Sichuan Mapo Tofu

China · East Asia

Short description: Mapo tofu is a tofu dish in a red, oily, savory sauce built from chile-bean paste, fermented beans, meat, and numbing spice.
Ingredients: Soft tofu in chile-bean sauce with ground meat, fermented black beans, chile oil, numbing peppercorns, garlic, and scallions.
Cultural note: The defining balance is hot, savory, oily, and numbing, with soft tofu carrying a sauce that is meant to be spooned over rice.
Common misconception: The tofu is not a bland side; it is the center of a bold, spicy, aromatic main dish.

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