Mapo Dofu
Photo: Mapo Dofu
TOTAL TIME: 30 min
Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep:–
Cook: 20 min
YIELD:4 servings
LEVEL:Easy
ingredients
- 8 ounces mung bean noodles or rice noodles
- 1 1/2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 3/4 cup beef stock
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Sichuan peppercorns
- 1 tablespoon peanut oil
- 2 cloves garlic , crushed and finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon peeled and grated fresh ginger
- 1 red Fresno chile , seeded and finely diced
- 12 ounce ground pork
- 1 to 2 tablespoons chili bean sauce
- 1 tablespoon Shaohsing rice wine or dry sherry
- 1 pound firm fresh tofu, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 to 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1 to 2 tablespoons black rice vinegar or balsamic vinegar
- Sea salt
- Ground white pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 large scallions, sliced
Place the noodles in a large bowl and cover with boiling water. Let soak until softened, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and toss with 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil to prevent sticking.
In a small saucepan or wok , heat the beef stock to a simmer and then keep warm on low heat.
In a small frying pan set over medium heat, dry-toast the peppercorns until fragrant. Remove from the heat and crush in a mortar and pestle , place in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin or use a spice grinder .
Heat a wok over high heat and add the peanut oil . Add the garlic, ginger , chili and 1 tablespoon of the ground peppercorns and stir-fry a few seconds. Add the pork and chili bean sauce and continue stir-frying. As the pork browns, add the rice wine. When the pork has browned, add the tofu and mix gently. Season the stir-fry with soy sauce,
black rice vinegar , the remaining 1 teaspoon sesame oil, salt and ground white pepper.
Add the hot beef stock to the pork and tofu and bring to a boil. In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water, then stir into the sauce to thicken. Stir in the scallions and remove from the heat. Serve over the noodles and sprinkle with the remaining peppercorns.
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