Hoisin sauce, sometimes called chinese barbecue sauce, is a fragrant, pungent sauce used frequently in asian vegetable stir-frys and marinades as well as asian-style grilled dishes. Made from a combination of soy, garlic, vinegar, and usually chili and sweetener, hoisin is dark in color and thick in consistency. It has a very strong salty and slightly sweet flavor. As with most dipping sauces, this tastes best if the flavors are allowed to blend for 1 hour before serving.