MAPO DOFU RECIPES

Steps:

• Add a small pinch of salt and ground pepper. Mix well and set aside.
• Cut tofu into square cubes (around 2cms). Bring a large amount of water to a boil and then add a pinch of salt. Slide the tofu in and cook for 1 minute. Move out and drain.
• Get a wok and heat up around 2 tablespoons of oil, fry the minced meat until crispy. Transfer out beef out and leave the oil in. Add another 1 tablespoon of oil.
• Add another 1 tablespoon of vegetable cooking oil and fry doubanjiang for 1 minute over slow fire until the red turns red (bring us a lovely red color dish) and add fermented black beans,  garlic, scallion white, ginger and fermented black beans to cook for 30 seconds until aroma. Optionally  mix pepper flakes in. Pepper flakes should be added at the end because it contains little water and can be burnt easily.  
• Then pour in water or stock. Add light soy sauce, sugar and half of the cooked beef (providing more flavors to the soup) after the broth boils and let it continue simmering for 2-3 minutes. Place the tofu in, simmer for another 6-8 minutes. The longer time of simmering helps the tofu to absorb the flavors.  
• During the process of simmering, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2.5 tablespoons of water in a small bowl to make water starch. Stir the water starch and then pour half of the mixture to the simmering pot. Back push and wait for around 30 seconds and then pour the other half. You can slightly taste the tofu and add pinch of salt if not salty enough.  Add cooked beef to creates some crispy texture and then drizzle sesame oil. Mix well. 
• Transfer out when almost all the seasonings stick to tofu cubes. Sprinkle Szechuan peppercorn powder (to taste)and chopped garlic greens if using.
• Serve immediately with steamed rice.

Steps:

• Cut the chicken by slicing diagonally. Then, gather the clumps of chicken together, and chop the pieces into even smaller pieces. Gather, flip the clump of chicken, and repeat.
• Place your newly minced chicken in a bowl, and add cornstarch, oyster sauce, and water. Using your hands and a bit of strength, mix and massage the chicken around until the marinade is fully absorbed. Let the marinade sit for about 5 minutes.
• Pour the water out of the tofu package, and chop the tofu into cubes.
• Mince garlic cloves, chili peppers, and green onion.
• In a bowl, mix together cornstarch and water until you have an even consistency.
• Set your stove to its highest setting, and wait a few minutes for your pan or wok to heat up. Once it's hot enough, add oil, garlic cloves, and chilies. Stir the garlic and chilies around for 20 to 30 seconds.
• Add bean sauce to the wok, stirring it around with the chicken for about 1 minute.
• Add the tofu to the wok, gently stir it around, and cover the wok with a lid. Let it sit for about 3 minutes, when the wok starts to boil.
• Slowly pour the cornstarch mix into the wok, gently stirring the wok around as you go. Be careful not to break the tofu in the process. Next, add sesame oil. Gently stir the wok around to mix the sesame oil in.
• We're done! You're almost ready to eat your delicious creation. If you're plating the dish, the only caveat is to pour the tofu directly into a bowl or plate WITHOUT using a spatula. This helps keep the tofu intact.