Spiced Bean Curd Recipes

MA-PO TOFU (SPICY BEAN CURD WITH BEEF)

Steps:

• In dry heavy skillet over moderate heat, toast peppercorns, stirring, until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl and let cool, then grind in spice grinder to fine powder. Set aside.
• In large pot over moderately high heat, bring 4 cups water to boil. Add tofu, remove from heat, and let steep, uncovered, 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer tofu to medium bowl and set aside.
• In small bowl, whisk together hot bean paste, black-bean paste, 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, and chili powder. Set aside.
• In small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 3 tablespoons water. Set aside.
• In wok or heavy large sauté pan over moderate heat, heat oil until hot but not smoking. Add beef, ginger, garlic, and scallions and stir-fry until meat is browned, about 1 minute. Add rice wine and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of moisture evaporates, 1 to 2 minutes. Add hot bean paste mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is incorporated and oil in pan turns red, about 1 minute.
• Add tofu, leeks, stock, light and dark soy sauces, and remaining 2 tablespoons oyster sauce and bring to boil. Whisk cornstarch mixture to recombine, then add to pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until juices thicken slightly, about 1 minute.
• Transfer to serving dish. Sprinkle with Sichuan peppercorn powder and cilantro, if using. Serve immediately.

STIR-FRIED BEAN CURD WITH GROUND PORK AND OYSTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix together the pork, the egg, 1 tablespoon of the cornstarch, the five-spice powder, 1 tablespoon of the scallions, 1/2 teaspoon of the sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of the sesame oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Place the vegetable oil in a hot wok over very high heat, then add small clumps of the pork mixture. Stir-fry for about 1 minute, or until the clumps are browned and cooked through. Remove from wok and reserve.
• Lower the heat to medium. Add to the wok, 6 tablespoons of scallions, the minced red pepper, the minced green chile, the minced garlic, and the minced ginger root. Stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the browned pork and stir well, tossing with the remaining 2 1/2 teaspoons of sugar. Turn heat high and add the chicken stock, soy sauce and oyster sauce. Stir well and bring to a boil. Mix the remaining 2 teaspoons of cornstarch with a little cold water in a cup, then stir into the wok. Gently stir in the bean curd cubes, taking care not to break them up.
• Remove from wok and place on serving platter. Sprinkle with the remaining half-teaspoon of sesame oil.

BEAN CURD WITH BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Put cornstarch into a cup and slowly add 1/4 cup of the vegetable stock (make sure it is room temperature or cooler) and mix well.
• Add wine, soy sauce and sesame oil.
• Mix well.
• Cut scallion into 1 1/2-inch lengths.
• Heat vegetable oil in a wok over medium heat. When hot, put in ginger and garlic. Stir fry for 10 seconds.
• Put in scallion and broccoli.
• Fry for 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup vegetable stock and the salt. Bring to a simmer.
• Cover and cook over a medium heat for a minute, until broccoli is tender-crisp.
• Remove broccoli with a slotted spoon.
• Turn heat to low and add tofu.
• Let it heat through.
• Add cornstarch mixture.Stir very gently.
• Put broccoli back in wok.
• Serve as soon as the sauce is thick and everything is heated through.

BEAN CURD AND SPICY PORK

Steps:

• In a nonstick skillet, heat the oil, and saute the garlic, pepper flakes and ginger over medium heat for 30 seconds, stirring.
• Add the pork, and stir to break up, cooking until the pork browns.
• Add the broccoli, and stir well.
• Stir in the tofu, stock, Sherry, black beans, sugar and soy sauce. Cover, and cook over medium-low heat for about 2 minutes, until the broccoli is tender but still crisp.
• Mix the cornstarch with a little water to make a smooth paste. Stir into the skillet, and cook over low heat until the sauce thickens slightly. Season with salt. Serve over cooked rice.

BEAN CURD IN SPICY MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat half of the oil in a wok and, when it is hot but not quite smoking, add half of the red and green peppers. Cook, stirring and pressing them against the side of the wok so that they blacken a bit without burning. Using a slotted spoon, remove them while they are still crisp and set aside. Leave the oil in the wok.
• To the wok add half of the pork and cook over high heat, stirring and chopping down to break up any lumps. Cook only until the pork loses its raw look.
• Add half of the bean sauce, half of the chili paste with garlic, half of the sugar and one tablespoon of the Sherry, blending thoroughly. Add one cup of the chicken broth and bring to the simmer.
• Blend half of the cornstarch with one tablespoon of Sherry and one and one-half tablespoons chicken broth.
• Stir this into the simmering meat sauce. When thickened, spoon and scrape the sauce into a large mixing bowl.
• Wipe out the wok. Repeat the procedure using the remaining oil, peppers, pork, bean sauce, chili paste with garlic, sugar, Sherry, chicken broth and cornstarch. Add the second batch of peppers to the first batch and let cool. Add the second batch of meat sauce to the first batch and let cool. Refrigerate overnight or until ready to use. Refrigerate the peppers separately.
• When ready to serve, return the meat sauce to room temperature. Return the sauce to large saucepans or casseroles and bring to the boil.
• Carefully add the bean-curd pieces to the meat sauce. Stir and heat gently so as not to break up the bean-curd pieces more than necessary. Add the cooked red and green pepper cubes. Heat briefly.
• Add the chopped scallions, ground peppercorns and sesame oil. Stir gently and serve. Serve with hot chili oil on the side, if desired, to be added by those who enjoy very spicy foods.