Oyster sauce is a dark brown sauce made from oysters, brine, and soy sauce that have been cooked until thick and concentrated. Select a good quality brand with a thick consistency. It is available in many supermarkets and in all Asian markets. A vegetarian substitute, made from mushrooms and soybeans, in available in many Asian markets.

Paulette Mitchell, a culinary instructor, television personality, spokesperson, freelance food writer, and the award-winning author of 13 cookbooks, is known internationally for her quick-to-prepare recipes with gourmet flair. Paulette's most recently published cookbook is "The Complete 15-Minute Gourmet: Creative Cuisine Made Fast and Fresh." She is also the author of "A Beautiful Bowl of Soup" and "The Spirited Vegetarian," which was voted "Best Book in the World on Cooking with Wine" at the 2005 Gourmand World Media Awards. Paulette says that international travel is her favorite source of culinary inspiration.