Douchi can be used directly in dishes. Lots of Sichuan dishes (mapo tofu, twice cooked pork belly) call for douchi, not as a main seasoning, but it do improve the flavors and taste a lot. Douchi can be used to make sauce or paste too. There are several famous sauce brands using douchi to make lovely instant eating sauce like crispy chili with douchi from Lao Gan Ma. Douchi sauce from Lee Kum Kee. Sometimes, douchi can also carry the main roles, in most cases with garlic to make yummy steamed dishes or douchi flavor stir fries including douchi steamed chicken. Check the following recipe ideas for more inspirations. There is no need to rinse douchi before using if the amount is well controlled. But for those who need special watch on sodium take in, rinsing is optional.