Ingredients
green bell peppers
3 medium, cored and torn into bite-sized pieces
fermented black beans (douchi)
2 tablespoons, rinsed and roughly chopped
garlic cloves
3, finely minced
vegetable oil
3 tablespoons
light soy sauce
1 tablespoon
rice wine
1 tablespoon
sugar
a pinch
sesame oil
1 teaspoon (optional)
Instructions
1
Prep the ingredients
Rinse the fermented black beans under cold water, then roughly chop them. Core the green peppers and tear them into irregular bite-sized pieces by hand—tearing rather than cutting gives the sauce more surface area to cling to and creates a rustic texture.
2
Heat the wok
Place a wok or large skillet over high heat. Add the vegetable oil and swirl to coat. The oil is ready when it shimmers and flows easily around the pan.
3
Bloom the aromatics
Add the minced garlic and chopped fermented black beans. Stir-fry for about 30 seconds until fragrant—the garlic should be just turning golden, not burnt.
4
Stir-fry the peppers
Add the torn green peppers all at once. Stir-fry vigorously for 2-3 minutes, keeping everything moving in the wok. The peppers should remain bright green with some charred edges while retaining a slight crispness.
5
Season and finish
Drizzle in the soy sauce and rice wine, add a pinch of sugar, and toss to combine. Cook for another 30 seconds. Remove from heat and optionally finish with a drizzle of sesame oil. Serve immediately over steamed rice.