Sweet bean sauce (Tian mian jiang)

Sweet bean sauce, or tianmianjiang in Chinese, is a popular condiment made with ground yellow bean sauce cooked along with sugar, water, and peanut or corn oil until the sugar melts completely. This sauce is typically reddish-dark brown or black in color and has a thick and smooth texture.

It can be used as a base for stir-fries, but it can also be added to various dishes based on noodles, fried rice, tofu, or meat. Available in most Asian supermarkets, this sauce is mandatory for the preparation of the well-known Peking duck.