Mapo Tofu

Ingredients

• 500g silken or soft tofu, cubed
• 2 tbsp chilli bean paste (or chilli sauce + miso)
• 6 garlic cloves, 1 inch ginger, minced
• 1 cup vegetable stock or water
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 1 tsp sichuan pepper, crushed (optional)
• Spring onion
• 3 tbsp oil
• Rice for 2

Method

1. Slide the tofu into hot salted water for 2 minutes, then drain. It firms up and stops breaking apart.
2. Oil, garlic and ginger 20 seconds, then the chilli bean paste — fry it 1 minute until the oil turns red.
3. Stock and soy, bring to a simmer.
4. Add the tofu and push it around gently with the back of a spoon. Never stir mapo tofu with a spatula.
5. Cornflour slurry in, simmer till glossy and thick.
6. Crushed sichuan pepper and spring onion. Over rice.