Ma po tofu

Here's a fast and easy recipe for Chinese classic ma po tofu, using pork mince, rice wine and fermented black beans.

Credit: Feast magazine

• serves

  4

• prep

  10 minutes

• cook

  15 minutes

• difficulty

  Easy

Ingredients

• 1½ tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 200 g minced pork
• 1 tbsp peanut oil
• 1 tsp fermented Chinese black beans (see Note)
• 1½ tbsp chilli bean sauce (see Note)
• 2 spring onions, thinly sliced, plus extra, to serve
• 80 ml (⅓ cup) chicken stock
• 2 tbsp Chinese rice wine (Shaoxing) (see Note)
• 500 g silken bean curd, cut into 4 cm cubes
• 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns (see Note), dry-roasted, crushed

Marinating time 30 minutes

Instructions

Combine 1 tbsp soy sauce, cornflour and sesame oil in a bowl. Add pork and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to marinate.

Heat peanut oil in a large wok over high heat. Add black beans, chilli bean sauce and onions, and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. Add pork mixture and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, for 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Add stock, rice wine and remaining 2 tsp soy. Bring to the boil, reduce heat to low and add bean curd. Cook, stirring gently, for 2 minutes or until heated through.

Scatter with Sichuan peppercorns and extra spring onions, and serve.

Notes

• Chinese black beans, Shaoxing and Sichuan peppercorns are available from Asian food shops.

• Chilli bean sauce is available from select supermarkets and Asian food shops.

Photography by Derek Swalwell

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.