popular southern Chinese use. It is usually sold in bottles and can be bought in Chinese markets and some supermarkets. Search out the most expensive ones; their higher quality is worth the price.