MAPO TODU 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:

• Put 2 cups cold water and the dried shiitake mushrooms in a small pot and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and let sit to rehydrate for 30 minutes.
• Squeeze excess water from the mushrooms, cut off and discard the stems and finely chop the mushrooms. Measure the mushroom-soaking liquid and add enough cold water to come to 1 1/2 cups.
• Mix the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl until combined; set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil in a wok or large high-sided skillet over medium-high heat until it starts to smoke. Add the shiitakes and cook until browned, about 4 minutes. Lower the heat to medium, add the remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, the ginger, douchi, doubanjiang, Sichuan peppercorn powder, garlic and dried chile, if using, and cook until everything is bright red, about 1 minute.
• Add the mushroom-soaking liquid to the wok, scraping any brown bits off the bottom. Gently stir in the tofu and bring to a boil. Add the soy sauce and sugar, then stir in the cornstarch slurry and half of the scallions. Bring to a simmer and simmer until the sauce is glossy, about 1 minute.
• Transfer to a serving dish, sprinkle with the remaining scallions and more Sichuan peppercorn powder if desired and drizzle the toasted sesame oil on top.