Mah pau dou fu

1 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1poundsFresh Dou Fu, cut into 1/2\" to 3/4\" cubes
½cupGround lean pork (see notes for substitutes to keep vegetarian)
1tablespoonSzechuan peppercorns (optional)
1tablespoonHot bean sauce
cupSauce stock
1tablespoonDry sherry
1tablespoonSoy sauce
1teaspoonCorn starch
1tablespoonCooking oil
1tablespoonChopped green onion
1teaspoonChopped garlic
1teaspoonChopped ginger root
2tablespoonsLeeks, cut into 1/2\" sections at 45o angles
1teaspoonToasted sesame oil

Directions

SAUCE MIXTURE

FLAVORING MIXTURE

GARNISH

Heat the wok at medium heat, add the cooking oil and Szechuan peppercorns.

Stir fry the peppercorns at medium heat for a minute or two until the fragrance is released. Discard the cooked peppercorns, add the flavoring mixture to the oil and stir fry for a few seconds. Add the ground pork, turn up the heat to high and stir fry until the pork is done. Pour in the well stirred seasoning mixture and cook until the sauce clears. Gently add the Dou Fu, stir gently and cook for a minute or two until the Dou Fu is heated throughout. Garnish with leaks and sesame oil and serve on a platter.

Notes:

If one decides to omit the Szechuan peppercorns the cooking process may start with a high heat to stir fry the flavoring mixture very briefly. If powdered Szechuan peppercorn is available, use ¼ tsp of the powder and blend into the sauce mixture. This obviates the trouble of stir frying the peppercorns. If a truly hot dish is desirable a TBS or two of Szechuan hot sauce may be added. Or, a few dried hot peppers can be stir fried along with the peppercorns. Dou Fu is very fragile and is easily broken while stirring and blending. Handle with care, and if a few cubes do get broken during cooking, don't be bothered. For those who do not eat pork or meat of any kind, one can use chopped black mushrooms and water chestnuts, or fresh mushrooms and bamboo shoots. Of course, as yet, there is no federal law that prohibits the use of ground beef, chicken or turkey in place of pork, although chopped mutton was the original version. Posted to EAT-L Digest by "Pamela F. Wagner" <FanofPern@...> on Jul 5, 1997