Fried Cod in Sweet Chili Black Bean Garlic Sauce

The Best Black Bean Garlic Sauce for Cod

This is a very popular recipe in many Asian Restaurants and I’ve seen recipes listed all over the web but, once again, the ingredients and preparation fall short and these food bloggers aren’t teaching it correctly. I guarantee that this is the Best Cod in Black Bean Garlic Sauce recipe you’ll ever try because I give you a fish marinade (no one else does), a light fried breading (most recipes skip) and a super easy and delicious sauce that comes in premade bottles, that you can purchase for cheap. You just have to know the proper amounts to mix. Otherwise you’d have to combine over a dozen different ingredients just to make the sauce from scratch. I recommend 3 bottled ingredients and a broth to thin and stretch out the sauce.

Black Bean Garlic Sauce

If you don’t already know, Black Bean Garlic Sauce can be purchased, as is, in a jar, ready to go. The problem is, it leaves much to be desired because it’s just fermented black beans. It’s also very potent, sour and other ingredients need to be added to balance out the flavor. In a restaurant setting, a wok cook would combine at least half a dozen ingredients to create the fusion. The 3 bottled sauces, pictured above is all I combine to create a sauce that properly balances this recipe. The sauce is a bit thick for this dish, however, so I thin it out with Broth.

I also use these 3 bottles to make a sauce for my Salt and Pepper Calamari and one of my Sea Scallop recipes.

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Fried Cod in Black Bean Garlic Sauce Ingredients:

Ingredients:

• Cod Fillet – Sliced into 1″ x 2″ pieces

Cod Marinade:

• Egg – For coating
• Canola Oil (2 tbsp) – Adds moisture
• Soy Sauce (1 tsp) – Umami flavor
• Ginger Powder (1/4 tsp) – Warm spice
• Garlic Powder (1/4 tsp) – Savory depth
• White Pepper (1/4 tsp) – Mild heat
• Cornstarch (3 tbsp) – Thickening agent

Fish Breading:

• Potato Starch (1/3 cup) – Light crisp breading for texture

Stir-Fry Vegetables:

• Lunch Box Peppers (5) – Chopped 1″ pieces
• Jalapeño (1) – Chopped 1″ pieces
• White Onion (1/4) – Chopped 1″ pieces
• Green Onions (2) – Chopped 2″ pieces
• Canola Oil (2 tbsp) – For stir-frying in the Wok or Skillet

Sauce:

• Black Bean Garlic Sauce (1 tbsp) – Bold umami
• Hoisin Sauce (1 tsp) – Slightly sweet
• Sweet Chili Sauce (1/4 cup) – Sweet heat
• Beef or Chicken Broth (1/2 cup) – Flavorful base

For Frying:

• Canola Oil – As needed, approximately 2″

Instructions:

Instructions:

1. Cut the Cod Filet into 1″ x 2″ inch pieces.
2. Marinate the Fish – In a bowl, whisk the egg, canola oil, soy sauce, ginger powder, garlic powder, white pepper, and cornstarch. Add the cod pieces and coat well. Let sit for 10 minutes.
3. Bread the Fish – Dredge the marinated cod in potato starch, ensuring an even coating.
4. Fry the Fish – Heat canola oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Fry the cod in batches until golden and crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels.
5. Sauté the Vegetables – In a clean pan, heat 2 tbsp canola oil. Stir-fry the peppers, jalapeño, white onion, and green onions until slightly softened.
6. Make the Sauce – In the same pan, add black bean garlic sauce, hoisin sauce, sweet chili sauce, and broth. Stir well and let it simmer for 1-2 minutes.
7. Combine Everything – Add the crispy cod back into the pan. Toss gently to coat the fish in the sauce without breaking the pieces.
8. Serve – Plate immediately and enjoy while hot!

Notes: The amount of marinade in this recipe can marinate up to 3 lbs of cod so only use about 1/3 of it for filet this size. This dish easily feeds 2 to 3 people and is traditionally served with steamed rice. Follow the instructions in the short video tutorial and I’ll show you exactly how to make this Fried Cod in Sweet Chili Black Bean Garlic Sauce.

Recommended

Wok, Gas Burner, Wok Ring for Gas Stove, Wok Ladle & Spatula, Butane Gas, Deep Fryer