Oriental Black Bean And Garlic Sauce For Asparagus Food

CHINESE BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Rinse black beans thoroughly and dry. Remove about 1/4 cup and set aside. Roughly chop the rest of the beans.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add chiles, shallot, ginger, and garlic. Fry until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Do not let the ingredients burn. Reduce the heat if necessary. The objective is to slow cook the ingredients. Add all the beans; both chopped and whole. Simmer, stirring often, until the beans are soft, about 2 minutes. Add tamari, rice wine, brown sugar, ground Sichuan pepper, and five spice. Simmer until thickened, stirring often. Remove from heat; let cool, about 10 minutes.
• Mix in sesame oil and cover. As the sauce rests, the beans will settle and the oil will float, creating a barrier which will protect it from mold. The sauce is ready to use or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

ORIENTAL BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Drain the tinned beans, then place in a bowl, cover with fresh cold water and soak 30 minutes.
• Rinse well in a colander under cold running water, drain, then lightly mash with a fork on a wooden board.
• Heat the oil in a small pan, add the onions, red pepper, ginger, garlic and chili pepper (if used), and saute on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until the onions have just softened.
• Add the fermented black beans, and mash them lightly with the back of a wooden spoon while stirring them in.
• Add the Asian chili sauce (in place of the chili pepper if wished), mirin, soy sauce, brown sugar and stock, bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Taste, and add the brown sugar (if desired), then the cornflour mixed with a little water, and cook briefly until the sauce has just thickened.
• When ready to serve, add the sauce to four cups of lightly stir-fried vegetables (as suggested above), along with some sauteed beef or chicken strips if desired.
• Toss and heat through in a wok, and serve over steamed rice or coooked noodles.
• If you wish, garnish the finished dish with crispy fried noodles, chopped fresh cilantro, or roasted cashew nuts.

ASPARAGUS & BLACK BEAN SAUCE STIR FRY

Steps:

• In small bowl mix wine (water) and cornstarch until smooth, set aside. In another bowl mix black bean sauce, garlic and ginger.
• Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add black bean sauce, cook stirring constantly about 1 minute. Add broth and soy sauce stirring about 1 minute.
• Increase heat to medium high. Add asparagus and green onions, cook about 4 minutes till crisp-tender. If needed add additional broth to prevent sticking.
• Remove asparagus. Reduce heat to medium. Add wine, cornstarch mixture stirring until thickens, about 1 to 2 minutes. Pour sauce over asparagus and sprinkle with cashews.

ORIENTAL BLACK BEAN AND GARLIC SAUCE FOR ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a skillet heat the oil over moderately high heat and in it stir-fry the garlic, the gingerroot, and the red bell pepper until the pepper is softened. Add the beans and stir-fry the mixture for 2 minutes. Add the Sherry and boil the mixture for 1 minute. Stir in the soy sauce, the sugar, and the broth and simmer the mixture, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. In a small bowl dissolve the cornstarch in 2 teaspoons cold water, whisk it into the mixture, and simmer the sauce until it is thickened slightly. Add black pepper to taste and serve the sauce over asparagus.

ASPARAGUS NAPOLEONS WITH ORIENTAL BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the pastry rectangles:
• Roll out the pastry 1/8 inch thick on a lightly floured surface, cut out six 5- by 2-inch rectangles, and transfer them to a dampened baking sheet. Brush the tops of the rectangles with some of the egg wash, being careful not to let the egg wash drip down the sides, score them in a crosshatch pattern with the back of a paring knife, and brush them again with some to the remaining egg wash. Bake the rectangles in the upper third of a preheated 400°F. oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are puffed and golden, transfer them with a spatula to racks, and let them cool. The pastry rectangles may be made 1 day in advance, kept in an airtight container at room temperature, and reheated. Halve the rectangles horizontally with a serrated knife and with a fork pull out carefully any uncooked dough.
• Make the sauce:
• In a small bowl dissolve the cornstarch in the water and stir in the broth, the soy sauce, the Scotch, and the sugar. In a heavy saucepan heat the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it stir-fry the beans, the zest, the gingerroot, and the garlic for 1 minute, or until the mixture is very fragrant. Stir the broth mixture and add it to the bean mixture. Bring the sauce to a boil, stirring, simmer it for 2 minutes, and keep it warm. The sauce may be made 1 day in advance, kept covered and chilled, and reheated.
• In a large deep skillet of boiling salted water cook the asparagus for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the stalks are just tender but not limp, and drain it well. Arrange the bottom half of each pastry rectangle on a plate and divide the asparagus among the pastries. Spoon the sauce over the asparagus and around the pastries on each plate and top the asparagus with the top halves of the pastries.

CHICKEN AND ASPARAGUS WITH BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine cornstarch, soy sauce, dry sherry and water. Add chicken and stir to coat, then stir in 1 1/2 tsp of the oil and let stand for 15 minutes to marinate.
• Prepare cooking sauce and set aside. Wash asparagus and break off tough ends; cut in 1/2" slanting slices.
• Heat a wok over high heat. When pan is hot, add 2 tbs of the oil. When oil begins to heat, add black bean w/garlic and ginger; stir once. Add chicken and stir-fry until chicken is opaque (about 3 minutes). Remove chicken from pan.
• Add the remaining 1 tbs oil to pan. When oil is hot, add asaragus and onion and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the 2 tbs water, cover and cook stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender (about 2 minutes). Return chicken to pan. Stir cooking sauce, add to pan, and cook, stirring, until sauce bubbles and thickens.

ASIAN ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the first seven ingredients; set aside. In a large nonstick skillet or wok, stir-fry asparagus in canola oil until crisp-tender. Add tomatoes and orange juice mixture; heat through.

CHINESE BEEF AND ASPARAGUS WITH BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare the asparagus by washing, breaking the stem at the "natural" break point and slice diagonally into 1/2 to 1 inch pieces.
• (OPTIONAL: Steam the asparagus pieces for 3-4 minutes.) Put aside.
• Combine the marinade ingredients in a small bowl (soy sauce, ginger, sherry and cornstarch) then add the sliced meat. Mix well and let sit for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally if you wish.
• Head a wok or large frying pan, add the oil. When it is is just beginning to smoke, add the meat, laying each piece on one side in the pan, Do not turn but cook over high heat for a moment, until the one side begins to brown. Toss-stir the meat for a moment and remove from the pan, allowing the oil to drain back into the pan. You may want to do this in two batches to keep the meat sizzling.
• Heat the pan to hot again and add the garlic. Stir-fry for a minute then add the rinsed, chopped black beans and stirfry another bit. Add the asparagus, toss with the vegetables then add the other T of soy sauce and the pinches of sugar and salt. Stirfy until the asparagus is done to your liking (probably about 5 minutes if you didn't steam it first; less if you did).
• Add the meat and its drippings and the chicken broth. Stir to make a sauce, then serve.

ASPARAGUS CHICKEN WITH BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• For marinade: Combine 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 2 teaspoons soy sauce, sherry and sesame oil in a large bowl; mix well.
• Add chicken; stir to coat well. Let stand 30 minutes.
• Combine black bean sauce, hot chili paste, ginger and garlic; set aside.
• Combine remaining 3 teaspoons cornstarch, remaining 2 teaspoons soy sauce, chicken broth and oyster sauce in a small bowl; mix well. Set aside.
• Peel onion, cut into 8 wedges. Separate wedges; set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat.
• Add chicken; stir-fry until cooked through, about 3 minutes. Remove chicken from wok; set aside.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in wok.
• Add onion and asparagus; stir-fry 30 seconds.
• Add water and cover.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until asparagus is crisp-tender, about two minutes.
• Return chicken to wok.
• Stir chicken broth mixture; add to wok with black bean mixture.
• Cook until sauce boils and thickens, stirring occasionally.
• Serve over or with rice.