Chinese fermented black beans (known in Cantonese as dou si) are powerful little umami bombs - they add an intense, rich savouriness to whatever they're cooked with. They are made from soy beans ...

This Chinese green bean recipe is great as-is ... Hoisin will add some sweetness, while black bean sauce made with fermented black beans adds a prominent umami flavor. Beyond sesame seeds ...

To remove the slime, you just salt the eel thoroughly, then rinse it off. Chinese black beans have been salted, fermented and dried. Chun pei is dried, aged tangerine peel; you will need one piece ...