Black Sauce Recipes

STIR-FRIED FISH FILLET WITH BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat up the wok and add in some cooking oil.
• Add sliced ginger, onions, bell peppers, dried red chilies and stir fry them until aromatic.
• Add in the fish and do a quick stir.
• Add the black bean sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and sesame oil and stir fry until the fish is cooked.
• Add in the corn starch mix to thicken the sauce.
• Toss in the chopped scallion and do a quick stir, dish up and serve hot.

SEARED COD WITH BLACK GARLIC SAUCE

Steps:

• In an 8-inch skillet, melt 3 Tbs. of the butter over medium heat until the foam subsides. Add the garlic and cook until soft enough to mash with the back of a spoon, about 1 minute. Add the lime juice, vinegar, Sriracha, and 1/2 tsp. salt, and continue to cook for about 2 minutes to meld the flavors. Transfer to a blender, add 1/3 cup water, and blend until smooth. A few small bits of garlic are fine.
• Melt 2 Tbs. of the butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the cod fillets dry and season all over with salt and pepper. Place 2 fillets in the skillet and cook, flipping once, until golden brown and just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining 2 Tbs. butter and 2 fillets.
• Meanwhile, reheat the sauce in the 8-inch skillet until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the sesame oil until emulsified. Divide the sauce among 4 shallow bowls. Nestle the fish into the sauce, top with the tomatoes, cilantro, and sesame seeds (if using), and serve.

HOW TO MAKE BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Soak 1 C (227 g) of dried fermented black beans in water for 10 minutes. Open a package of dried fermented black beans and pour 1 cup (227 g) of them into a bowl. Add enough water to submerge the beans and set them aside for 10 minutes to soak. Soaking the beans makes them easier to chop and it rinses off some of the beans' salt. You can buy dried fermented black beans at your neighborhood Asian market or online. Fermenting the beans gives them their unique flavor that's full of umami. Fermented black beans are also saltier than standard dried black beans.
• Drain the beans and roughly chop them on a cutting board. Set a fine-mesh strainer or colander into the sink and pour the soaked beans into it. Then, put the beans onto a cutting board and chop them until they're slightly chunky. If you'd like a smoother sauce, keep chopping until the beans are finely chopped. Set the beans aside. To save a little time, you can put the beans into a food processor along with 1/4 of an onion and 8 to 10 cloves of peeled garlic. Then, pulse the ingredients until they're roughly chopped.
• Infuse oil with dried chili peppers over medium heat. Set a heavy saucepan on the stove and pour in 1⁄3 cup (79 ml) of vegetable oil. Add 4 to 6 roughly chopped dried chili peppers and turn the burner to medium. Once the oil shimmers, turn the burner down to medium-low and heat the chilies until they darken. Then, carefully scoop out the chilies with a slotted spoon and throw them away. Use Korean or Mexican dried chili peppers to give the sauce mild flavor or cook Chinese or Thai chili peppers if you'd like the sauce to be spicy. For really spicy black bean sauce, add 2 teaspoons (6 g) of whole Sichuan peppercorns along with the dried chilies.
• Mince 1/4 of an onion and add it to the skillet along with the beans. Cut a 1/4 of an onion into fine pieces and put it into the hot oil in the saucepan. Then, add the drained black beans and stir the mixture. If you chopped the beans with the onion and garlic in a food processor, just add all of them to the oil at this point.
• Cook the black bean sauce over medium heat. Turn the burner up to medium and stir the beans in the aromatic oil constantly. Cook the beans until they're fragrant and they start to sizzle. The oil may splatter a little, so you may want to wear oven mitts while you stir the beans.
• Add wine, soy sauce, sugar, and simmer the sauce for 10 minutes. Stir in 1⁄4 cup (59 ml) of Shaoxing wine, 1⁄4 cup (59 ml) of soy or tamari sauce, and 1/4 cup (50 g) of granulated or brown sugar. Then, cook the gently bubbling sauce over medium-low heat until the onion softens. Stir the sauce constantly to prevent it from burning. If you can't find Shaoxing wine, use the same amount of dry sherry or Japanese sake. You could even substitute chicken broth, but the black bean sauce won't keep as long in the fridge. For a slight citrus flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) of orange zest to the sauce.
• Stir in garlic and ginger, and cook the sauce until it's fragrant. Add 8 to 10 cloves of minced garlic to the saucepan along with 1 inch (2.5 cm) of minced fresh ginger. Keep stirring the sauce and cook it over medium heat so the garlic and ginger soften. If you don't like the flavor of ginger or garlic, feel free to leave them out of the sauce.
• Transfer the sauce to a storage container to cool before you use it. Turn off the burner and spoon the black bean sauce into a glass storage container or bowl. Leave it to cool completely before you cook with the sauce or store it for later. Put a lid or plastic wrap over the container and store the sauce in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.

KOREAN BLACK BEAN SAUCE NOODLES (JAJANGMYEON)

Steps:

• Rinse the pork in cold water and pat it dry with kitchen paper. Add the pork marinade sauce onto the pork. Mix them well and leave it for 15 mins.
• Cut the onion, zucchini and potato into small cubes.
• Thin slice the mushrooms.
• Cut the cabbage into small to medium size pieces.
• Julienne cut the cucumber.
• Pre heat the wok until the bottom is heated well. Add the lard (or cooking oil) and melts it in the wok. Add the black bean paste and stir it constantly on medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. (Try not to burn it.) Add the brown sugar and stir it for an additional 2 to 3 mins.
• Scoop out the black bean paste (without the oil) and set it aside. Leave the oil in the wok to use in the next step.
• Add the pork into the wok and stir until the pork is half cooked.
• Add the onion, zucchini, and potato and stir until all are 1/3 cooked (for 3 to 5 mins).
• Add the mushrooms and cabbages and stir for 2-3 mins.
• Add the black bean paste (from step 2) into the wok and mix it in with vegetables. Stir for 1 to 2 mins.
• Add the chicken stock, water and rice wine then simmer it for 5 to 7 mins on medium heat. (Cover the wok with a lid if possible. This will make the cooking process faster.)
• Add the slurry into the wok then stir it. (This will thicken the black sauce. It is the final stage of making the black bean sauce.)
• (While working on step 7) Boil some water in a pot and add the noodles when it starts to boil. Boil them until the noodles are cooked (for 3 to 5 mins).
• Rinse the noodles in cold water and drain. Put them into a serving bowl/plate.
• Add the black bean sauce (from the step 8) on top of the noodles. You can serve it as it is or decorate it with some cucumber slices, green peas or sweet corn or hardboiled egg.
• Mix the sauce and the noodles well with chopsticks. Dig in. (It is ideal to have them with some (yellow) pickled radish. Apparently it helps digestion. Also eat it up quickly before the noodles get swollen.)

HOMEMADE BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Rinse fermented black beans with tap water, drain, and coarsely chop them. I like to leave some bigger pieces of the beans, to give the sauce more texture.
• (Optional) You can use a food processor to mince all the ingredients. Add black beans, onion, and garlic into a food processor. Blend until both ingredients are minced, but not a fine paste.
• Heat oil and dried chili peppers in a saucepan over medium heat until warm. Turn to medium low heat. Cook until the chili peppers turn dark, but not black. Stir occasionally. Scoop out the chili peppers and discard them.
• Add the black beans and onion. Cook and stir, until the sauce looks a bit dry. (The beans will absorb oil at first, but release the oil once they're cooked.)
• Add Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, and sugar. Simmer and stir until the onion turns tender. It takes about 10 minutes or so. The sauce can be easily burned, so make sure to keep the heat low and stir the sauce constantly to ensure even cooking.
• Add garlic and ginger (if you're using these ingredients). Continue to cook and stir the sauce until the onion turns very tender. You should see oil floating on top of the sauce.
• Transfer the sauce to a large bowl to cool off completely.
• Store the sauce in an airtight jar in the fridge for 2 weeks to a month.

EASY BEEF IN BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Remove the thick layer of fat running down the side of the steaks and discard. Slice the steak into 1cm-thick, long strips and toss with the cornflour and some seasoning.
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan or wok over a high heat then add the steak, frying for 3-5 mins or until golden brown on the outside. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a plate.
• Add the onion and peppers to the pan and fry for 6-7 mins or until beginning to soften. Stir through the garlic, ginger and chilli and cook for a further min. Return the beef to the pan and stir through the black bean sauce, rice wine vinegar, sugar and 2 tbsp water to loosen a little. Bring to a simmer and then remove from the heat.
• Serve the stir-fry in deep bowls with mounds of sticky rice and top with coriander, if you like.

CHICKEN WITH BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the chicken thighs with the rice wine, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Mix in the cornstarch and marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes.
• While the chicken marinates, cut up the vegetables as well as the ginger, garlic, and spring onion.
• In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch with the water and Set aside.
• Using a wok or large skillet, heat the 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add the peppers and onion and cook until tender, remove from the pan and set aside.
• Add the ginger, and garlic to the wok. Stir-fry for a few seconds until aromatic.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade with a slotted spoon. Add the chicken thighs (discarding any excess marinade). Stir-fry for 4-5 minutes, until the chicken changes color and is nearly cooked through.
• Mix in the black beans stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes, then add chicken stock. Cover and let cook for another 2 minutes then add the green onion
• Add the pepper mixture and the sugar followed by the cornstarch/water mixture, stirring quickly to thicken. Serve immediately with cooked rice.

CHINESE BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• 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.

CHICKEN WITH BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the chicken and the marinade ingredients in a bowl, and mix until all the liquid is absorbed. Allow to marinate for 30 minutes.
• Pre-heat your wok over high heat, until it starts to smoke. This step is essential, as it prevents the chicken from sticking to the wok. With your spatula, spread 2 tablespoons of oil over the bottom of the wok. Add the chicken, and quickly spread the pieces into a single layer. Let the chicken cook for about 30 seconds, flip, and cook the other side for another 30 seconds. The chicken is done once it turns opaque--be careful not to overcook it. Turn off the heat, transfer the chicken to a dish, and set aside.
• Next, heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the wok over medium heat. Add the ginger, and let it cook for 15 seconds. Next, add the garlic, the white parts of the scallions, and the black beans. Stir for another 30 seconds. Now turn up the heat to high. Add the green and red peppers, and stir fry for about a minute. Add the sugar, Shaoxing wine, salt, the chicken, 2 tablespoons of water, and the green parts of the scallion. Quickly stir-fry everything well to coat in the sauce, and serve!