CHINESE COOKING: If you enjoy a bit of spiciness with your food, you will be delighted with this very popular way to cook tofu.

TOFU--MAH-PAW STYLE 麻婆荳腐:

 

 

6 bricks of soft tofu                                        

½ lb. minced lean pork

1 tbsp. chopped green onions                                                 

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tbsp. tapioca starch mixed with 3 tbsp. water                       

1 1/2 tbsp. cooking oil

seasoning for pork:

    1 tbsp. tapioca starch mixed with 3 tbsp water        

    1 tsp. light soy sauce

    dash sesame oil

sauce:

    1 tbsp. each hot & spicy bean paste & dark soy sauce

    1 tsp. each salt, sugar, red pepper flakes and ground Sichuan peppercorn

    1/2 to 1 cup water

 

 

Add seasoning ingredients to pork and marinate for 30 minutes. In wok or non-stick saucepan, heat 1 tbsp. oil over high heat until very hot and cook garlic until fragrant. Add pork and cook until no longer pink

 

Arrange tofu in a microwavable container. Make criss-cross slashes on each brick of tofu. Cook tofu, covered with paper tower or a lid, under high power for 2 minutes to heat through.

 

Push pork to side of the pan and add in rest of oil. Heat over high heat till hot and add in bean paste. Cook for a few seconds; then add in rest of sauce ingredients, starting with half cup water. When it comes to a boil, add in tofu and gently stir it in the sauce to coat. Adjust seasoning; then add in starch solution. Cook until sauce is thickened to desired consistency, adding a little more cold water in if necessary. Sprinkle in the green onions; then transfer mixture to serving platter to serve right away.