How To Use Fermented Chinese Black Beans

Fermented Chinese Black Beans have a complex, pungent flavour that is unmistakable. They're not hard to find, they're naturally gluten free and the unique taste makes them an ingredient worth adding to your pantry. I've been buying this exact same yellow cardboard container for over thirty years.

this gluten free recipe

If you love that umami flavour you've got to buy these and cook with them. I have a handful of recipes that use these Chinese black beans right out of the carton, as well as recipes calling for homemade black bean sauce I make with them.

🙋🏻‍♀️ Black Beans vs Chinese Black Beans

Black turtle beans, those used in Mexican and Latin American cuisines, are not Chinese black beans. Black turtle beans, canned or dried, are used in soups and salads, dips and salsa, rice dishes, burritos, quesadillas and more. These are not the black beans you want for Asian recipes.

🫘 Salted, Fermented and Preserved Chinese Black Beans

Chinese black beans are dried, black soybeans. Salt is used in the process of fermentation as a way to preserve them; so technically all of those names make sense. Use these in any recipe calling for fermented black beans, salted black beans or preserved black beans.

🛒 Buying and Storing Chinese Black Beans

Look for Yang Jiang brand in the round, yellow box. It's the only brand I've ever seen and have been cooking with them for thirty years. I can always find these at my Asian grocery store or you can buy them online.

Store preserved beans in your pantry in the box or transfer them to a jar. In my photo you can see that I cleverly attached my black bean sauce recipe to the jar. I don't make it too often so I keep the recipe right there.

🫙 Is Store Bought Black Bean Sauce Gluten Free?

No, none of it! Many brands of bottled black bean sauce list soy sauce and wheat on the ingredient label. I'm sure there is a brand out there but over time many gluten free cooks, and avid label readers, default to making their own sauces.

I've got these beans in my pantry, it takes less than ten minutes to make the sauce, and I even use them out of the box. That's easy enough for me.

📹 YouTube: How To Use Chinese Black Beans

In recipes using the beans right out of the box, like my Hoisin Glazed Pork Ribs, simply rinse and chop.

Once you've made the homemade black bean sauce try it in Asian recipes calling for bean sauce, black bean sauce, ground bean sauce or Chinese bean sauce. When the recipe specifically calls for black bean sauce with garlic (or with ginger), simply use the sauce and add extra garlic or ginger to your liking.

In the comments below I’d love to hear if these black beans were new for you or what you made with them.

Recipes Using Chinese Black Beans

There's no end to recipes using Chinese black beans or the black bean sauce. You might have a few in mind already. These are on my list.

• I make many variations of this clean-out-the-fridge vegetable stir fry on regular rotation through the fall and winter using black bean sauce.
• Once the snow has melted off the deck, I use the sauce in the marinade for these Mongolian Pork Chops we cook on the barbecue.
• In the spring when asparagus is at its' peak I make this Asparagus with Black Bean Butter Sauce once or twice.
• When we're craving ribs these Hoisin Glazed Pork Ribs come to mind. This marinade calls for the black beans right out of the box, rinsed and chopped.
• This Noodle Soup with Peanut Sauce is my version of homemade Ichiban-style noodles. In the carton, these ultra-processed noodles are cheap, easy and a staple for students. For a healthier version there are a few steps here but I've been making them for so many years it feels fairly easy to me.