Mapo Tofu Recipe

Name: Mapo Tofu Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
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)); 2 and 1/2 tablespoon water; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; steamed rice for serving