Foreword: Among the many traditional Chinese cuisines, mapo tofu has become a classic Sichuan dish loved by many people at home and abroad with its unique taste and rich taste level. This article will go into detail about the process of making homemade mapo tofu, and at the end provide some additional content to add fun and practicality to this dish.Mapo tofu originated in Sichuan Province, China, and has a history of more than 100 years. It is known for its numb, spicy, hot, fragrant, fresh, tender, oily but not greasy characteristics, and is one of the representative works in Sichuan cuisine. "Hemp"** In the numbness of Sichuan pepper"Spicy"It is due to the heavy use of chili peppers.
To make a home-cooked mapo tofu, you first need to prepare the following ingredients:
400 grams of tofu (tender tofu), 100 grams of minced pork, 2 tablespoons of Pixian bean paste, 1 small piece of ginger, appropriate amount of garlic (minced), a little green garlic or chopped green onion, 1 2 teaspoons of Sichuan pepper powder, 1 teaspoon of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of soy sauce, 1 2 teaspoons of sugar, water starch (1 4 cups of water, 2 teaspoons of starch), appropriate amount of chicken broth or water, appropriate amount of cooking oil.
First of all, we need to prepare the main ingredients, which are tofu and pork. In the choice of tofu, it is better to use soybean tofu with a delicate texture. Cut the tofu into small pieces about 2 cm square, so that the flavor and soup can be better absorbed. Next, we put the tofu in boiling water and cook it for a few minutesThis step is to remove the beany smell of the tofu while making it easier to absorb the flavor. After cooking, remove the tofu cubes and drain the water for later use.
Next, let's stir-fry the minced meat. Put an appropriate amount of cooking oil in a panWhen the oil is hot, add the minced pork and stir-fry. During the stir-frying, pay attention to the heat to prevent the minced meat from being scorched. When the minced meat is fried until it changes colorAt this time, we can add ginger, minced garlic and Pixian bean paste. Continue to stir-fry until the minced meat and seasoning are fully integrated and take on a bright red color, at which point the minced meat is already full of attractive aromas.
Next, let's season it. Add an appropriate amount of chicken broth or water, wait for the soup to boil, add soy sauce and sugar to taste. At this time, we can put the pre-processed tofu pieces into the pot and simmer over medium-low heat. In this process, pay attention to the heat to prevent the tofu from sticking to the pot. At the same time, it is also necessary to turn the tofu at the right time so that it can fully absorb the flavor of the soup.
In the process of stewing tofu, we can thicken it. Slowly pour the water starch into the pot and gently shake the pot as you pour to make the soup gradually thicken. This will give the tofu more flavor and add texture to the dish. Finally, let's get out of the pot.
Stewed minced tofu is sprinkled with peppercorn and chili powder (adjusted to suit personal taste) and drizzled with hot oil, resulting in an instant mouth-watering aroma. Finally, sprinkle with chopped green onions or green garlic to add a hint of verdant greenery and enhance the visual effect. At this point, a delicious tofu stew with minced meat is ready.
1.When stir-frying minced meat,Make sure the oil is warm enough so that the minced meat is crispier.
2.Before boiling tofu,Blanch the tofu in boiling water to remove the raw flavor of the tofuwhile making it smoother.
Be sure to reduce the heat to avoid high temperature and make the soup tighten quickly, which affects the taste of tofu.
Mapo tofu is a flexible dish that can be adjusted to personal preference. For example,Vegetarians can choose to skip minced meat and add some mushrooms or other vegetables as an alternative. For those who don't like too spicy, you can reduce the amount of chili powder and adjust it to an acceptable spiciness.
In addition,Mapo tofu with white rice is the most classic way to eat, and its fresh and spicy flavor can stimulate the appetite well and make people have an appetite。You can also try to eat it with cold dishes, which can be combined with cold and hot to make the taste more layered.
Conclusion: Mapo tofu is not only a delicious dish, but also carries the profound heritage of Chinese food culture. By making this traditional dish, you can not only enjoy the joy of cooking, but also gain a deeper understanding and inheritance of Chinese food culture. It is hoped that through the introduction of this article, readers will be able to master the skills of making mapo tofu, and on this basis, they will be creative and explore their own unique flavor version.