SPICY HOTPOT BROTH (SICHUAN) -- HONG TANG LU

Steps:

• Make a paste out of the black beans and 1 Tbsp Shaoxing rice wine, using either a mortar and pestle or a food processor.
• Wash the ginger and cut it into slices about the thickness of a coin.
• Using a scissors, snip the chiles into 1 inch sections and remove the seeds.
• Heat 3 tbs of the oil in a wok over a medium flame so it's hot but not smoking.
• Stir fry the chiles to flavor the oil; you want the oil to sizzle around the chiles, making them crisp and fragrant, but NOT burning; using a slotted spoon remove them and set aside.
• Rinse out and dry the wok, the put on a simmer/low heat.
• Add the rest of the oil and the beef drippings.
• Once the drippings have melted completely, turn up the heat to medium.
• When the oils just begin to smoke (around 250-300 degreesF), add the chile bean paste and stir fry until the oil is rich and fragrant (60-90 seconds).
• The paste should NOT burn; if necessary either move the wok off the heat or turn the heat down to let the paste sizzle in the oil.
• When the oil has reddened, add the black bean mash and the ginger.
• Stir fry until they also are fragrant.
• Add about 1 1/2 quarts of the beef stock and bring to a boil.
• When the liquid reaches a boil, add the rock sugar, the rest of the Shaoxing wine, and (optional) the glutinous rice wine.
• Salt to taste.
• Add the chiles and the Sichuan pepper (adjust the quantity depending on how "hot and numbing" you want it) leave the broth to simmer for 15-20 minutes.
• You are now ready to use this to dip ingredients to cook.
• =============== NOTE ================.
• You will add the rest of the chicken stock to top up the hotpot as the meal progresses.