serves
4-6
prep
25 minutes
cook
30 minutes
difficulty
Mid
serves
4-6
people
preparation
25
minutes
cooking
30
minutes
difficulty
Mid
level
The Sichuan chilli oil recipe makes about three cups. You only need 3 tablespoons for this recipe, but the extra will keep in the fridge for months.
Ingredients
- 500 g (1 lb 2 oz) firm silken tofu (momen is my favourite)
- boiling water, to cover
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 200 g (7 oz) veggie mince or soaked textured vegetable protein
- 6 cm (2½ in) piece of ginger, peeled and cut into fine matchsticks
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 spring onions (scallions), sliced 25 g (1 oz) dried black fungus (wood ears), soaked and sliced into strips
- 2 tbsp doubanjiang (spicy fermented bean paste)
- 1 tbsp douchi (fermented black bean paste)
- 2 tbsp shaoxing rice wine
- 600 ml (20½ fl oz) vegan 'chicken' or vegetable stock
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns, toasted and coarsely ground
- 2 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch) blended with 80 ml (2½ fl oz/⅓ cup) cold water
- a handful chopped coriander (cilantro) leaves
- 3 tbsp Sichuan chilli oil (see below)
Sichuan chilli oil
- 60 g (2 oz) chilli flakes
- 2 tbsp Korean chilli flakes (or just add an extra 2 tbsp normal chilli flakes)
- 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns, ground
- 4 star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
- 50 g (1¾ oz/⅓ cup) toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
- 2 bay leaves, crushed
- 625 ml (21 fl oz/2½ cups) vegetable oil
- 2 cm (¾ in) piece of ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 large garlic cloves, crushed
Infusing time: 1 hour
Instructions
1. To make Sichuan chilli oil, place the chilli flakes, Sichuan pepper, star anise, cinnamon stick, sesame seeds, fennel seeds and bay leaves in a large heatproof bowl and mix together.
2. Pour the oil into a saucepan, add the ginger and garlic and warm over medium heat to 180°C (350°F). If you don’t have a thermometer, you’ll know the oil is ready when the garlic and ginger begin to turn a light golden colour around the edges.
3. Carefully pour the hot oil over the chilli mixture – it will bubble up slightly. Using a metal spoon, stir the oil through the chilli mixture to make sure everything is evenly cooked. Leave to infuse for 1 hour before removing the star anise, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, ginger and garlic. This makes about 750 ml (25½ pl oz/ 3 cups). Store the oil in a clean jar. It’ll be fine on the bench for a few weeks, or in the fridge for a few months. Not that it will last that long.
4. For the mapo tofu, drain the tofu and cut into 2 cm (¾ in) cubes. Carefully place in a bowl and cover with boiling water and a big pinch of salt. Allow to sit while you proceed with the recipe.
5. Heat the oil in a wok over high heat, add the mince or textured vegetable protein and fry for a minute, breaking it up into small bits if using veggie mince. Add the ginger, garlic and spring onion and stir-fry for a minute or so until the ginger and garlic are slightly golden. Throw in the fungus and toss to combine.
6. Add the doubanjiang and douchi and stir-fry for 30 seconds, making sure everything is evenly coated, then deglaze with the shaoxing wine. Pour in the stock and soy sauce, add the Sichuan pepper and bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer.
7. Drain the tofu, then very carefully slide it into the wok and gently stir. Allow to simmer over low heat for 10 minutes, then stir in the cornflour slurry and cook until thickened, about 3 minutes. Add the coriander and Sichuan oil and stir, then pour into a serving dish and serve.
Recipe and images from Vegan with Bite by Shannon Martinez (Hardie Grant Books, $34.99). Photography: © Nikki To
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.
The Sichuan chilli oil recipe makes about three cups. You only need 3 tablespoons for this recipe, but the extra will keep in the fridge for months.
