🍲 Mapo Tofu

Ingredients

• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 small piece of ginger, minced (about 2 tsp)
• 1–2 tsp crushed dried chile pepper
• 200 g (7 oz) minced beef, or pork
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 500 g (1 lb) silken tofu, cubed
• 2 tbsp chili bean paste (la doubanjiang)
• 1 tbsp Szechuan pepper, roasted and ground
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice wine
• 3–4 green onions, cut into 2 cm (1 inch) pieces
• 2–3 mushrooms (tree ears preferred; optional)

Method

1. If using dried mushrooms, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes while preparing the rest of the ingredients, then slice before adding later.
2. Sauté onion with ginger and crushed chili.
3. Add minced meat and garlic, and fry until brown.
4. Mix in other ingredients (including sliced mushrooms), lower heat, and simmer for 5–10 minutes.
5. Serve over steamed jasmine rice.