How to Make Chinese Black Bean Sauce - A Step-by-Step Guide

Chinese black bean sauce is a staple ingredient in Chinese cooking, adding rich, savory flavor to a variety of dishes. Made from fermented black beans, this thick and fragrant sauce is a popular condiment used in stir-fries, steamed dishes, and noodle dishes.

With its intense umami flavor, Chinese black bean sauce is often paired with ingredients such as garlic, ginger, and chilies to create a well-balanced, aromatic sauce that enhances the flavor of meat, seafood, and vegetables.

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Ingredients

  • 8 ounces dried fermented black beans
  • 1 ½ cups vegetable oil
  • 4 Thai chiles, chopped
  • 1 medium shallot, minced
  • 1 (2 inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons reduced-sodium tamari
  • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing rice wine
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground Sichuan pepper
  • ½ teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Information

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 35 mins
  • Servings: 15

  • Rinse black beans thoroughly and dry. Remove about 1/4 cup and set aside. Roughly chop the rest of the beans.
  • Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add chiles, shallot, ginger, and garlic. Fry until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Do not let the ingredients burn. Reduce the heat if necessary. The objective is to slow cook the ingredients.
  • Add all the beans; both chopped and whole. Simmer, stirring often, until the beans are soft, about 2 minutes. Add tamari, rice wine, brown sugar, ground Sichuan pepper, and five spice. Simmer until thickened, stirring often. Remove from heat; let cool, about 10 minutes.
  • Mix in sesame oil and cover. As the sauce rests, the beans will settle and the oil will float, creating a barrier which will protect it from mold. The sauce is ready to use or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
  • Nutrition

    211 cal.

    • Total Fat: 22g
    • Saturated Fat: 4g
    • Sodium: 203mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 3g
    • Dietary Fiber: 0g
    • Total Sugars: 1g
    • Protein: 1g
    • Vitamin C: 30mg
    • Calcium: 7mg
    • Iron: 0mg
    • Potassium: 67mg