Salted black beans

  I don't know what I'm making for dinner tonight.    I often don't.  I wish I could be a meal planner, but that's just not who I am.  Anyway, when I am at a loss for what to make, I usually see if I have any leftovers that I've frozen or I whip up one of my regulars.  (By the way, I would love to know what your regulars are!)  Today, I'm showing you my "black bean chicken."  This is a Chinese style dish, and it happens to be one of Mike and the kids' most favorite dinners.  We serve with rice and some veggie, usually bok choy or broccoli.

 

Here's what you'll need:

2-3 chicken breasts, cubed into bite size pieces

about 1-inch piece of ginger, grated or finely diced

2-3 cloves of garlic, diced

light olive oil or canola oil

soy sauce

pepper

cornstarch

1.5-2 Tbls. salted black beans, rinsed and mashed*

 

  These are salted black beans, also called fermented black beans.  You can find them at an Asian grocery store and they are Chinese so most likely the Japanese markets will not have them (at least the ones around here did not).  Let me forewarn you, they don't smell the best when you open the bag and start mashing them, but they are very flavorful!  Rinse them and then mash, you can make it into a paste or have them a little chunky.  I prefer more of a paste.  *You can also buy black bean paste at about any grocery store in the Asian section.  This might be a better choice if you don't want a whole bag of black beans, but the bag lasts forever in the fridge!

 

1.  Marinate the chicken with garlic, ginger, about 1 Tbls. soy sauce, and 2 tsp. oil in a bowl.  Mix together and let marinate while you make rice or prep vegetables.

2.  When you are ready to cook chicken, lightly coat chicken pieces with cornstarch by adding cornstarch in bowl and mixing the chicken around in it.  I would say I use about 2-3 Tbls. cornstarch.

3.  Heat pan (the chicken will stick, so I use a well-seasoned cast iron or a non-stick will do) with 1-2 Tbls. oil.

 

4.  Pan-fry chicken, letting each piece get slightly golden.

 

5.  Before all sides are cooked, add in mashed black beans.  Stir and continue to let sides get golden.

6.  Drizzle soy sauce over all of the chicken, it probably ends up being about 1.5-2 Tbls. soy sauce.  Stir and continue to cook until the chicken is cooked through ( about a minute or so, it doesn't take long!).

 

7.  Serve hot with rice and your choice of veggie.  Enjoy! (No pictures because when dinner's done, it's time to EAT!)

 

It is so easy and fast and delicious.  It might become one of your regular meals too!