Mapo Tofu Recipe

Ingredients

• 450 g soft tofu ( , I am using Szechuan tender lushui tofu)
• 100 g minced meat-beef or pork
• 1/2 tbsp. sesame oil
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 tbsp. cooking oil ( , divided)
• 1.5 tbsp. Doubanjiang ( , roughly chopped)
• 1/2 tbsp. fermented black beans ( , also known as dou-chi and fermented soya beans, roughly chopped)
• 1 tbsp. pepper flakes or powder ( , optional)
• water or broth for braising ( , I use 400 ml this time)
• 1 tbsp. light soy sauce
• 1 tsp. sugar ( , optional for reducing the spiciness)
• 2 scallion whites ( , finely chopped)
• 4 garlic greens or scallion greens ( , finely chopped)
• 2 garlic clove s ( , finely chopped)
• 5 ginger slice s ( , finely minced (around 1 teaspoon))
• 1/2 tbsp. Sichuan pepper for making fresh ground powder
• 2 and 1/2 tablespoon water
• 1 tbsp. cornstarch
• steamed rice for serving

Instructions

1. {'@type': 'HowToSection', 'name': 'Marinate the beef or pork', 'itemListElement': [{'@type': 'HowToStep', 'text': 'Add a small pinch of salt and ground pepper in minced beef or pork.
2. Mix well and set aside.', 'name': 'Add a small pinch of salt and ground pepper in minced beef or pork.
3. Mix well and set aside.', 'url': 'https://www.chinasichuanfood.com/mapo tofu recipe/#wprm recipe 14705 step 0 0'}]}
4. {'@type': 'HowToSection', 'name': 'Blanch tofu in water', 'itemListElement': [{'@type': 'HowToStep', 'text': 'Cut tofu into square cubes (around 2cms).
5. Bring a large amount of water to a boil and then add a pinch of salt.
6. Slide the tofu in and cook for 1 minute.
7. Move out and drain.
8. This helps to remove the raw soy flavor form tofu.', 'name': 'Cut tofu into square cubes (around 2cms).
9. This helps to remove the raw soy flavor form tofu.', 'url': 'https://www.chinasichuanfood.com/mapo tofu recipe/#wprm recipe 14705 step 1 0'}]}
10. 0'}, {'@type': 'HowToStep', 'text': 'Add another 1 tablespoon of vegetable cooking oil and\xa0fry doubanjiang for 1 minute over slow fire until the red turns red (bring us a lovely red color dish)\xa0and add fermented black beans,\xa0 garlic, scallion white and ginger, cook for 30 seconds until aroma. Optionally\xa0mix pepper flakes in. Pepper flakes should be added at the end because it contains little water and can be burnt easily.\xa0\xa0', 'name': 'Add another 1 tablespoon of vegetable cooking oil and\xa0fry doubanjiang for 1 minute over slow fire until the red turns red (bring us a lovely red color dish)\xa0and add fermented black beans,\xa0 garlic, scallion white and ginger, cook for 30 seconds until aroma. Optionally\xa0mix pepper flakes in. Pepper flakes should be added at the end because it contains little water and can be burnt easily.\xa0\xa0', 'url': 'https://www.chinasichuanfood.com/mapo tofu recipe/#wprm recipe 14705
11. 1'}, {'@type': 'HowToStep', 'text': 'Pour in water or stock. Add light soy sauce, sugar and\xa0half of the cooked beef (providing more flavors to the soup)\xa0after the broth boils and let it continue simmering for 2 3 minutes. Place the tofu in, simmer for another 6 8 minutes. The longer time of simmering helps the tofu to absorb the flavors.\xa0\xa0', 'name': 'Pour in water or stock. Add light soy sauce, sugar and\xa0half of the cooked beef (providing more flavors to the soup)\xa0after the broth boils and let it continue simmering for 2 3 minutes. Place the tofu in, simmer for another 6 8 minutes. The longer time of simmering helps the tofu to absorb the flavors.\xa0\xa0', 'url': 'https://www.chinasichuanfood.com/mapo tofu recipe/#wprm recipe 14705
12. 2'}]}
13. {'@type': 'HowToSection', 'name': 'Prepare the starch water and thicken the sauce', 'itemListElement': [{'@type': 'HowToStep', 'text': 'During the process of simmering, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2.5 tablespoons of water in a small bowl to make water starch.
14. Stir the water starch and then pour half of the mixture to the simmering pot.
15. Back push and wait for around 30 seconds and then pour the other half.
16. You can slightly taste the tofu and add pinch of salt if not salty enough.\xa0 Add cooked beef to creates some crispy texture and then drizzle sesame oil.
17. Mix well.\xa0', 'name': 'During the process of simmering, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2.5 tablespoons of water in a small bowl to make water starch.
18. Mix well.\xa0', 'url': 'https://www.chinasichuanfood.com/mapo tofu recipe/#wprm recipe 14705 step 3 0'}]}
19. 0'}, {'@type': 'HowToStep', 'text': 'Serve immediately with steamed rice.', 'name': 'Serve immediately with steamed rice.', 'url': 'https://www.chinasichuanfood.com/mapo tofu recipe/#wprm recipe 14705
20. 1'}]}