Recipe: Mapo Tofu - Billy's Thoughts

Ingredients

• 1 package tofu – recommend silken or soft
• 1 lb ground beef/pork/chicken – preferably 90/10 or less fat, but not necessary; see directions
• 2+ tbsp minced ginger, or a 2" segment – yes that much
• 6-8 cloves of garlic, minced – yes that many
• 2+ tbsp spicy douban jiang
• 1/4 tsp ground sichuan peppercorn, or 2 tsp whole sichuan peppercorns
• 1 cup low sodium chicken broth, or water
• Light soy sauce, dark soy sauce
• Shaoxing wine – ideal to maximize flavour, but not mandatory
• Chinkiang black vinegar – ideal to maximize flavour, but not mandatory
• Corn starch + water
• (optional) 1/4 tsp sugar
• (optional) 1-2 dried chile de arbol, cut into 1" slices and deseeded – if you want it spicier