Chinese Black Bean Sauce Moosewood Style

Transform your meals with the bold and savory flavors of Chinese Black Bean Sauce, Moosewood style—a delightful recipe that perfectly balances umami-rich fermented black beans, aromatic garlic and ginger, and a subtle heat from red chili flakes. This quick and easy sauce comes together in just 20 minutes, making it an ideal choice for weeknight dinners. Enhanced with soy sauce, a touch of brown sugar, and a splash of rice vinegar, its glossy texture is achieved with a silky cornstarch slurry. Stir-fried to perfection and delicately garnished with fresh scallions, this versatile sauce pairs beautifully with tofu, vegetables, rice, or noodles for a satisfying plant-forward dish. Whether you’re recreating takeout favorites or exploring vegetarian Chinese cuisine, this recipe is sure to become a household favorite!

Nutriscore Rating: 60/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons Fermented black beans
• 4 cloves Garlic
• 1 tablespoon Ginger
• 2 Scallions
• 3 tablespoons Soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon Brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons Cornstarch
• 4 tablespoons Water
• 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil
• 0.5 teaspoon Red chili flakes

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the fermented black beans under cold water to remove excess salt and transfer them to a small bowl.

Step 2

Mash the black beans with the back of a spoon or a mortar and pestle until a paste forms. Set aside.

Step 3

Mince the garlic and ginger. Slice the scallions thinly, separating the white and green parts.

Step 4

In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, cornstarch, and water until smooth. Set the sauce mixture aside.

Step 5

Heat the vegetable oil in a medium skillet or wok over medium heat.

Step 6

Add the mashed black beans, garlic, ginger, the white parts of the scallions, and red chili flakes to the skillet. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Step 7

Pour the prepared sauce mixture into the skillet and stir well to combine with the black bean mixture.

Step 8

Cook the sauce over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens to your desired consistency (about 2-3 minutes).

Step 9

Remove the skillet from heat and garnish the sauce with the green parts of the scallions.

Step 10

Allow the sauce to cool slightly and serve warm with stir-fried vegetables, tofu, rice, or noodles.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(250.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	539.9

Total Fat 41.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 5.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 22.7g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3739.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 32.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 6.8g	0%
Total Sugars 4.1g
Protein 12.9g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 115.3mg	0%
Iron 3.4mg	0%
Potassium 634.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 67.3%

Protein: 9.3%

Carbs: 23.4%