MA-PO TOFU (SIMMERED TOFU WITH GROUND PORK)

MA-PO TOFU (SIMMERED TOFU WITH GROUND PORK) image

Yield 4 Servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 tablespoon peanut or other oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more to taste
1/4 to 1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 cup chopped scallions, green part only
1/2 cup stock or water
1 pound soft or silken tofu, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
2 tablespoons soy sauce
Salt to taste
Minced cilantro for garnish, optional.

Steps:

1. Put oil in a deep 10-inch skillet or wok, preferably nonstick, and turn heat to medium-high. A minute later, add garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes, and cook just until they begin to sizzle, less than a minute. Add pork, and stir to break it up; cook, stirring occasionally, until it loses most of its pink color. 2. Add scallions and stir; add stock. Cook for a minute or so, scraping bottom of pan with a wooden spoon if necessary to loosen any stuck bits of meat, then add tofu. Cook, stirring once or twice, until tofu is heated through, about 2 minutes. 3. Stir in the soy sauce; taste, and add salt and red pepper flakes as necessary. Garnish with cilantro if you like, and serve.