Fast 20-min Mapo Tofu (Printable Version)

# What You'll Need:

01 - 1 lb soft tofu (or slightly firmer tofu), diced

02 - ½ lb minced pork (or minced chicken or beef)

03 - 1 cup reduced-salt chicken broth (or plain cold water)

04 - 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

05 - 1 scallion, thinly sliced (green parts and white parts kept separate)

06 - ¼ teaspoon ginger, finely chopped

07 - 1 tablespoon cooking oil (or any flavorless oil)

08 - 2 teaspoons salt (to prep tofu)

09 - 1 ½ tablespoon broad bean paste (spicy fermented bean sauce)

10 - 2 teaspoons hot oil (or crushed red pepper)

11 - 1 teaspoon chicken stock powder

12 - ½ teaspoon thick soy sauce (or normal soy sauce)

13 - ½ teaspoon plain white sugar (or unrefined sugar)

14 - ½ teaspoon crushed Sichuan pepper (if you want)

15 - 1 teaspoon fragrant sesame oil

16 - 1 tablespoon corn flour (or potato flour)

17 - 2 tablespoons cool water

01 - Grab a small bowl and stir corn flour with 2 tablespoons cool water. Blend till smooth and put aside.

02 - Cut your soft tofu into small 1-inch squares with a good knife. First slice across the block, then make cuts up and down.

03 - Get salty water bubbling in a pot. Drop tofu squares in and cook for a minute. Drain them carefully in a strainer without washing.

04 - Warm up cooking oil in a big non-stick pan on medium. Throw in minced pork and stir for 4-5 minutes until all liquid cooks away.

05 - Once meat looks done, add your chopped garlic, ginger, and white scallion bits. Keep stirring until you smell their aroma.

06 - Sprinkle the meat with stock powder, bean paste, hot oil, soy sauce, sugar, and Sichuan pepper if using.

07 - Pour in chicken broth or water. Add your flour mixture and stir well. Let everything bubble and get a bit thick.

08 - Gently slip the diced tofu into your pan. Fold everything together slowly with a flat spatula so the tofu stays whole.

09 - Pour sesame oil over everything and scatter green scallion bits on top. Eat it while it's hot with a side of rice.

01 - You'll get the tastiest dish with newly bought soft tofu; don't cook it too long or it'll lose its smooth feel.

02 - You can buy broad bean paste at most Asian stores; put more or less in depending on how spicy you like it.