6 Tips How To Cook Through Traditional Sweet Bean Sauce

Feb 20, 2024

China Tianjin sweet bean sauce, also known as Tianmian sauce, is a staple condiment in Chinese cooking. As leading China sweet bean sauce manufacturer, LIMIN may ensure quality of sweet bean sauce. Today, we share related professional tips for how to cook through sweet bean sauce? As well-known, sweet bean sauce made from fermented soybeans, it has a salty and slightly sweet flavor that adds richness to many dishes.

However, some home cooks may be unfamiliar with how to use this ingredient. Here are some tips for successfully cooking with sweet bean sauce below:

Sauces and Dips

sweet bean sauce can be mixed with other ingredients to make quick sauces and dips. Combine it with rice vinegar, sesame oil and chili sauce for a versatile sauce for dumplings, noodles or veggies. It also mixes well with hoisin sauce for a barbecue or dipping sauce.

Braised Dishes

Many braised meat or vegetable dishes are enhanced by a spoonful of sweet bean sauce added to the sauce. Try braising tofu, eggs, chicken or fish fillets in a sauce with sweet bean sauce, soy sauce, rice wine and garlic. The bean paste adds savory depth.

Stir Fries

Crumble sweet bean sauce into stir fries toward the end of cooking to blend the flavors. Try stir frying bok-choy, shiitake mushrooms or bell peppers with a sprinkling of bean paste. The heat brings out its natural sweetness.

Soup Ingredients

Add sweet bean sauce to Asian brothy soups like miso soup or hot and sour soup for an extra layer of umami. Or use it in the base for homemade wonton or dumpling soup.

Baking Ingredient

Pureed sweet bean sauce can be used in place of some of the fat or sweetener in quick breads, cookies or pastries for a subtle Asian flavor. Try replacing 1-2 tablespoons of oil or sugar with bean paste puree.

On its Own

Simply spread sweet bean sauce onto rice cakes, crackers or sliced baguettes for a tasty snack. Or serve it alongside banchan as part of an Asian-inspired meal.

Many Asian supermarkets sell pre-made sweet bean sauce, but it’s also easy to ferment your own using dried soybeans and rice wine or saltwater. Homemade lets you control ingredients and customize flavors. With some creative uses, sweet bean sauce adds complexity to many vegetarian and meat-based dishes.