Real Mapo Tofu | Elaine Luo

Authentic Szechuan style mapo tofu

Ingredients
450 g soft tofu ,I am using Szechuan tender lushui tofu
100 g minced meat-beef or pork
1/2 tbsp. sesame oil
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. cooking oil , divided
1.5 tbsp. Doubanjiang ,roughly chopped
1/2 tbsp. fermented black beans ,also known as dou-chi and fermented soya beans, roughly chopped
1 tbsp. pepper flakes or powder ,optional
1/2 tbsp. Sichuan pepper for making fresh ground powder
water or broth for braising ,I use 400ml this time
1 tbsp. light soy sauce
1 tsp. sugar ,optional for reducing the spiciness
2 scallion whites ,finely chopped
4 garlic greens or scallion greens ,finely chopped
2 garlic cloves ,finely chopped
5 ginger slices ,finely minced (around 1 teaspoon)
Water starch
2 and 1/2 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Serving
steamed rice for serving