Fermented black beans vs black bean sauce
Douchi are salty fermented soybeans. Black bean sauce is a prepared sauce made with them.
At a glance
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| Compare | Fermented black beans (douchi) | Black bean sauce |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Small whole or broken fermented soybeans. | A spoonable sauce, often with garlic, oil and other seasonings. |
| Flavour | Strong, salty and fermented. | The beans plus the flavour of the added ingredients. |
| Preparation | Rinse or soak if the recipe calls for it, then chop or mash. | Usually ready to spoon into a dish; check the recipe and jar. |
Which one to buy
Buy whole douchi when a recipe asks for beans: it lets you control the garlic, oil and other seasonings. A jar of black bean garlic sauce is convenient when the recipe asks for a prepared sauce.
Can I swap them?
A prepared black bean sauce can work in some dishes, but there is no one ratio for every jar. Follow a recipe written for that sauce, or add a little and taste before adding other salty seasonings.
Do not mix these up
Plain canned black beans are not douchi. Sweet bean sauce and Korean black bean paste are different products too. Check for soy, wheat and any cooking wine in prepared sauces.
Related pantry pages
Sources
Summarised in our own words. Product labels can change; check the jar or bottle you buy.
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