The 10 Best Duck Sauce Substitutes

Duck sauce is a popular condiment in Chinese cuisine. It’s a sweet and tangy sauce that’s usually made with apricots, plums, sugar, vinegar, and sometimes ginger. However, sometimes you may not have access to duck sauce, or you may not like the taste of it. That’s where substitutes come in handy.

Why You Might Need a Substitute

There are many reasons why you might need a substitute for duck sauce. Perhaps you’re allergic to one of the ingredients, or you simply don’t have any on hand. Maybe you don’t like the taste of duck sauce or want to try something new. Whatever your reason, it’s important to find a good substitute.

1. Honey Mustard Sauce

Honey mustard sauce is a popular condiment that’s usually made with mustard, honey, vinegar, and mayonnaise. It’s a great substitute for duck sauce because it’s sweet and tangy, just like duck sauce. It’s also easy to make at home.

Recipe for Homemade Honey Mustard Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, honey, dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar until smooth.
2. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

2. Apricot Preserves

Apricot preserves are another great substitute for duck sauce. They’re made with apricots, sugar, and sometimes lemon juice. They have a similar sweet and tangy flavor as duck sauce and can be used in many of the same dishes.

Recipe for Homemade Apricot Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 cup apricot preserves
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

Instructions:

1. In a small saucepan, whisk together the apricot preserves, rice vinegar, and soy sauce.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is heated through and well combined.
3. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

3. Peach Preserves

Just like apricot preserves, peach preserves are a great substitute for duck sauce. They’re made with peaches, sugar, and sometimes lemon juice. They have a similar sweet and tangy flavor and can be used in many of the same dishes.

Recipe for Homemade Peach Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 cup peach preserves
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

Instructions:

1. In a small saucepan, whisk together the peach preserves, rice vinegar, and soy sauce.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is heated through and well combined.
3. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

4. Sweet and Sour Sauce

Sweet and sour sauce is a classic Chinese condiment that’s similar to duck sauce in taste. It’s usually made with sugar, vinegar, and ketchup, and sometimes includes pineapple and/or bell peppers. It’s tangy and sweet, making it a great substitute for duck sauce.

Recipe for Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together the ketchup, white vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is heated through and well combined.
3. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

5. Plum Sauce

Plum sauce is another classic Chinese condiment that’s similar to duck sauce in taste. It’s usually made with plums, sugar, vinegar, and spices like ginger and cinnamon. It’s sweet and tangy, making it a great substitute for duck sauce.

Recipe for Homemade Plum Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plums, pitted and chopped
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions:

1. In a small saucepan, combine the plums, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, and cinnamon.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is heated through and well combined.
3. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

6. Hoisin Sauce

Hoisin sauce is a thick, dark sauce that’s made with soybeans, sugar, vinegar, and spices. It’s a popular condiment in Chinese cuisine and has a similar sweet and tangy flavor as duck sauce. It can be used as a substitute in many dishes.

Recipe for Homemade Hoisin Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon five-spice

Instructions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and five-spice powder.
2. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to one month.

7. Teriyaki Sauce

Teriyaki sauce is a popular Japanese sauce that’s made with soy sauce, sugar, and mirin (a sweet Japanese rice wine). It’s a versatile sauce that can be used as a marinade or glaze, and it has a similar sweet and savory flavor as duck sauce.

Recipe for Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup mirin
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon ginger, grated

Instructions:

1. In a small saucepan, combine the soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is heated through and well combined.
3. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

8. Mango Chutney

Mango chutney is a sweet and spicy Indian condiment that’s made with mangoes, sugar, vinegar, and spices like ginger and cumin. It’s a great substitute for duck sauce in dishes that can handle a little heat.

Recipe for Homemade Mango Chutney

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe mangoes, peeled and chopped
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the mangoes, sugar, white vinegar, garlic, ginger, cumin, and cayenne pepper.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is heated through and the mangoes are soft.
3. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

9. Barbecue Sauce

Barbecue sauce is a tangy and sweet sauce that’s made with tomato sauce, vinegar, sugar, and spices like garlic and paprika. It’s a great substitute for duck sauce in dishes that can handle a smoky flavor.

Recipe for Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 garlic clove

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, white vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is heated through and well combined.
3. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

10. Plum Sauce

Plum sauce is a Chinese condiment that’s made with plums, sugar, vinegar, and spices like ginger and garlic. It has a similar sweet and tangy flavor as duck sauce and can be used as a dipping sauce or glaze.

Recipe for Homemade Plum Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plums, pitted and chopped
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon ginger, grated

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the plums, sugar, white vinegar, garlic, and ginger.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is heated through and the plums are soft.
3. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Conclusion

While duck sauce is a popular condiment, it’s not always easy to find or may not fit the dietary restrictions of some people. Fortunately, there are plenty of duck sauce substitutes that you can make at home with simple ingredients. From sweet and savory sauces like hoisin sauce and teriyaki sauce to tangy options like barbecue sauce and plum sauce, there’s a substitute for every taste preference. Give these recipes a try and see which one you like best!