Tianmian sauce

Tianmian sauce in a jar

Tianmian sauce (Chinese: 甜面酱; pinyin: tiánmiànjiàng ), also known as sweet bean sauce, is a thick, dark brown or black paste made from fermented wheat flour and salt. It is a staple condiment in Chinese cuisine, particularly in Beijing cuisine, and is used to add a rich, umami flavor to a variety of dishes.

Ingredients and Preparation

Tianmian sauce is primarily made from wheat flour, which is fermented with salt and sometimes soybeans. The fermentation process gives the sauce its characteristic sweet and savory flavor. The sauce is typically thick and smooth, with a glossy appearance.

Culinary Uses

Tianmian sauce is a versatile ingredient used in many Chinese dishes. It is often used as a condiment or a base for sauces in stir-fries, marinades, and noodle dishes.

Peking Duck

Peking duck served with tianmian sauce

One of the most famous uses of tianmian sauce is in Peking duck, where it is spread on thin pancakes along with slices of duck, scallions, and cucumber. The sauce adds a sweet and savory depth to the dish, complementing the rich flavor of the duck.

Zhajiangmian

Zhajiangmian with tianmian sauce

Tianmian sauce is also a key ingredient in zhajiangmian, a popular noodle dish from northern China. The sauce is mixed with ground pork and other seasonings to create a hearty topping for the noodles.

Korean Cuisine

Chunjang, a Korean variant of tianmian sauce

In Korean cuisine, a similar sauce known as chunjang is used to make jajangmyeon, a dish of noodles topped with a thick, savory black bean sauce. Chunjang is made with similar ingredients but often includes caramel coloring and additional seasonings.

Jajangmyeon, a Korean dish using chunjang

Fried Rice

Fried rice with tianmian sauce

Tianmian sauce can also be used to flavor fried rice, adding a sweet and savory note that enhances the overall taste of the dish.

Related Pages

• Soy sauce
• Hoisin sauce
• Fermented bean paste
• Chinese cuisine
• Korean cuisine