Lee Kum KeeBlack Bean Garlic Sauce , 8.0 Ounce (B77855)

Living where I do — an hour from a major city, Asian pop. 3.4 percent — there aren’t a lot of Asian grocery stores. For some reason, there are at least three different Indian stores, which feels like more than enough, honestly, but no Asian ones that I know of, I mean, what you think of as an Asian one, with oyster and fish sauces, tubs of kimchi, long green vegetables, spinachy and leeky. Pre-pandemic, there was one, by the bagel place and the donut place and the Nepalese restaurant, but over the course of a year and a half, its shelves gradually depleted, the Asian owner-clerk replaced by a series of random white people who seemed so disconnected from their surroundings — like, so unable to advise on what was where or even what was what — that one of my friends speculated that the shop had become a front for something else.I mention this because my friend S. believes that you should shop only in locally owned stores, never on Amazon. This is what she manages to do. When we first discussed this, I said that it shouldn't fall to us — to everyday people — to have to make the moral choice to shop locally, when buying on Amazon is invariably cheaper and more convenient. There should be policies, I argued, that compel Amazon and companies like it to operate differently, such that it wouldn't be possible for the cost and convenience of shopping with them to be so much better than with local stores. That way, everyday people — many of whom are poor — wouldn't be forced to make the choice. S. agreed that this would be ideal, but she said that, be that as it may, people like us, with salaries that put us in the upper middle class (she and her husband are ceramicists and art professors; at the time of our conversation, I was working as an editor at The New York Times Magazine, while my husband is an English professor), should be able to manage not shopping at Amazon. We could afford it. She gets a lot of her food from the co-op downtown, or else directly from local farms. So could we. I was frustrated by the conversation, feeling that S. was ignoring the broader context and putting too much responsibility on individuals — on us. She, too, was frustrated, feeling that I was using the broader context as an excuse to avoid my own responsibility. Later, I concluded she was right. I wasn't sure if I could stop buying on Amazon altogether. But I told myself that, each time I bought something on Amazon, I'd force myself to come up with a justification. In doing so, I told myself, I might effectively shame myself into doing so less often.It worked, to an extent. For example, I started turning to the Asian grocery store before trying Amazon. It was in that shop that — back when the owner-clerk was still there — I asked for black bean sauce without sesame, to which my husband is allergic, and was guided toward a shelf containing at least three or four black bean sauces, of which this one, the owner-clerk said with authority, was the only sesame-free one. It wasn’t the best one by any means, he said, but — he double-checked the label — no sesame.I bought it then (serviceable, as promised), but by the time it ran out, the store had disappeared entirely. What choice did I have, then, short of driving to Denver, spending $60 in gas and wear and tear on the car, according to the I.R.S. standard rate, not to mention the environmental cost of my emissions, our persistent common tragedy, but to look it up on this site, which not only had it at a good price but could deliver it in time for me to use it in the dish I was planning, for which I had already acquired the other ingredients, the shrimp, udon noodles, carrot, lime, scallions, soy glaze, bell pepper (to be honest, had acquired them not by my own effort but as part of a shipment from the meal-prep startup we began using weekly during the pandemic to avoid grocery outings — which also included black bean sauce, but one containing sesame oil) and was just awaiting this key addition?It arrived on time and in good shape. It is serviceable still.

This sauce enables you to easily make Chinese dishes which are every bit as good as what you would purchase in a high-quality Chinese restaurant. The secret to oriental cooking is in the sauces. It is so easy. Simply defrost a 16 oz package of frozen veggies. The type does not esp matter but don't use the small diced peas, corn and carrots type. That type is not suitable. Use the Asian stir-fry types or else other combos with broccoli, snow peas, carrots and onions. Defrost it for 4 minutes in the microwave until still cool or cold but no ice, set aside. Next chop up left over cooked chicken, pork or beef pieces (or shrimp) - pending your preference. If you are using raw meat/fish, then chop it in pieces and saute in vegetable oil (I use olive oil) until lightly cooked. Use a bit less than 1/4 cup - just enough to coat the pan or wok. You don't want your dish to be greasy. If you are using already cooked left-over meat (my preference), cut in small pieces and set aside. Raw meat gets cooked before adding the veggies, cooked meat goes in after sauteing the veggies. Use a large frying pan or wok, if you have one. When the oil is hot, add the defrosted veggies and stir around for a few minutes - no more than 3 minutes - you want the veggies crisp not mushy. Next, add your cut-up pre-cooked chicken, stirring the whole time. Since the meat is already cooked 30 sec is enough. The exact amounts of meat and veggies do not matter - use your judgement as to how much meat and veggies you add. I like more veggies than meat, personally. Now you add a small amount of the black bean and garlic sauce - I'd say about a rounded tablespoon - not too much because it is salty. This amount is about right for 16 oz of veggies and about 3/4 to 1 cup chicken pieces. You can always add a little more if it is not enough. I also add about a teaspoon of the chili garlic sauce (also available at Amazon) to give it some zing. You don't want to go overboard on these amounts because the dish will then be too salty. Stir so it coats the meat and veggies. Finally you add about 1/2 lb of pre-cooked spaghetti or noodles of your choice. Stir in for another minute (no more than 1 minute) until the spaghetti strands (or noodles) are coated then cut the heat and serve. You can put the final product in a large serving bowl which you will bring to the table. Have the table set for dinner before you start. The total cooking time for everything should not exceed 5 minutes so have everything all ready and in separate bowls before you begin. You can even put your black bean sauce and garlic sauce in a shot glass after measuring it out ahead of time. Use a knife to transfer it to the pan. I take it directly from the jar with a spoon and into the pan but for your first attempt, you should use the shot-glass method. You want your vegetables crisp and your noodles firm. It is all very easy, it is just a matter of the order in which you add the ingredients to the frying pan or wok and making sure you cook them only briefly - stirring the whole while. It does not matter what utensil you use to stir. I use a large spoon. The key to success is that everything should be ready for you in separate mixing bowls before you start. It will take you longer to wash the pan and mixing bowls and wipe off the stove then it will to actually cook the dish. The results will be exactly like good quality restaurant lo mein. I serve this dish with rice which I pre-cook in my rice cooker. Don't hesitate to post any questions. I will be happy to answer them.

This product is amazing for using in my Korean or Japanese dishes. I add a spoonful to my Korean Spinach, Japanese cucumber salad and Bean Sprout salad. It kicks it up a notch but not too much. Enjoy

Getting hard to find in stores. Great flavor but usually combined with other sauces too. Rapid shipping.

Maravilloso.Seguire.

The jar came with the seal broken. I got a refund but that was still really annoying and inconvenient

We used this for steak ramen stir fry and it turned out great. Has a great salty garlic flavor and a little goes a long way. The jar came wrapped completely sealed in plastic for less risk of leaks during shipping.

Used this to make me some Asian stir fry and marinate some chicken thighs. This stuff is great for a marinade or for cooking in general. I mixed this with some water (its salty) to dilute and other spices to marinate some chicken for some Asian food and it turned out awesome!