Table of Contents
Doubanjiang, the soul of Chinese Sichuan cuisine, is a classic sauce made from fermented broad beans with fresh chili peppers. Through the fermentation process, the minerals, proteins, and starches in the beans are converted to a rich, savory, spicy, umami, and a little sweet flavor. That’s why people are fascinated by the magic sauce and enjoy using it in many dishes.
You might wonder, “What else Doubanjiang substitutes can be used?” Actually, we can find some similar sauces instead. When considering alternatives for doubanjiang, quality, and brand should be the benchmarks. SIANG.JI. ASIA is one of the standard brands in the industry. S.J. ASIA uses high-quality ingredients, follows traditional manufacturing methods, and complies with food safety regulations.
In this article, we will introduce the flavors of these top 5 Doubanjiang substitutes, including “How to use them”, “ How do they taste?” and “Where to find them”. Are you ready? Let’s explore these Doubanjiang substitutes for home cooking one by one.
Top 1 Doubanjiang Substitute: Ground Bean Paste with Chili Oil
The difference between Ground Bean Paste and Doubanjiang is that Ground Bean Paste mainly uses soybeans and includes additional ingredients such as sugar, wheat flour, modified corn starch, caramel color, and it’s non-spicy.
A great substitute for Doubanjiang is to combine the Ground Bean Paste with Chili Oil. This marvelous combination will definitely give you a surprise. Also, it has pretty much the same flavor as savory, spicy, umami, and a little sweetness as doubanjiang.
We just need to add an equal amount of Chili Oil to the Ground Bean Paste, then we’ll get an approximation of the taste of Doubanjiang. On the magical creation, we can use it for stir-frying, stewing, marinating, or dipping sauce. Also, Ground Bean Paste and Chili Oil are easy to find in any Asian market, Amazon, or S.J. ASIA.
Usage Recommendation
Exchange the Ground Bean Paste with Chili Oil in your recipe in a 1:1 ratio with Doubanjiang.
Recipe Adjustments
Since Ground Bean Paste with Chili Oil contains more cooking oil and sugar, we should reduce the amount of oil and sugar used during the cooking process to balance the flavors of the dish.
Top 2 Doubanjiang Substitute: Gochujang
Using Gochujang as a substitute for Doubanjiang is a clever choice because it’s also made from fermented beans as the primary ingredients. Which boasts captivating flavors of umami, spiciness, saltiness, and sweetness. Gochujang has a hint of heat, but it won’t make your mouth on fire.
The difference between the two sauces is Gochujang uses fermented soybeans with rice and chili powder instead of fresh chili.
That’s why Gochujang comes with a thicker texture and a higher sweetness. As a fantastic substitute, we can use it on fried rice, tofu soup, stew beef, and more. Gochujang is also pretty easy to find in Korean markets, Chinese markets, Walmart, and Amazon.
Usage Recommendation
Exchange the Gochujang in your recipe in a ¾ : 1 ratio with doubanjiang.
Recipe Adjustments
To counterbalance Gochujang’s sweetness, reducing sugar or other sweet components and cornstarch in your recipe is the right move.
Top 3 Doubanjiang Substitute: Ssamjang
Ssamjang is another Korean condiment. It’s a blend of chili paste with fermented soybeans. Compared to Doubanjiang, its flavor is milder but still carries a good balance of spiciness and saltiness.
Ssamjang also possesses umami, sweetness, and creaminess, but the difference is that it has less spicy. So, we can also use it on many dishes such as stir-fried squid, marinated pork, or seafood soup.
Using Ssamjang as the same as doubanjiang is the perfect substitution. The only consideration is we need to add a bit of hot source to balance the spicy taste. Plus, Ssamlang is easy to get in the Korean market, Chinese markets, or Amazon.
Usage Recommendation
Exchange the Ssamjang in your recipe in a 1:1 ratio with doubanjiang.
Recipe Adjustments
Considering the Ssamjang is not spicy enough, we can add extra chili peppers to our dish to balance the taste.
Top 4 Doubanjiang Substitute: Dark Miso with Red Chili Sauce
Dark miso with Red Chili Sauce is a wonderful and perfect combination. Dark Miso is made from long-fermented soybeans, which has a thick texture and include savory, salty, and sweet flavor. By adding Dark Miso with Red Chili Sauce for cooking, this way creates a blend similar to doubanjiang.
This mix is especially suitable for braising meats and seafood, but it might not be the best for vegetables. Don’t worry, the combination of Dark Miso with Red Chili Sauce will definitely open up a new window of culinary possibilities for you. Plus, we can find Dark Miso in most Japanese markets, Chinese markets, or Amazon, and through the SIANG JI ASIA, we can get the red chili sauce easily.
Usage Recommendation
Use the Dark Miso and Red Chili Sauce in your recipe in a ¾ : ¼ : 1 ratio instead of Doubanjiang.
Recipe Adjustments
Considering that Dark Miso is a heavy paste of texture, we better mix it with water in a 1:1 ratio before use.
Top 5 Doubanjiang Substitute: Soybean Sauce with Crispy Chili Sesame Sauce
Tired of using traditional doubanjiang? You got to try this more tasty and flavorful Soybean Sauce with Crispy Chili Sesame Sauce. This sauce is going to refresh your mind. Why? Because this creation includes umami, sweetness, and spicy just like doubanjiang. The homemade sauce can be used on stir-fried fish filets, vegetables, chicken, and Asian-style salad.
Soybean Sauce has a sweeter taste, most manufacturers usually add corn syrup to enhance its flavor. So, when using it, we need to reduce the sugar in our recipe. Here are several ways to buy those sauces, check it out in Chinese markets, Korean markets, or Amazon.
Usage Recommendation
Use the Soybean Sauce and Crispy Chili Sesame Sauce in your recipe in a 1 : ½ : 1 ratio instead of Doubanjiang.
Recipe Adjustments
Considering that Soybean Sauce tastes sweeter, and is non-spicy, we should use less sugar, also add chili sauce or any hot sauce you like while cooking.
A great Doubanjiang substitute can make our dishes easier and less time spent. If you seek the genuine flavor and tradition of this Asian cuisine, the SIANG JI ASIA is the best recommendation!
They provide excellent quality, authenticity, and many products. Whether you are a home cooker or a professional chef, understanding and utilizing these substitutes can help you bring a stunning dish to your kitchen, even when the original ingredient isn’t at hand!
Learn more: What is Doubanjiang Chili Bean Paste? Insider’s Buyer Guide