Last Updated on May 20, 2020 by Chef Mireille
This low fat version of Chicken & Mushrooms in Black Bean Sauce is Chinese Food done healthy and with the freshly made Black Bean Sauce, the flavor is awesome!
Black Bean Sauce is a very common item to see on Chinese Restaurant menu’s – Chicken in Black Bean Sauce, Tofu in Black Bean Sauce, Shrimp in Black Bean Sauce etc. Go to any Asian market and you can easily get a jar of Black Bean Garlic Sauce which is the base for these dishes. However, I decided this time to make the sauce myself. It is super fast and easy, as long as you can get your hand on the beans. This sauce is actually not made with black beans, but instead with preserved soy beans that look black in the vacuum sealed package because of the preservation process. You will be so happy you opted for the homemade version when you make this Chicken & Mushrooms in Black Bean Sauce.
One problem though – after making the homemade version, you’ll never want to eat the ones from the restaurant again. Even a lot of the restaurants use the jarred version for convenience. I’ve seen them when I order food from the Chinese restaurants. You’ll instead prefer your own homemade version!
Traditionally, the chicken pieces would be tossed in cornstarch or tapioca flour and deep fried first. However, I decided to create a version a little lighter in fat and calories and went instead with a stir fry methodology. Hope you enjoy this lighted up version of Chicken & Mushrooms in Black Bean Sauce.
As the Lunar Festival is approaching us in a few days, why not celebrate by creating this easy Chinese recipe at home?
It is most often served with rice, but I had it over a bed of brown rice/millet ramen noodles, to add some #wholegrain goodness to the meal! It is also good luck to eat noodles during Chinese New Year as they symbolize longevity.
This is Chinese food done low fat and just as delicious, if not more so!
Since you have saved some calories, how about trying some of these Lunar Festival both sweet and savory treats for dessert! The Chinese New Year starts this weekend so it’s the perfect time to indulge!
Chinese New Year Recipes
Char Sui – Chinese BBQ Pork
Hong Kong Noodle Soup – for longevity
Nian Gao – Coconut Sticky Rice Cake – #glutenfree – for prosperity and family cohesiveness
Walnut Shortbread Cookies – for hapiness
Chicken & Mushrooms in Black Bean Sauce
Ingredients
- Black Bean Sauce Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons fermented soybeans
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped ginge
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
- ¼ cup finely chopped scallions
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons rice wine
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon rice vinegar
- ½ teaspoon red chile flakes
- ½ tablespoon cornstarch
- Chicken Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons peanut oil
- 1 chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 2 finely chopped garlic cloves
- ¾ cup sliced mushrooms
- 2 cups diced chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 4 tablespoons black bean sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice wine
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- Finely chopped scallions garnish
Instructions
- Soak soybeans for 1 hour in water. Drain.
- Mash drained soaked soybeans.
- In a small saucepan, heat oil. Add ginger and garlic. Saute until softened, about 2 minutes.
- Add scallions and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add beans and sauté for 1 minute.
- Add broth, rice wine, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar and chili. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 8-10 minutes, until reduced by half.
- In a small bowl, dissolve cornstarch in 1 tablespoon water. Stir to combine. Add to bean sauce and cook for 1 minute, until thickened.
- Now that the sauce is done, let’s make the chicken.
- Heat peanut oil in a wok or skillet. Add onion, garlic and ginger. Stir fry until they start to change color.
- Add mushrooms, chicken and sesame oil. Stir fry until chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the black bean sauce, rice wine and oyster sauce. Whisk until well combined.
- Add to skillet and toss to make sure all the chicken pieces are coated with the sauce. Cook for 1 more minute.
- To serve, garnish with the scallions.
Nutrition
Do you know anyone else who likes learning about international food, culture, history and travel? Bring them over here to join the party! Don’t forget to use those share buttons!
Start Here to find out how the Schizo Chef can help you with your cooking, travel and other needs!
If you like this recipe, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE!
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM#72
Chicken and mushrooms in bean sauce looks good and making bean sauce at home is so easy! Thanks for sharing the bean sauce recipe.
you welcome – now I will never even think of buying the sauce – it is so easy to make and better tasting than the jarred ones
Awesome. Thanks for the sauce recipe. Will try this sans chicken. Flavorful recipe
yes – you can also use tofu instead of the chicken
I really like how you present the food, it’s like how it is in a restaurant. The first image looks so nice with that hint of green.
thanks – I try!
I have always been wanting to make this black bean sauce that seems to be needed for so many Chinese dishes. Enjoyed reading about the festival menu.
this staple of Chinese cuisine is so easy to make – will never need to buy the black bean sauce from the store now!
Delicious.. Mushroom and Chicken always go well together!!
I am not a big mushroom person if it is the only protein in the dish but it works well to compliment other flavors
A super dish for Chinese New Year. Love this sauce, so delicious.
It’s worth the effort to make the sauce yourself
Chicken and mushrooms pair so well together. We use black beans a lot around here too. Love the fact you lightened up a classic, and made a healthier version.
This is actually made with preserved soybeans which you can get at Asian markets
Wow! This looks like a perfect weeknight dinner. Chicken + black beans. Yum!
I really like this recipe and the fact that it would go well with chicken or tofu! It’s always great to have a choice.
This sounds delicious. The sticky rice cakes are such a wonderful dessert. I appreciate the information on the Chinese New Year. I love hearing about customs from other countries.
Never tried the combination of mushroom & chicken.The sauce looks delicious.Bookmarked to try.
Can have this fantastic dish with some hot steaming rice. Thanks for sharing the black beans sauce.
Interesting to know that it is not beans but soy beans that go into making the Black Bean Sauce, looks lovely.
Soya Beans…? I was thinking of asking one of our friends to bring the sauce now think will ask him for the preserved soy beans. Thanks Mir love the recipe which will be converted of course.
I love black bean sauce and never thought it could be made at home. Will try it out some time.
Omg drooling over this sauce. looks so scrumptious.
Love the black bean sauce Mir. We can use it in so many recipes.
No need to buy the store bought sauce ever again
This looks way too delicious… can’t wait to try it on the weekend .. black’s friday around…lots of shopping to do lol
yes its a great recipe to try on a lazy holiday weekend 🙂
Delicious recipe with fresh home made black bean sauce . Chicken and mushroom make a yummy combo. Black bean sauce sounds so flavorful. Will try this recipe sometime.
I am sure you will find the homemade black bean sauce so much better!
Never thought of making black bean sauce at home. Thanks for the easy to make recipe. Chicken and mushroom are great combo. Can’t wait to try this wonderful recipe. I have some soybean and I use it just like chickpeas or rajma, soaked, boiled and make curry. Now I have new recipe to use these beans.