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.

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. Try some of these and start to collect your own favourites.

• Homemade Chinese Black Bean Sauce
• Mongolian Pork Chops
• Easy Vegetable Stir Fry
• Noodle Soup with Peanut Sauce
• Asparagus with Black Bean Butter Sauce
• Hoisin Glazed Pork Ribs using the beans right out of the carton

🙋🏻‍♀️ Black Beans vs Chinese Black Beans

Black turtle beans that you see in Mexican and Latin American cuisine 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

this gluten free recipe

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.