Vegetarian Mapo Tofu with Mushrooms

Easy and vegetarian mapo tofu; shitake mushrooms are used to replace meat.

📝 Ingredients

• 450 g soft tofu
• 4 middle size shitake mushroom ( , sliced )
• 1.5 tbsp. Doubanjiang ( ,chopped)
• 1/2 tbsp. fermented black beans ( , chopped)
• 2 tbsp. cooking oil
• 2 shallot white (, chopped)
• 2 cloves garlic (, chopped)
• 1 inch ginger (,chopped)
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 tbsp. light soy sauce
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
• fresh Sichuan peppercorn powder
• 2 tbsp. water
• 1 tbsp. sweet potato starch (, or 1.5 tbsp. corn starch )

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Slice mushroom, chop garlic, ginger, spring onion white, doubanjiang and fermented black beans.
2. 2Cut tofu into square cubes (around 2cms). Bring a large amount of water to a boil and then add a pinch of salt. Slide the tofu in and cook for 1 minute. Move out and drain.
3. 3Fry doubanjiang for 1 minute over slow fire until the oil turns red and then add garlic, scallion white, ginger and fermented black beans to cook for 30 seconds until aroma. Then fry mushrooms until soft.
4. 4Add water to the seasonings and bring to boil over high fire. Gently slide the tofu cubes. Add light soy sauce and sugar.Slow the heat after boiling and then simmer for 6-8 minutes. Drizzle some sesame oil.
5. 5Stir the water starch and then pour half of the mixture to the simmering pot. Wait for around 30 seconds and then pour the other half. You can slightly taste the tofu and add pinch of salt if not salty enough.
6. 6Transfer out when almost all the seasonings stick to tofu cubes. Sprinkle Szechuan peppercorn powder (to taste).