How To Make Mapo Tofu – Recipe | Felicity Cloake's Masterclass

2 months ago

Mapo tofu is simply a Chengdu favourite emblematic of nan “spicy generosity” of Sichuan food, Fuchsia Dunlop explains, though it’s possibly amended not translated arsenic “pock-marked aged woman’s tofu”. It whitethorn moreover person you to nan joys of tofu itself, should you still beryllium connected nan obstruction astir nan stuff, because its creamy softness is nan cleanable foil for nan intensely savoury, tingly seasoning progressive here. It’s besides fresh successful specified minutes.

Prep 10 min
Cook 7 min
Serves 2

2 ail cloves
1 mini knob caller guidelines ginger
4 outpouring onions
Salt
250g plain tofu (I for illustration a soft one, but spot measurement 3)
2 tsp cornflour, aliases murphy aliases tapioca starch
1 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns
2 tbsp neutral oil
40g pork mince, aliases beef mince, aliases a plant-based alternative
1 heaped tbsp Sichuan chilli legume paste (also called spicy doubanjiang aliases toban djan, spot measurement 8)
½ tbsp fermented achromatic beans, drained
1 tsp chilli flakes, drained if successful lipid (drizzle this connected top, if you prefer)
85ml water

1 A statement connected nan accompaniments

If serving this pinch rice, which is really it’s mostly eaten (though you could person it pinch noodles instead), put that connected to cook. It’s besides bully pinch immoderate steamed greenish vegetables aliases a cucumber crockery connected nan side. Prepare immoderate accompaniments, and each nan ingredients earlier you begin, because this is simply a crockery that comes together quickly.

2 Prep nan veg

Felicity Cloake’s Mapo Tofu. Prepare immoderate accompaniments, and each nan ingredients earlier you begin,

Peel and finely chop nan garlic, and peel and finely grate nan ginger – you’ll request astir a tablespoon’s worth. Trim disconnected and discard nan whiskery ends from nan outpouring onions, and immoderate very barren bits disconnected nan tops, past disagreement them into achromatic and greenish parts, portion some connected nan diagonal into astir 2cm lengths and support them separate.

3 Prep nan tofu

Bring a ample cookware of salted h2o to a boil. Cut nan tofu into astir 2½cm chunks – I for illustration nan creamy richness of soft aliases moreover silken tofu, while others for illustration nan flimsy chew of firmer varieties, but immoderate benignant should activity here, arsenic agelong arsenic it’s unflavoured. Mix nan cornflour (or potato/tapioca starch) and a tablespoonful of acold h2o to make a paste.

Felicity Cloake’s Mapo Tofu... Blanching nan tofu successful a cookware of water.

4 Blanch nan tofu

Turn down nan power nether nan boiling water, past mildly gaffe successful nan tofu, keeping nan pieces arsenic intact arsenic possible. Simmer mildly for a minute, past move disconnected nan heat. Meanwhile, toast half nan peppercorns successful a barren cookware until aromatic, past grind to a powder and group aside.

Felicity Cloake’s Mapo Tofu 04b. toast half nan peppercorns successful a barren cookware until aromatic, past grind to a powder

5 Flavour nan oil

Put a wok aliases a mean frying cookware connected a medium-high heat, past adhd nan oil. Once it starts to smoke, adhd nan remaining full peppercorns and fry, stirring, until aromatic; return attraction not to fto them burn. Scoop retired and discard nan peppercorns, leaving nan infused lipid successful nan pan. (You tin flavour nan lipid successful advance, if request be.)

Felicity Cloake’s Mapo Tofu 06a, tfrying immoderate pepercorns successful oil.

6 Add nan mince

Add nan nutrient and fry until brownish and crisp – it’s utilized successful specified mini amounts present that you’re improbable to miss it if you take to time off it out.

Felicity Cloake’s Mapo Tofu 08a. Frying a small mince successful nan oil.

Alternatively, soya mince, rehydrated if required, aliases different plant-based alternatives, aliases moreover finely chopped, sauteed mushrooms aliases aubergines will activity well, too.

7 Fry nan aromatics

Felicity Cloake’s Mapo Tofu 07a, Frying nan aromatics - garlic, ginger and outpouring bulb whites.

Scoop nan mince retired of nan cookware pinch a slotted spoon, leaving arsenic overmuch lipid down arsenic possible, and transportation to a sheet lined pinch room insubstantial to drain. Turn down nan power slightly, past fry nan garlic, ginger and outpouring bulb whites for a infinitesimal aliases so, stirring perpetually and taking attraction that they don’t drawback and burn.

8 Add nan flavourings and thickener

Felicity Cloake’s Mapo Tofu 08b. A image of a tin of opened beans.

Stir successful nan legume paste (this is easy recovered successful Chinese supermarkets aliases online; miso paste, preferably red, makes a decent if not cleanable substitute, though if you usage that, you’ll request to adhd a small much chilli), fermented achromatic beans and chilli, fry for 20 seconds, past move successful 85ml acold h2o and bring to a simmer. Stir successful nan cornflour paste until good combined.

9 Stir successful nan tofu and serve

condiment complete nan tofu and meat, intact, and navigator until nan condiment thickens.

Carefully drain nan blanched tofu truthful it doesn’t break up, past extremity it into nan wok on pinch nan fried mince. Spoon nan condiment complete nan tofu and meat, disturbing nan tofu arsenic small arsenic imaginable truthful arsenic to support it intact, and navigator until nan condiment thickens. Gently decant into a serving bowl, sprinkle pinch nan reserved crushed capsicum and outpouring bulb greens, and service pinch plain rice.