Quick 20-min Tofu Magic (Printable Version)
Tasty tofu swimming in zesty sauce with powerful flavors. Done in 20 minutes!
# What You'll Need:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
1 lb soft silken tofu (or somewhat firm tofu), cut into squares
02 -
½ lb minced pork (or chicken or beef mince)
03 -
1 cup mild chicken broth (or plain cold water)
04 -
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
05 -
1 green onion, chopped small (white parts and green parts kept separate)
06 -
¼ teaspoon fresh ginger, finely diced
07 -
1 tablespoon plain cooking oil (or any tasteless oil)
08 -
2 teaspoons salt (when prepping tofu)
09 -
1 ½ tablespoon spicy bean paste (doubanjiang)
10 -
2 teaspoons hot chili oil (or crushed red pepper)
11 -
1 teaspoon powdered chicken stock
12 -
½ teaspoon rich dark soy sauce (or normal soy sauce works too)
13 -
½ teaspoon plain white sugar (or unrefined cane sugar)
14 -
½ teaspoon crushed Sichuan peppercorns (if you want)
15 -
1 teaspoon nutty sesame oil
→ Thickening Agent
16 -
1 tablespoon corn starch (or starch from potatoes)
17 -
2 tablespoons cool water
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 -
Grab a small bowl and stir together corn starch with 2 tablespoons cool water until it's all smooth. Put it aside for later.
02 -
Take your knife and chop the soft tofu into little 1-inch squares. First cut across the block, then make cuts up and down.
03 -
Get some water boiling in a pot with salt. Drop in your tofu cubes and let them sit for just a minute. Drain them carefully in a strainer without washing.
04 -
Put your cooking oil in a big non-stick pan on medium flame. Toss in ground pork and cook it for about 4-5 minutes, stirring now and then until the juices dry up.
05 -
Once meat looks done, add your chopped garlic, ginger, and the white bits of your green onion. Keep stirring until you can smell all the good stuff.
06 -
Now mix in the chicken powder, spicy bean paste, hot oil, soy sauce, sugar, and those Sichuan peppercorns if you're using them.
07 -
Pour your chicken broth or water into the pan. Add the corn starch mix you made earlier and stir it all up. Let it bubble a bit and get thicker.
08 -
Gently place your tofu squares into the pan. Fold them into the sauce really carefully with a flat spatula so they don't break apart.
09 -
Pour a bit of sesame oil over everything and sprinkle the green parts of your onion on top. Serve it while it's hot with a side of rice.
# Additional Notes:
01 -
Try to get newly made silken tofu; don't cook it too long or you'll lose that smooth feel.
02 -
You can buy spicy bean paste at any Asian food shop; put more or less depending on how spicy you like it.