With this black bean sauce in hand, you’ve now discovered the grand secret to making some of the best Chinese food on the planet!
For those of you who know what this is, you already know the wonders it does for your Asian-inspired dishes. You’ll also be happy to know how incredibly quick and easy it is to make yourself (all of 15 minutes). PLUS, it tastes even better than store-bought stuff AND you know exactly what’s in it…and what isn’t!
For those of you who have no idea what this stuff is, you’ve now discovered a grand secret to making some of the best Chinese food on the planet!
So let’s get right down to it.
What is Black Bean Sauce?
Let’s begin with the central ingredient: Fermented black beans. No, they’re not your typical black beans, aka turtle beans, that you find in dishes like Black Beans & Rice or in South American cuisine. (Yes, I have seen several well-intentioned recipes online calling for regular black beans.) No, these black beans are actually black soybeans. These fermented black soybeans, called douchi in Chinese, are created through a process of boiling the beans, then inoculating them with a special mold spore (commonly aspergillus oryzae) as they dry in the sun. Then they’re typically either stored dry or in brine. This same mold variety is used in miso and soy sauce which are also both fermented products.
You can find fermented black beans in well-stocked Asian grocery stores or you can buy them online.
Because of their strong flavor, fermented black beans are frequently paired with other strong flavors like, most commonly garlic and also chilies for heat. Fermented black beans are most widely used to make Black Bean Sauce, also referred to as Black Bean Paste and Black Bean & Garlic Sauce. Black bean sauce is an important and popular ingredient in Chinese cuisine, particularly Cantonese and Sichuan cooking. It’s as common as an everyday condiment as ketchup is here.
Sharp, pungent, salty and spicy with a hint of sweet, black bean sauce contributes a flavor to Chinese food like no other. And a little goes a very long way, so use sparingly.
So now that we’ve established what black bean paste is, the next question arises:
How Do You Use Black Bean Sauce?
The sky is the limit!
Some popular ways of using it include:
- Stir-fries
- Fried rice
- Eggs and omelettes
- Chinese long beans or green beans
- Fish, scallops, clams and shrimp
- Chinese noodle dishes
- Chicken dishes
- Beef dishes
- Asian eggplant dishes
- Slathered on pork spareribs and then steamed, grilled or roasted
- On vegetables such as bok choy or broccoli
- Asian wraps
- Asian-style coleslaw
I love including it in the base for most any stir-fry. Just select your protein, throw in some veggies, and stir in the black bean sauce.
Black bean sauce is used any time you want to add a unique and powerfully delicious flavor boost to your dishes along with a punch of umami.
Here are just a few recipes that you can take to the next level by adding 2-3 teaspoons of this black bean sauce:
Beef Stir Fry with Snow Peas and Mushrooms
AND DON’T FORGET TO TRY THESE OTHER GREAT CHINESE CONDIMENTS!
Homemade Hoisin Sauce
Homemade Chinese Plum Sauce (Duck Sauce)
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
Sweet & Sour Sauce
Ready to make some Chinese Black Bean Sauce?
Let’s get started!
Making your own Chinese black bean paste takes all of 10 minutes. As long as you have the fermented black beans, the rest of the ingredients are common staples and easy to find. You can find fermented black beans online.
They come in a large quantity and at a good price. They’ll keep for a long time, several months, and you can also freeze them in ziplock bags and they’ll last even longer.
Place the fermented black beans in a small bowl, cover with water and soak for an hour or so. Then rinse and drain them.
Mash the beans up with a fork and set them aside.
Finely mince the garlic, ginger and green onions.
Heat the oil in a small sauce pan over medium-high heat and cook the garlic and ginger for a minute or two until softened and very fragrant. Add the green onions and cook for another minute.
Add the mashed fermented black beans and cook for another minute.
Add the remaining ingredients, except for the cornstarch, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until the liquid has been reduced by half.
Stir in the cornstarch mixture and simmer for another minute or until thickened.
Let the Chinese Black Bean Paste (or Chinese Black Bean Sauce) cool and then store it in the fridge in an airtight container, preferably a glass jar. Will keep for up to 2 weeks.
BEST Chinese Black Bean Sauce (aka Black Bean Garlic Sauce or Black Bean Paste)
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons fermented black beans ,soaked in water about an hour then rinsed and drained (if you prefer a stronger and saltier flavor, use more beans)
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 tablespoons finely minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons finely minced ginger
- 2 green onions finely chopped
- 1/2 cup vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon hot red pepper sauce or sambal oelek for heat (optional)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Mash soaked and drained fermented black beans with a fork and set aside.
- Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for a minute or two until softened and very fragrant. Add the green onions and cook for another minute. Add the mashed beans and cook for another minute.
- Add all remaining ingredients, except for the cornstarch mixture, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer uncovered for 10-12 minutes or until the liquid is reduced by half. Stir in the cornstarch mixture and simmer for another minute or until thickened.
- Let the black bean sauce cool and store in an airtight container (preferably glass). Will keep for up to 2 weeks.Makes a little more than a cup.
Notes
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Citra Kale @Citra's Home Diary says
6 March, 2016 at 3:44 amHi Kim…your black bean sauce pulls my full attention. I like it bit hot spicy. You know, I even make my own fermented bean homemade since I can’t find locally in my place. thx for sharing, definitely will try your recipe.
Hang says
11 June, 2017 at 4:12 pmI’ll try too
Adam Yao says
29 November, 2017 at 9:21 pmHi Citra,
Could you please share how you make fermented black bean at home? Because I can’t find any asian mart in my city nor online store that sale fermented black bean in my country.
If you could share the how to, I’ll help me a lot cause I really want to try this recipe
Thanks in advance ^^
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
7 March, 2016 at 4:03 amThis is really awesome! I’ll be buying some fermented black beans!
Alisa Fleming says
7 March, 2016 at 7:41 amI’m so impressed Kimberly! This is one of those sauces that I hate buying at the store (due to ingredients) but then it seems so out of reach to make at home. I may just have to finally invest in some fermented black beans to trial! I just have to wait until I have freezer space.
Patty says
27 April, 2017 at 2:55 pmMe too! I am so excited for my fermented black beans to arrive so I can make this – YUM!!!
Janet says
10 December, 2017 at 1:22 pmI keep my unused fermented black beans in their bag, inside a zip lock bag in my frig. They are soooo salty that I doubt they will ever go bad. I keep miso paste in the frig too, for a very long time until I’m able to use it up.
Stephanie says
7 March, 2016 at 8:51 amThis looks so good! Can’t wait to try some!
Faith (An Edible Mosaic) says
7 March, 2016 at 4:35 pmI love the deep, umami flavor of fermented foods and black bean sauce is one of my favs! I’ll have to try this homemade version, I bet it’s better than anything pre-made at the grocery store!
Lauren Kelly Nutrition says
7 March, 2016 at 4:54 pmI love love love this! Fermented black beans? Sign me up!
Laura says
7 March, 2016 at 7:43 pmThis is awesome–I am completely intrigued! I am so going to try this!
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic says
7 March, 2016 at 8:40 pmI had no idea that it was soybeans in fermented black bean sauce. That explains so much!
Kelly @ Nosh and Nourish says
8 March, 2016 at 6:19 amThe black bean paste is perfect in all those Asian dishes… and I want them allllllllllll! Funny bean paste story — one time I was in Malaysia for a summer in college. Some friends picked up some “sweet rolls” for breakfast thinking they were stuffed with chocolate. Nope. Bean paste! I happened to love them, but it was quite a shock for those who bit in thinking it was chocolate :)
Janet says
10 December, 2017 at 1:24 pmFor “sweet” items, most fillings are red bean paste. It grows on a person. I had some in Moon Cakes this past October and it was so good. A nice change for too sweet American fare.
Amanda-The Kitcheneer says
8 March, 2016 at 6:26 amI actually never knew that black bean sauce was fermented black soy beans! Thanks for educating me! Now I wanna make Stirfry!
Bintu | Recipes from a Pantry says
8 March, 2016 at 8:43 amNo wonder some of my homemade Chinese takeout recipes always taste like something is missing. I’ve been using regular old black beans for my paste! So happy to have found this post!
Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen says
8 March, 2016 at 12:28 pmI bet these add amazing flavor! I’ve always wanted to try fermented beans, but haven’t really come across them before,
Angie | Big Bear's Wife says
8 March, 2016 at 1:40 pmI had no idea that it only took 15 minutes to make! I’ve had it in Chinese food before but I’ve never made it at home!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen says
8 March, 2016 at 3:38 pmI’m ready to make it! Thanks for the recipe. Asian flavors and recipes are some of my very favorites and it’s nice to be able to make them at home!
Meg says
8 March, 2016 at 7:12 pmThis recipe is awesome! Can’t wait to try it out!
Rose | The Clean Dish says
8 March, 2016 at 7:25 pmWow! I had no idea this sauce was made with fermented beans! You just totally inspired me to give this recipe a try. I used to LOVE beef & black bean sauce back in the day when I was still a meat eater but I’ll just sub the meat with something else! I’m super excited about this!!
Kim Beaulieu says
8 March, 2016 at 8:56 pmBean paste is everything. Love it, and totally dig that you made your own. We love stir fry here, it’s my daughter’s favourite so I make it a couple of times a week.
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist says
8 March, 2016 at 9:33 pmI have enjoyed black bean sauce in the past. This recipe looks like it would go great when I am cooking an Asian dish.
Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life says
8 March, 2016 at 11:01 pmI don’t cook Asian dishes all that often, but my kids really like them. I am feeling like I should give this a try. I like the idea of making my own black bean sauce!
Adina says
9 March, 2016 at 12:04 amI’ve seen tons of recipes calling for this black bean sauce and was never able to find it around here. Great to have found a recipe for it, I’ve never thought I could make it myself. Now I just have to find the fermented black soy beans.
Kacey @ The Cookie Writer says
9 March, 2016 at 5:05 amI love making things myself and this is just great! I have done the same when making red bean paste for confectioners’ (it is cheaper to do it yourself!)
Nutmeg Nanny says
9 March, 2016 at 12:10 pmOk this is so much easier than I thought it would be! Love how easy it is to make PLUS the fact that you know whats in your food is always an added bonus.
Colleen (Souffle Bombay) says
9 March, 2016 at 5:30 pmAlways love when someone shows us how to make something we would typically purchase at home. Awesome!
Karyn @ Pint Sized Baker says
10 March, 2016 at 9:17 amThis is all new to me. We enjoy a lot of the dishes at our local Chinese restaurant, but don’t do much Chinese cooking at home. My husband is always looking to get more fermented foods into our diet, so I’ll have to pass this recipe on to him. Sounds like it provides some awesome flavor to the dishes.
Nancy | The Bitter Side of Sweet says
14 March, 2016 at 1:12 pmI love sauces like this that are so versatile!
Candace Nielson says
24 April, 2016 at 8:52 pmI’ve made this black bean sauce twice already and it is THE best I’ve ever had! I’ve been adding it to some favorite Chinese dishes I’ve been making for several years. I hadn’t thought they could be improved on that much until I added this sauce to them – WOW! This will be a regular go-to sauce for me, thanks so much for sharing!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
24 April, 2016 at 8:53 pmI’m so happy to hear that, Candace, thank you! We love this sauce too and I agree, it really adds an amazing flavor dimension.
Nate Lombough says
7 May, 2016 at 10:12 amThis stuff is amazing! Made it twice already and it’s just incredible tasting, thank you!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
7 May, 2016 at 10:16 amThat’s awesome, Nate, thanks so much!
Anonymous says
16 May, 2016 at 11:07 pmHi Kimberly, I am new to yr site I NO LONGER can find the store brought sauce, sense yr recipe is so easy and ingredients easy to find I want to try and make it. Also I found one simular sauce I Liked very much that had pineapple in it could you tell how to add a sweetness to yr bean sauce with the pineapple in it? Looking forward to hear your take on this.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
18 May, 2016 at 12:04 amHi and welcome! Unlike teriyaki sauce (which I have seen made with pineapple juice), black bean sauce has very little sweetness to it, just a teaspoon of sugar. I suppose if you really want some pineapple flavor in it you could substitute some of the vegetable/chicken broth for pineapple juice.
Greg says
3 June, 2016 at 8:05 amHands down the best black bean sauce I’ve had. Never buying it again. Thanks for such a great recipe!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
3 June, 2016 at 8:55 amI’m thrilled to hear that, Greg, thank you!
james says
16 June, 2016 at 4:42 pm“Let the black bean sauce cool and store in an airtight container (preferably glass)
for at least 2 weeks.” Should that be up to two weeks?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
16 June, 2016 at 4:51 pmHi James, sorry for the confusion. Meaning, it will keep for at least 2 weeks.
Lori says
17 July, 2016 at 5:44 amCan you freeze the finished product?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
17 July, 2016 at 9:16 pmHi Lori, most things with cornstarch don’t freeze well, it’s a texture thing. What you can do though is make the sauce and leave the cornstarch out, then freeze it. Then when you need the sauce you can reheat it and add the cornstarch at that point.
E.T. says
25 August, 2016 at 2:14 pmWould it alter the flavor too much to use a Three Year Barley Miso in place of the fermented black beans?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
25 August, 2016 at 9:27 pmHi E.T., I’ve never tried the barley miso before so I’m not really sure. Still, in a pinch, if that’s all you have I’m sure it will add enough of that fermented pungent flavor that it will still yield a perfectly enjoyable black bean sauce.
Ewa Maria Koska says
22 September, 2016 at 1:09 amIs that sauce better if I keep it in the fridge longer? Or can I eat it straightaway? And if I keep it in the fridge, for how long (max.) should I do it? There are so many different options, some recipes say that it can be kept in the fridge for several months! I am rather sceptical about that…
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
22 September, 2016 at 2:07 pmHi Ewa, you can eat it immediately, the flavors are strong and vibrant right after you make it. I give 2 weeks as the general guideline just to be safe, but I’m sure it will keep even longer than that.
Sharon says
18 October, 2016 at 2:45 pmCan’t wait to try this but wondering when you would add the orange zest…
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
18 October, 2016 at 11:55 pmHi Sharon, thanks for asking and I’ve added this to the recipe note: Add the orange zest along with the broth and then proceed with the simmering.
Sharon says
19 October, 2016 at 1:22 pmThanks! Can’t wait to get through my store bought and mix up a batch.
Neil Palfreyman says
30 October, 2016 at 10:41 amI love blackbean sauce and stumbled across this recipe a few weeks back whilst looking for something else.
I came back to it today and made a batch. Had it for dinner tonight, stir fried with green pepper, mangetout, baby corn and mushrooms.
It was absolutely stunning. Brilliant recipe and highly recommended.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
30 October, 2016 at 2:21 pmThank you, Neil, I’m so glad you liked it! Coincidentally, I’m making a stir fry this very afternoon using this black bean sauce :) It really does liven things up, we love it. Thanks again! Best, Kimberly
Keresi Finiasi says
4 January, 2017 at 8:13 pmSounds superb.cannot wait to try it out.i have previously used black bean sauce paste ready made purchased from a local chinese store..but this would be terrific making the paste myself.thank you so much
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
4 January, 2017 at 8:41 pmThanks, Keresi! Yes, I think you’ll agree that the store-bought paste doesn’t even begin to compare in flavor to this homemade version. Happy cooking!
David W. says
11 January, 2017 at 12:13 amI made this first and then used it to make your homemade hoisin sauce. Both are absolutely incredible. THE BEST recipes I’ve found for black bean sauce and hoisin sauce. To everyone, MAKE THIS and you’ll be happy you did.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
11 January, 2017 at 12:14 amAwesome, David, I’m so glad you made and enjoyed them both, thanks for the feedback!
lisa says
22 January, 2017 at 11:41 amthanks so much for sharing the recipe – it’s easy to follow and it tates amazing. I only made half the quantity as I only needed a small amount and it was delicious. I have put the remaning beans in the freezer for future use :)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
22 January, 2017 at 2:38 pmFantastic, Lisa, thanks so much for the feedback!
Brent says
7 February, 2017 at 2:38 pmMade this for dinner over rice noodles and stir fry veggies. Delicious! Only change was I blended it so it was smooth. Wife loved it too.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
8 February, 2017 at 2:51 pmFantastic, Brent, thank you!
Anne says
10 February, 2017 at 10:11 amHow would I use this in a stir fry? I’ve only ever made milder sauces, I got a feeling that if I just pour this over to coat it’d be way too salty… Am I right?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
10 February, 2017 at 4:36 pmHi Anne, I would make your mild stir fry sauce as usual and then add some of this to it for a wonderful flavor boost – start with a tablespoon or two and taste it, then add more accordingly.
Anne says
17 February, 2017 at 7:15 amThanks for your reply! I just made this (although I replaced the rice wine/sherry by some white wine, because sherry or rice wine is more expensive and will probably end up down the drain) and I had a little taste, it’s absolutely delicious. Not what I was expecting after smelling the beans at all! It’s salty, slightly sour and the ginger/garlic come through nicely (and I usually don’t like ginger – go figure!). Excited to cook with it tonight! Will be making a beef stir fry with a simple sauce made of broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar and honey. Looking forward to it!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
17 February, 2017 at 10:09 amWonderful, Anne, thank you and happy adventures in cooking with your new black bean sauce! :)
Deborah Jayne Ballantine says
12 March, 2017 at 1:39 amHello Kimberly
My husband can’t eat garlic. Do you think it would be ok without garlic?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
12 March, 2017 at 9:10 amHi Deborah, sure, simply omit it.
Emily | Oat&Sesame says
26 March, 2017 at 9:00 amI was in Philadelphia this past weekend and ate at a Sichuan restaurant. I could not get enough of the little black beans! I asked what they were and now I’m hooked! So happy I’ll be able to make this at home!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
26 March, 2017 at 9:29 amAwesome, Emily! Fermented black beans pack a massive flavor punch and there’s just no substitute for them. Happy cooking! :)
Anonymous says
5 April, 2017 at 5:32 amMany people don’t READ information prior to just hitting recipes. You give good information that is, as far as I know, accurate. I traveled the orient many years ago when all of the foods were still authentic. By that I mean they had not been changed by foodies who don’t have a clue on what is authentic. They basically left grandma’s recipes behind. Your accurate explanation on fermented beans in lieu of “cajun black beans” caught my eye. Also, people who slather peanut butters and molasses all over their “Chinese” food are missing out. The only place I ever had peanuts on anything was Thailand, Cambodia, Viet Nam, and some in India. Never in Korea, Japan, or in Chinese foods. I started following your site for your input on Hoisen sauce, yours is the only accurate recipe so far.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
5 April, 2017 at 9:27 amI appreciate your insights, thank you. Thanks also for following, I’m thrilled to have you on board.
Janet says
10 December, 2017 at 1:30 pmLived in Sichuan for a year in the 80s. Roasted in oil Spanish peanuts were the snack of choice for working on our chopstick skills!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
10 December, 2017 at 7:30 pmHa! I’ll bet, Janet, quite the workout in patience and persistence!
Peter Tyer says
15 April, 2017 at 2:59 pmHello Kimberley.
Made the Black Bean sauce today and followed it up making the Hoisin sauce , different class to shop bought , we have a Chinese supermarket close buy and I have some of there genuine black bean and hoisin but your recipe is far far better , looking forward to using it in some of your dishes now.
Keep up the good work.
Peter
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
16 April, 2017 at 9:06 pmThanks so much, Peter!
Natalie Loftus says
12 May, 2017 at 11:54 pmAbsolutely incredible stuff! I ordered the fermented black beans last week and made my first batch of this black bean sauce over the weekend. I made another batch yesterday. This sauce is so, so, SO GOOD!!! Ten times better than any of the storebought versions I’ve tried. This recipe is easy to make and I agree 100%, it totally transforms the food you add it to, absolutely delicious. I’ll be coming back to this recipe again and again, thank you!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
12 May, 2017 at 11:56 pmWonderful, Natalie, thanks so much! :)
Tanner says
18 May, 2017 at 11:41 pmI’ve tried several recipes and storebought versions and this is absolutely THE BEST black bean sauce! Don’t second guess making this, DO IT! Love all of your Chinese condiment recipes, Kimberly. They’ve become my standard go-to’s.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
18 May, 2017 at 11:44 pmThanks so much, Tanner! :)
Jasmine says
6 June, 2017 at 12:59 pmHi kim
I made this today and mine came out dark brown paste not so black like yours. I used same fermented black beans as yours.
My son has autism and hes picky about color of the food
He used to eat the store bought kind but
Now he is diagnosed im trying to make him gluten free
One and this was it. But color is off and he doesnwajt to try.
Any suggestions? Its very delicious
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
6 June, 2017 at 11:54 pmHi Jasmine, there are only two ingredients in this that contribute to a dark color and that’s the fermented black beans and the soy sauce. So if you used the same fermented beans that I did, then it likely has to do with whatever soy sauce you used and some brands are darker than others.
MARISA says
3 August, 2017 at 2:53 pmI have been searching for a particular brand of black bean paste to not avail (this brand does not have MSG in it). Decided to do a search to DIY..well here you are. I cannot WAIT to try this!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
3 August, 2017 at 7:45 pmAwesome, Marisa, please let us know what you think once you’ve tried it!
Nikita says
5 August, 2017 at 1:47 amIf Something just has to be bought from the store or online, why buy fermented beans n then prepare? Rather buy the hoisin sauce itself and modify to personal taste…
So maybe you could just think about adding ‘fermenting soy beans’ in the first place 😐
spike says
6 September, 2017 at 5:26 pmmy Asian grocer was out of the prepared stuff, so I took the Pepsi challenge. Super easy and delicious. Can’t wait to make black been noodles tomorrow
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
6 September, 2017 at 8:26 pmYES!! Fantastic, Spike, thanks for the feedback!
Nathan Lombough says
25 September, 2017 at 10:14 pmI lived and worked in Taiwan for several years and fell in love with the food. I tried your hoisin sauce recipe a couple of months ago and have been making it ever since. I’ve now made your black bean sauce to use in my hoisin sauce instead of using storebought and WOW what a difference. No comparison. THIS BLACK BEAN SAUCE IS A SLAM DUNK WINNER. Better than anything I’ve tasted from the store or any other recipe I’ve tried. Two thumbs up!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
25 September, 2017 at 10:31 pmAwesome, Nathan, thanks so much!
Rebecca Ramos says
30 September, 2017 at 6:01 pmCan this be frozen?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
30 September, 2017 at 6:05 pmHi Rebecca, without the cornstarch, yes (it’s a texture thing). Then when it comes time to use it you would heat it up and thicken with cornstarch.
ArtyJ says
26 September, 2017 at 7:38 amI love when people say it just takes 10 minutes when it’s a 1/2 day project. why?
Marvin the martian says
29 September, 2017 at 5:29 am“Best chinese food on the planet”…they make chinese food better on other planets??
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
29 September, 2017 at 2:03 pmLol, Marvin, being from Mars, you tell me!
Sandra Hjort says
26 October, 2017 at 11:40 amThis is the only truly authentic recipe I’ve found online and it tastes ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. Thank you for this awesome recipe.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
26 October, 2017 at 11:44 amThanks so much, Sandra!
Carissa says
10 November, 2017 at 7:02 pmThis is so much better than any of the storebought brands I’ve tried. Absolutely fantastic recipe!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
10 November, 2017 at 7:28 pmAwesome, Carissa, thank you so much!
Nelson says
20 December, 2017 at 9:50 amAbsolutely amazing, THE BEST black bean sauce I’ve tried!
Kellie says
20 December, 2017 at 4:11 pmThere was one Chinese restaurant in Gaithersburg MD where I always ordered Chicken in black bean sauce. I fell in love with it – then I moved. Have been looking for years for another restaurant with the same taste. I gave up and went on a google search and found your recipe. I prepared it this evening in expectation of guests this week and planned this as one of the meals. I just tasted this sauce. You have made me so happy. This is the taste I remember. Will never go to my local Chinese restaurant again. Thank you so much.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
20 December, 2017 at 9:35 pmYES!!! I’m thrilled to hear that, Kellie, thanks so much for the feedback!
Cami Norton says
29 December, 2017 at 7:50 pmTruly excellent and authentic tasting sauce, thank you for this recipe!
Kathi Tag says
19 January, 2018 at 4:49 pmI was looking for authentic recipes and found your site while wading through peanut butter, molasses, and miso recipes. The best fraud was Goop, which posted a picture of the ingredient panel from hoisin sauce, then proceeded to tell you to make it with ingredients that are not in hoisin sauce. What??!! Shut the front door! And open the door at Daring Gourmet!
I made a double batch of this black bean sauce today and I have to tell you, it was absolutely amazing. I made it to use in your hoisin sauce recipe, which is the bomb. I also used it in a chicken stir fry and I’m about to pass out from all the awesomeness.
Incidentally, I have both jarred black bean sauce (Lee Kum Kee) and hoisin sauce (Hokan) at home and was able to do a side by side taste test of both. The sauces made from your recipes were far and away superior. I’m in love.
Mind blown!
Thanks!!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
19 January, 2018 at 7:44 pmWoohoo!! You’ve made my day, Kathi, thank you!
Tamara says
26 March, 2018 at 4:57 pmThis sauce is exquisite!! It really truly is that good. Making this again and again.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
26 March, 2018 at 5:01 pmFantastic, Tamara, thank you!
Oonagh says
9 April, 2018 at 1:40 pmHi Kimberly, thanks for posting this recipe, I found it by way of your homemade Hoisin sauce but can’t wait to give it a go. I am in Ireland, I can’t buy the fermented black beans locally so am having to shop online – the only products appearing are all described as salted, so am just wondering if they is right for your recipe..?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
9 April, 2018 at 8:01 pmHi Oonagh, yes, fermented black beans are salted (the salt is what keeps them preserved). Happy cooking and I hope you enjoy the sauce!
Marie says
28 April, 2018 at 8:15 amI made this and it turned out fantastic – great recipe! My husband has to eat a low sodium diet which rules out most Chinese dishes so I’ve been experimenting with making my own sauces. After triple rinsing and soaking the beans to remove as much as possible and using low sodium soy sauce I believe this sauce is pretty reasonably low sodium (can’t measure exactly but the bean mash tasted almost salt-free while retaining its nice fermented flavor). But I’m wondering why my sauce turned out brown and not deep black-brown like yours. Any suggestions? My next batch will be a big one so I can use it as an ingredient for other sauces such as hoisin. I bet I could can this sauce in small jars to store on the shelf. Thanks again!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
28 April, 2018 at 8:58 amI’m so glad to hear that, Marie, thank you! I’m not sure about the color, it could have something to do with the brand/darkness of the soy sauce or maybe there was a difference in the fermented soy beans themselves. Whatever the reason I wouldn’t worry about the color, the flavor is what matters. I’m glad you enjoyed this, thanks again for the feedback!
Marie says
28 April, 2018 at 1:31 pmKimberly I posted a link to your fantastic website on two FB low sodium recipe pages I follow, along with suggestions on reducing sodium. One type of cuisine those on sodium-restricted diets (usually from heart failure) crave most is Chinese and there is a demand for recipes. I hope you don’t mind. Thanks again!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
28 April, 2018 at 2:53 pmThat’s fantastic, Marie, thanks so much for doing that! I really appreciate that you posted the link instead of copying and pasting the recipe, thank you! Kind regards, Kimberly
ira says
27 June, 2018 at 11:22 amI’m a muslim..So it’s hard to find ‘halal’ logo..can I use this recipe to make korean black bean noodles??
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
27 June, 2018 at 11:27 amHi Ira, yes you can, it has a very similar ingredient composition with the primary ingredient being fermented black beans. Happy cooking!
Brytanny says
5 July, 2018 at 1:48 pmHi! I really want to make this! I’m so excited! But is there a way to omit the wine ? I don’t like to cook with any type of alcohol.
Please help!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
5 July, 2018 at 10:24 pmHi Brytanny, yes, simply omit it and add more broth in its place.
Lady says
11 July, 2018 at 2:15 pmI just made this. I have about 1 cup of sauce. Can someone explain how there are 10 servings in here please?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
11 July, 2018 at 8:35 pmHi Lady, black bean sauce is largely meant to be used “in” other dishes to boost the flavor, usually just a tablespoon or so at a time.
Gianna says
20 August, 2018 at 1:56 amI am so happy to find a recipe for Hoisin Sauce
But Plesner helt me, I dont find the recipe, list of ingredience for homemade Black Bean Sauce.
I am logning to get started….
Penny Poupazi says
2 September, 2018 at 9:23 amI’ve made this a few times now, I love it! Thanks for sharing. :)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
2 September, 2018 at 2:19 pmI’m thrilled to hear that, Penny, thank you!
Keoki says
12 November, 2018 at 11:46 pmGrew up on BBS, my mom used to put it over fish and steam it! Its insane on a shrimp stir-fry w/ veggies ! Love your version! More complex than my chinese mother’s version! My own secret ingredients to this recipe are oyster sauce and sesame oil! Mahalo for sharing Kim, Aloha !
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
13 November, 2018 at 12:32 amThank you so much for the feedback and tips, Keoki! Aloha!
Contrary Mary says
6 February, 2019 at 1:17 pmDaring Gourmet, you’re the best! My black bean sauce came out super! I didn’t have green onions, but put in a smidge of onion powder, and I think I can taste it, but it’s certainly not overwhelming. I found the results pretty oily, and skimmed some off. Like Keoki, I used sesame oil — specifically toasted sesame oil. Not sure if that was the right thing to do, but I think it really adds to the overall flavor explosion that this sauce provides. So many complex flavors on the tongue — what a joy! As good as any Chinese restaurant in my view. Thank-you Daring Gourmet!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
6 February, 2019 at 10:15 pmThat’s fantastic, Mary, I’m thrilled to hear that, thank you!
Cher says
21 March, 2019 at 5:38 pmI made this with regular black beans since I didn’t have fermented black beans and it was INCREDIBLE! I don’t like spice, so didn’t add the hot sauce and it still rocked!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
22 March, 2019 at 9:18 amI’m so glad you enjoyed it, Cher, thank you!
Stacy says
1 April, 2019 at 11:57 amSo happy to accidentally find your site today. Many of the Asian sauces at the grocery, even at our local, and AWESOME, international market are loaded with preservatives and things I just don’t want to consume.
**Happy Dance** finding your recipes. Thanks for sharing them. I look forward to trying a few. Do you have a recipe for Oyster Sauce, per chance?
CHEERS!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
1 April, 2019 at 8:21 pmThank you, Stacy! I don’t currently have an oyster sauce recipe, sorry. I hope you enjoy any of the recipes you try – happy cooking! :)