Chinese Stir-Fry Shrimp in Black Bean Sauce

Chinese Stir-Fry Shrimp in Black Bean Sauce

The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Marinate: 15 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 3 to 4 servings

This easy shrimp in black bean sauce is a family-pleasing dish that is quick enough to prepare and cook any night of the week. The black bean sauce adds savory, salty flavor and color to the shrimp.

Chinese black bean sauce makes the perfect accompaniment to shrimp in this simple stir-fry. This easy recipe calls for black bean sauce with garlic, available in Chinese or Asian markets and many local supermarkets. You can also find black bean sauce online.

Serve shrimp in black bean sauce alongside hot cooked rice, fried rice, or noodles, with Chinese broccoli or bok choy on the side.

"The shrimp in black bean sauce was savory and had excellent flavor. I liked the fact that it had a good amount of sauce. It was super-fast, and an easy dish to serve any weeknight or for lunch. My family enjoyed it with rice, but it would also be good with cauliflower rice or noodles." —Diana Rattray

Shrimp in Black Bean Sauce Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 pound medium or large shrimp, peeled and deveined

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, such as canola or peanut

  • 2 tablespoons black bean sauce (with garlic)

  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger

  • 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into thin strips

For the Marinade:

  • 1 tablespoon rice wine or dry sherry

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon rice wine or dry sherry

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • 3/4 cup chicken broth

For the Cornstarch Slurry:

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

  • 2 tablespoons water

  • 3 to 4 medium (4-1/8" long) scallions, sliced

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Chinese Stir-Fry Shrimp in Black Bean Sauce ingredients

    The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

  2. Rinse the shrimp and pat dry.

    Rinse the shrimp and pat dry

    The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

  3. Place the shrimp in a bowl and stir in the marinade ingredients. Marinate the shrimp for 15 minutes.

    Place the shrimp in a bowl and stir in the marinade ingredients

    The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

  4. In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients and set aside. In a separate small bowl, stir the 1 tablespoon of cornstarch into the 2 tablespoons of water and set aside.

    combine the sauce ingredients, cornstarch mixture in a bowl

    The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

  5. Heat the wok or pan and add oil for frying. When the oil is hot, add the black bean sauce and fresh ginger, stirring it together for a few seconds until aromatic.

    add the black bean sauce and fresh ginger to the pan

    The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

  6. Add the shrimp. Stir-fry briefly, then push to the sides and add the red bell pepper. Stir-fry for about a minute, adding a bit of water, broth, rice wine, or dry sherry if it begins to dry out.

    shrimp, red peppers, and sauce in a pan

    The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

  7. Push the shrimp and vegetables up to the sides of the pan. Give the sauce a quick re-stir and add into the middle of the pan. Bring to a boil. Give the cornstarch and water mixture a quick re-stir and add into the sauce, stirring to thicken.

    shrimp cooking in a pan

    The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

  8. Stir to mix the sauce with the shrimp and vegetables and then stir in the scallions. Serve hot over rice.

    Chinese Stir-Fry Shrimp in Black Bean Sauce in a pan

    The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

How to Store

  • Refrigerate the cooked shrimp win black bean sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  • To freeze, transfer the cooled shrimp and black bean sauce to a freezer container or zip-close freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost the shrimp in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Reheat the shrimp and sauce in a skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until hot.


What Is Light Soy Sauce?

Light soy sauce—sometimes labeled "thin" or "superior"—is not reduced-sodium soy sauce. Light soy sauce is lighter and thinner soy sauce than dark soy sauce but stronger in flavor. Many of the soy sauces on grocery store shelves are dark soy sauce, so look for "light," "thin," or "superior" on the label.

Is There a Substitute for the Black Bean Sauce With Garlic?

Black bean garlic sauce is a salty, pungent, and savory mixture of fermented black soybeans (douchi in Chinese) and garlic. If you can't find it and must substitute, use hoisin sauce and omit the sugar in the recipe.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
248 Calories
10g Fat
9g Carbs
27g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 248
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 1g 6%
Cholesterol 240mg 80%
Sodium 1694mg 74%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 27g
Vitamin C 52mg 260%
Calcium 125mg 10%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 330mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)