Oyster Sauce Calories

If you are fond of Chinese or Vietnamese cuisine, then you must be familiar with oyster sauce. Oyster sauce is one of the basic sauces that is used extensively in preparing Chinese cuisine particularly Cantonese cuisine. As the name suggests oyster sauce is made with oysters. Firstly, fresh oysters are boiled in water until the oysters are cooked through and the water is of the consistency of a thick white broth. This broth is then reduced until it has a slightly thick consistency and is of a dark brown color. It has a rich texture and its taste is slightly salty and sweet.

Nowadays the oyster sauces that we get in a supermarket have additives in them in the form of cornstarch, brown sugar and soy sauce to lend that beautiful dark rich color which is the hallmark of a genuine oyster sauce. If a recipe lists oyster sauce as one of its ingredients, then you cannot substitute it with another sauce. Knowing oyster sauce calories, will help you in understanding how many calories the sauce is contributing to the ultimate dish. Here, we are going to discuss the calories in oyster sauce.

Calories in Oyster Sauce

Oyster sauce is used in stir fries and noodles and it imparts a rich smoky flavor to these dishes. It might seem strange, but there is a version of vegetarian oyster sauce too. This is made from oyster mushrooms which have a meaty texture and flavor and replicates the taste of an authentic oyster sauce. You can also use oyster sauce substitute. One tablespoon of oyster sauce contains around 9 calories. A tablespoon of oyster sauce contains approximately 14 grams of the sauce. 1 ounce of oyster sauce contains around 14 calories. The calories in oyster sauce might not seem much on its own. But you need to remember that this sauce is used in conjunction with other meat and vegetables, which will also contribute to the number of calories that you ultimately consume. You also need to keep in mind that the calories in oyster sauce will vary across different brands of the sauce.

Oyster Sauce Nutrition Facts

Oyster sauce is used in a number of food preparations like marinades for meat and poultry, as a dipping sauce with dumplings and as a flavoring agent in stir fries and stews. 1 ounce of oyster sauce contains no saturated fats and trans fats. It contains 3 grams of carbohydrates and no cholesterol. Oyster sauce is high in vitamin B12, riboflavin, selenium and Niacin. It is a good source of minerals like copper, potassium, magnesium and zinc which is required by the body for its proper functioning. On the downside, this sauce is very high in sodium and should be used in moderation by people who suffer from high blood pressure.

All sauces in general are high in calories and saturated fat content. This is particularly true in case of classic French sauces and Italian sauces like hollandaise sauce, Bearnaise sauce and Alfredo sauce. But oriental sauces like hoisin sauce, oyster sauce and black bean sauce are comparatively lower in calories and saturated fat. This is because these oriental sauces do not have a butter and egg base. However all these sauces are quite high in sodium. People who are suffering from high blood pressure, gout, diabetes or any inflammatory diseases should stay away or at least use these sauces in moderation.

Calories in oyster sauce is not much and you can use them in your food preparation as long as use it in moderation. Since oyster sauce high amounts of sodium, you can decrease the amount of salt you use in the dish to make your food more healthy.