Ma Po Tofu
Ingredients:
- Marinade for
Ground Pork
- 1 1/2 Tbsp
tapioca starch (can substitute cornstarch)
- 2 tablespoons
soy sauce
- 1/4 pound
ground pork
- 1 pound
regular tofu (medium firmness)
- 1 leek or 3
green onions
- 1/4 tsp
salt
- 1 tsp Chinese
salted black beans (fermented black beans, also called Chinese black beans),
or to taste
- 1 Tbsp chili
bean paste, or to taste
- 3 Tbsp stock
(chicken broth)
- 1 Tbsp
cornstarch
- 2 Tbsp
water
- 2 Tbsp light
soy sauce
- Freshly
ground Szechuan pepper
- 2 - 3 tablespoons oil for stir-frying, as needed
Directions:
- Mix marinade
ingredients. Marinate pork for
about 20 minutes.
- Cut the tofu
(bean curd) into 1/2 inch (1 cm) square cubes, and blanch (drop into boiling
water) for 2 - 3 minutes. Remove from boiling water and
drain.
- Chop leek or
green onions into short lengths.
- Heat wok and
add oil. When oil is ready, add the marinated pork. Stir-fry pork until the
color darkens. Add salt and stir. Add the salted black beans. Mash the beans
with a cooking ladle until they blend in well with the meat. Add the chili
paste, then the stock, bean curd, and leek or green onions.
- Turn down the
heat. Cook for 3 - 4 minutes.
- While cooking, mix cornstarch, water, and soy sauce together. Add to wok and stir gently. Serve with freshly ground Szechuan pepper.