Tantalize your taste buds with our exquisite Spicy Tofu with Beef and Szechuan Peppercorns, a symphony of flavors that will ignite your senses. This delectable dish boasts a harmonious blend of tender tofu, succulent beef, and the unique tingling sensation of Szechuan peppercorns, sure to leave you craving for more. Accompanying this main course are three equally enticing recipes: Steamed Snow Pea Leaves with Garlic, a refreshing and vibrant side dish that adds a touch of greenery to your plate; Mapo Tofu, a classic Sichuan dish featuring soft tofu in a rich and flavorful sauce; and Stir-Fried Green Beans with Minced Pork, a simple yet satisfying dish that showcases the umami flavors of minced pork and the crisp texture of green beans. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a culinary novice, these recipes will guide you effortlessly through the process of creating a memorable and authentic Sichuan feast in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
MA-PO TOFU (SPICY BEAN CURD WITH BEEF)
Provided by Shirley Cheng
Categories Wine Wok Ginger Stir-Fry Lunar New Year Ground Beef Tofu Spice Leek Soy Sauce
Yield Makes 4 portions
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- In dry heavy skillet over moderate heat, toast peppercorns, stirring, until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl and let cool, then grind in spice grinder to fine powder. Set aside.
- In large pot over moderately high heat, bring 4 cups water to boil. Add tofu, remove from heat, and let steep, uncovered, 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer tofu to medium bowl and set aside.
- In small bowl, whisk together hot bean paste, black-bean paste, 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, and chili powder. Set aside.
- In small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 3 tablespoons water. Set aside.
- In wok or heavy large sauté pan over moderate heat, heat oil until hot but not smoking. Add beef, ginger, garlic, and scallions and stir-fry until meat is browned, about 1 minute. Add rice wine and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of moisture evaporates, 1 to 2 minutes. Add hot bean paste mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is incorporated and oil in pan turns red, about 1 minute.
- Add tofu, leeks, stock, light and dark soy sauces, and remaining 2 tablespoons oyster sauce and bring to boil. Whisk cornstarch mixture to recombine, then add to pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until juices thicken slightly, about 1 minute.
- Transfer to serving dish. Sprinkle with Sichuan peppercorn powder and cilantro, if using. Serve immediately.
SPICY TOFU WITH BEEF AND SZECHUAN PEPPERCORNS
Stir-fries cook very quickly: Be sure to have all the ingredients set up beside the stove. Serve with rice.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Beef Recipes Ground Beef Recipes
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Bring a kettle of water to a rolling boil. Meanwhile, cut tofu into 1/2-inch cubes, and put into a bowl. Remove kettle from heat; when boiling subsides, pour water over tofu to cover. Let stand for 15 minutes, then drain in a sieve or colander. Transfer tofu to a bowl; set near stove. Measure out 1 1/3 cups water from kettle for sauce, and set next to tofu.
- In a large wok or skillet, toast peppercorns over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until richly fragrant and slightly darkened (you may see a wisp of smoke). Let cool, then pound with a mortar and pestle or grind in a spice grinder. Set aside.
- Heat oil in wok or skillet over high heat. Add ground meat, stirring and mashing into small pieces, until crumbly and cooked through, about 2 minutes. Add ginger, chile flakes, black beans, and chile bean sauce. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until beef is reddish brown and oil is slightly red. Add sugar and soy sauce, stir to combine, and add tofu. Gently stir or give wok a shake to combine without breaking up tofu too much.
- Pour in reserved water, and bring to a vigorous simmer. Cook until tofu absorbs flavors of sauce, about 3 minutes.
- Taste sauce, and add a pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar, if needed. Add green onions; stir to combine. Stir in cornstarch, then add enough to mixture to thicken sauce. (Traditionally, the sauce should be more soupy than gravy-like.) Sprinkle in the ground peppercorns, give mixture one last stir, and transfer to a serving bowl. Serve immediately with rice.
SPICY AND TINGLY BEEF
This recipe for a simple dish of mala beef comes from Jason Wang of Xi'an Famous Foods in New York, but as Wang puts it, "You can mala anything." Spicy chiles and tingly Sichuan peppercorns define mala, one of the many flavors of Sichuan cuisine, and though it can season beef, the same technique for a vivid, brilliant sauce can be applied to a big pile of sautéed mushrooms, or simmered tofu and sautéed greens. However you choose to make it, serve the dish over hot rice or simmered noodles and finish it with a little drizzle of Sichuan chile oil, if you've got it.
Provided by Tejal Rao
Categories dinner, meat, main course
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Place the meat in a large pot and cover with cold water by about 2 inches; bring to a boil. Let boil for 3 minutes, then turn off the heat, drain the water and transfer the meat to a cutting board. When it's cool enough to handle, cut the meat into approximately 1-inch cubes.
- In the same pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium. Add the onion, scallions, ginger, garlic, star anise and dried red chiles, and sauté for about 30 seconds. Reduce heat slightly, and stir in Pixian sauce, letting it cook until the red oil rises. Add the beef, cooking wine, soy sauce and 2 cups water.
- Cover the pot and bring to a boil over high. Once the mixture is boiling, reduce heat to low so the liquid holds at a simmer, and cook for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and simmer for another 30 minutes, until meat is tender and the sauce is reduced. If the pan starts to dry out, exposing the meat, add a splash of water as needed.
- Once the meat is cooked, add the tomato, Sichuan peppercorn powder and chile powder, and stir to combine. Turn off the heat, and cover for about 5 minutes so the flavors can meld. Serve over warm rice or noodles, and finish with a drizzle of Sichuan chile crisp.
HOT AND SPICY TOFU AND BEEF
Szechuan-style stir-fried tofu with ground beef. You can adjust the spicy-ness scale by substituting chilli sauce with ketchup and add more/less chilli flakes.
Provided by WaterMelon
Categories Soy/Tofu
Time 35m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Combine soy sauce, sherry, chilli sauce, sugar and oyster sauce; stir. Marinate tofu cubes in the sauce ingredients for 15mins or more.
- Sprinkle ground beef with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil in wok, stir fry onions, garlic and ginger until fragrant. Add dried chilli and scallion bottoms, stir fry for 1 minute.
- Add seasoned ground beef and continue to stir fry until browned.
- Add tofu and sauce, combine well. Let simmer 1-2mins.
- Add chilli flakes, if you like it really spicy!
- Add cornstarch mixture, stir fry until sauce thicken.
- Garnish with chopped scallion greens, and serve with jasmine rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 287.2, Fat 17.4, SaturatedFat 5.5, Cholesterol 51, Sodium 928.9, Carbohydrate 8.8, Fiber 1.8, Sugar 2.7, Protein 20.5
Tips:
- Choose the right tofu: If you can find it, medium-firm or firm tofu is best. It will hold its shape when cooked and absorb the flavor of the sauce better than softer tofu.
- Press the tofu: Before cooking the tofu, press it to remove excess moisture. This will help it to absorb the marinade and sauce better and give it a chewier texture.
- Marinate the tofu: Marinating the tofu in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and Chinese rice wine for at least 30 minutes will help it to absorb flavor and tenderize it.
- Use a well-seasoned wok: A well-seasoned wok will help to prevent the tofu from sticking and will also give it a nice smoky flavor.
- Cook the tofu over high heat: High heat will help to sear the tofu and give it a crispy outer layer.
- Use plenty of aromatics: Aromatics such as garlic, ginger, and scallions add a lot of flavor to the dish. Don't be afraid to use a lot of them.
- Don't overcook the tofu: Overcooked tofu will be tough and chewy. Cook it just until it is heated through.
Conclusion:
This spicy tofu with beef and Szechuan peppercorns is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The tofu is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the sauce is flavorful and spicy. The Szechuan peppercorns add a unique tingling sensation to the dish that is sure to please your taste buds.
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