Fermented Black Bean Stir-Fry Sauce

Ingredients

Sauce Ingredients

½ cup chicken stock or water

1 Tbl oyster sauce (optional, good with chicken)

2 tsp soy

1 Tbl sherry

½ tsp sugar (optional)

2 tsp sesame oil (optional)

Oil and Aromatics

2-4 Tbl oil with a high smoke point for stir-frying

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp ginger, minced (optional)

1 – 2 Tbl Chinese fermented black beans, coarsely chopped

Main Ingredients

1 pound velveted shrimp or chicken or firm tofu

Assorted Vegetables

4 cups maximum, cut into pieces easily handled with chopsticks

• Choice of asparagus, snow peas, bamboo shoots, oyster mushrooms, julienned sweet peppers, diced jicama

Optional Garnish

Cilantro leaves and minced scallion greens

Instructions

Step 1

Combine minced garlic, ginger and fermented Chinese black beans and set aside.

Step 2

Combine oyster sauce, soy, sherry and the optional sugar and sesame oil and set aside.

Step 3

Prepare your choice of vegetables and cilantro. Have stock handy.

Step 4

• Heat the wok until a wisp of smoke appears.
• Swirl in the oil down the sides of the pan. Quickly stir-fry the aromatic garlic, black bean and optional ginger.
• Vigorously toss the vegetables in the hot pan and then add the velveted chicken, shrimp or tofu to heat through.
• Pour the stock down the sides of the wok to bloom the contents in the pan. Add the sauce combination and stir-fry until the dish is bubbly hot.
• Adjust the seasonings and add the optional cilantro and scallion. Serve immediately.