Bean curd gets a delicious kick of spicy flavor in this dish. Serve it over rice for a delicious weeknight meal. Authentic Szechuan seasonings and spices add amazing flavor to this dish. You can simply reduce the amount of chili peppers to reduce the spice level.
What Is Szechuan Style Bean Curd?
Szechuan cuisine is known for its spicy dishes. Szechuan style bean curd is flavored with traditional Szechuan spices like Thai bird chili peppers, dried red chilis, and Sichuan peppercorns. This dish also includes ground pork and additional seasonings. It’s delicious served on rice.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- silken tofu
- ground pork
- oil
- Thai bird chili peppers
- dried red chilies
- Sichuan peppercorns
- minced garlic
- minced ginger
- spicy bean sauce
- chicken broth
- cornstarch
- sesame oil
- sugar
- green onion
How to Make Bean Curd Szechuan Style
- Heat a wok or skillet over low heat. Add oil and both the Thai bird chili peppers and the dried red chilies. Stir occasionally until fragrant. When done, remove the peppers and the oil from the heat and set aside.
- Add the remaining oil to the wok over medium heat. Stir in the ginger and cook for 1 minute, then add the garlic and cook for another minute. Increase the heat to high and add the ground pork. Break the meat up and stir often until fully cooked. Add the Sichuan peppercorns and stir for about 15-30 seconds.
- Add the spicy bean sauce to the wok and stir to combine. Add the chicken broth and stir. Let the mixture simmer for about a minute. Add water and cornstarch to a small bowl to make a slurry. Mix until incorporated.
- Add the cornstarch mixture to the wok and stir. Cook until the pork mixture begins to thicken. Note that if it gets too thick, you can add a splash of water or chicken stock.
- Add the reserved chili oil and peppers. Stir the oil and peppers into the pork mixture along with the tofu. Gently toss the tofu so it’s incorporated into the pork mixture. Cook for 3-5 minutes and add the sesame oil, sugar, and scallions.
Szechuan Peppercorn
Even though Szechuan peppercorns aren’t spicy, they do create a numbing sensation in the mouth. They’re available to purchase in most Asian supermarkets and online. If you can’t source them, regular black peppercorns or coriander seeds can be used instead.
What Is The Difference Between Tofu And Bean Curd?
Tofu and bean curd are essentially the same. The key difference is in the production process. Tofu is made by boiling water and soybeans together until a soft paste is formed. The paste is then filtered and pressed into blocks. Bean curd is made by curdling the soy milk and then pressing the curds into soft blocks.
What Is Szechuan Style?
Szechuan style refers to a traditional style of cooking in Szechuan Province. This area of China has very high humidity and many rainy days. It is believed that red pepper helps to reduce internal dampness which is why Szechuan dishes include hot peppers. In addition to pepper, Szechuan dishes often include garlic, ginger, and spicy bean sauce.
Is Bean Curd Szechuan Style Vegan?
This dish includes ground pork. To make it vegan-friendly, leave the pork out and add a good amount of fermented bean paste or finely chopped shiitake mushrooms to give the dish more flavor.
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