Spicy Hotpot Broth Sichuan Hong Tang Lu Recipes

SPICY HOTPOT BROTH (SICHUAN) -- HONG TANG LU

Steps:

• Make a paste out of the black beans and 1 Tbsp Shaoxing rice wine, using either a mortar and pestle or a food processor.
• Wash the ginger and cut it into slices about the thickness of a coin.
• Using a scissors, snip the chiles into 1 inch sections and remove the seeds.
• Heat 3 tbs of the oil in a wok over a medium flame so it's hot but not smoking.
• Stir fry the chiles to flavor the oil; you want the oil to sizzle around the chiles, making them crisp and fragrant, but NOT burning; using a slotted spoon remove them and set aside.
• Rinse out and dry the wok, the put on a simmer/low heat.
• Add the rest of the oil and the beef drippings.
• Once the drippings have melted completely, turn up the heat to medium.
• When the oils just begin to smoke (around 250-300 degreesF), add the chile bean paste and stir fry until the oil is rich and fragrant (60-90 seconds).
• The paste should NOT burn; if necessary either move the wok off the heat or turn the heat down to let the paste sizzle in the oil.
• When the oil has reddened, add the black bean mash and the ginger.
• Stir fry until they also are fragrant.
• Add about 1 1/2 quarts of the beef stock and bring to a boil.
• When the liquid reaches a boil, add the rock sugar, the rest of the Shaoxing wine, and (optional) the glutinous rice wine.
• Salt to taste.
• Add the chiles and the Sichuan pepper (adjust the quantity depending on how "hot and numbing" you want it) leave the broth to simmer for 15-20 minutes.
• You are now ready to use this to dip ingredients to cook.
• =============== NOTE ================.
• You will add the rest of the chicken stock to top up the hotpot as the meal progresses.

SPICY HOTPOT

Steps:

• For the soup base:
• Heat a 3 1/2 pint capacity wok over a high heat, and add the groundnut oil. Stir-fry the chiles and Sichuan peppercorns until fragrant. Add the chile bean sauce, and chile sauce, then pour in the stock. Add the star anise, mushrooms, orange peel, chile oil, and ginger, and bring everything to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20 minutes. Ten minutes before serving, stir in the chiles.
• For the hotpot:
• Whilst the stock is simmering, divide all the fish balls, spring onions, cabbage, deep-fried tofu, and fresh tofu on 4 serving plates, cover with plastic wrap, and chill them in the refrigerator.
• For the soy dipping sauce:
• Combine the black vinegar, soy sauce, and chiles in a bowl, and set the sauce aside.
• For the special dipping sauce:
• Let each guest prepare their own Taiwanese dipping sauce at the table. In a small bowl, stir to combine, the egg yolk, satay sauce, cilantro, and spring onions.*
• For the assembly:
• To serve, arrange all the ingredients on the table. Transfer the soup base to an electric wok or fondue pot, and set it up in the center of the table. Let the guests help themselves, and cook the raw ingredients in the spicy broth. Serve with both dipping sauces.