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Chicken and Shrimp with Black Bean Sauce

November 15, 2022

5.0 from 2 votes

Are you asking, what is black bean sauce? Looking to impress someone with your cooking skills? Chicken and shrimp with black bean sauce is one of the most flavorful and colorful Chinese recipes we make! It only looks and sounds complicated.

We all love Chinese food. For some, Friday nights are Chinese takeout night. For others, it is Sunday afternoon or evening. We all have our favorite Chinese dishes and sauces. One dish found on most menus that many of us have never tried is chicken or shrimp with black bean sauce. We hope to change that. Black bean sauce, when done right, is both unique and delicious with a savory, salty and sharp flavor. So, why is this not a common dish for the millions of us who love Chinese takeout?

The answer is twofold. The first is simple. Many are not familiar with black bean sauce and are hesitant to try it. The second is a bit more complicated and leads to the question;

What is black bean sauce?

The answer, again is not simple as this isn’t a universal sauce, but is quite variable depending on where you try it. It can be mild or hot. It can include garlic and ginger, or not. It can be thick or light. It can include soy and oyster sauce, or not. In some Chinese dishes, the black beans will be chopped or crushed and are not in a sauce form at all. So, black bean sauce can’t really be defined which likely explains why it is so unpopular.

What are fermented black beans?

Black beans,when used in Chinese cuisine, are usually fermented. From that point, they can be chopped or turned into a sauce. If you are interested in more information on fermented black beans, please start with these links as they provide interesting information without a lot of commercial interference.

Black bean sauce is most commonly prepared using a jarred sauce comprised of fermented beans, garlic, ginger and soy. It is quite salty but has a magnificent and complex flavor.

I first developed a taste for black bean sauce back in the late 1980s when I worked at 30 Rockefeller plaza. NBC catered a Chinese buffet lunch every Sunday afternooon. The Chinese food was excellent, however the chicken with black bean sauce was a standout. The dish was savory and spicy with a sauce just thick enough to coat the vegetables and chicken.

Black Bean Sauce used for Chicken and Shrimp with Black Bean Sauce — Black Bean Sauce

Since then, I never found a restaurant that prepared this dish similar to that version. My experiences when searching for a similar bean sauce were either a dish with a thick pasty sauce that was so salty it was barely edible or a thin tasteless sauce without any identity. So what is the third reason people don’t select this dish? Quite simply, most Chinese restaurants do not prepare this dish in an appetizing manner.

Cooked Chicken and Shrimp for black bean sauce dish — Browned Chicken and Shrimp

When we started this blog one of our goals was to introduce this dish in a way that would allow our followers to add it to their list of favorite Chinese dishes. In our version, we combine marinated chicken and shrimp. In addition to traditional sweet peppers, we include chili peppers and shiitake mushrooms to add some spice and savory flavor. We love adding these mushrooms as they taste amazing and in our opinion, under-appreciated.

Cooked vegetables for the Chicken and Shrimp in Black Bean Sauce — Sautéed Vegetables

How do you make chicken and shrimp with black bean sauce?

This dish can be prepared in 30-45 minutes making it perfect for weekday or weekend meals. A few simple modifications make this a versatile meal for all. For those who’s palate does not tolerate heat, adjust or eliminate the chili peppers. The dish can easily become vegetarian by substituting plant based meat or tofu as your protein. We use a jarred black bean sauce, to simplify preparation. A good knife set, wok and prep bowls are essential tools for preparing Asian food. Once the vegetables and protein are in the wok, add a tablespoon of black bean sauce, some Chinese cooking wine, black beans and it is dinner time. Serve over steamed rice.

The simplicity of this dish, combined with its unique and savory flavor make it well suited to the American palate. We provided our theory as to why it isn’t popular at Chinese restaurants. Another theory is provided in this link. Fortunately, its simplicity permits all of us to prepare this dish in our kitchens. The black bean sauce should be easy to find at your local supermarket. If your supermarket does not carry black bean sauce, a trip to an Asian grocery or online grocer will yield positive results.

If you give this recipe a try, please let us know how you liked it!! Then give it a try at your favorite Chinese restaurant. If the restaurant makes it as good as this recipe, please let us know and give them a shout out!!

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