Ma Po Tofu ( Spicy Tofu in Si-Chuan Style)

Si-Chuan, is a state in center part of China. It has well know spicy cooking method  in culinary history for so long. Chef like to use lots of Chinese spices in dishes. Most of Si-Chuan's dish are big, bold in flavor. Anthony Bourdain, the food writer from travel channel. He describe the Si-Chuan hot pot, " It's like having a good s_x, very intense, so many things are all happening at once. You get swell, your tongue is numb, it hurts, but you want it more!. " Super"  I said!   Ma Po Tofu is good for beginners, it start with one simple spices, it's also a very common dish at the family table. Are you ready for challenge?

　

Ingredient;

1. 1 pound medium firm tofu cut in into less than 1 inch cubs.

2. 1/2 pound of ground pork or beef.

Flavor:

1. 4-5 cloves garlic minced.

2. 1 Jalapeno pepper seeded and diced it small. Us half in the cooking, other half for finish.

3. 2 scallion diced separate the white and green part.

4. 1 tablespoon dry prickly ash.

5. 2 tablespoon broad bean paste with chili.  *Find the picture at beef noodle soup.

6. 2 tablespoon soy sauce.

7. 1/4 cup white wine.

8. 1 tablespoon sugar.

9. 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar.

10. 2 cups water or chicken broth.

2 tablespoon corn starch mix with same amount of cold water.

Hot pan, cold oil, add in dry prickly ash, stir until flavor comes out about 2 minutes, then discard the dry prickly ash, remain the oil. If oil is high turn heat low. Add in garlic and jalapeno saute again until fragrance shows, then add broad bean paste with chili keep stir, the color will get darker, but bright. add in soy sauce, wine, sugar, water or chicken broth mix well check the saltiness and add in more cayenne pepper, bring to the broil, goes in tofu, medium high heat cook other 10 minutes. Add the well mix corn starch mixture slowly, stir well and gently with rubber spatula attach to the bottom of the pan, it will avoid to break the tofu. When the sauce comes together, stop adding more corn starch mixture. Turn the heat off add in balsamic vinegar, sprinkle the remain Jalapeno and green part scallion. Great with rice or dig in with a piece of French baguette.

*  Too spicy!!! Milk, Cold Acidly Sweet Juice will calm you down!

*  Picture of Dry Prickly Ash as below.