Chinese fermented black beans (known in Cantonese as dou si) are powerful little umami bombs - they add an intense, rich savouriness to whatever they're cooked with. They are made from soy beans ...

or fermented locust beans, as a foundation for a flavorful dish. She added smoked shrimp and shredded shrimp to the oil, ...

This hearty soup-stew uses Korean fermented soybean paste ... such as kimchi pancakes or mung bean pancakes (leave out the meat for that recipe), rice and banchan.