Mushroom mapo tofu

Enjoy this plant-based version of Chinese mapo tofu served with jasmine rice and steamed greens. Meaty shitake mushrooms and firm tofu make a great combo

Ingredients

• 400 g fresh firm tofu block
• 2 tbsp rapeseed oil
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2.5 cm piece ginger, peeled and finely grated
• 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
• 150 g fresh shitake mushrooms, sliced to 1cm strips
• 1 tsp dry toasted whole Sichuan pepper
• 1 tbsp chilli bean paste
• 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 2 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry
• 250 ml cold vegetable stock or mushroom stock
• 2 tbsp Chinkiang black rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp tamari or low-sodium light soy sauce
• 1 heaped tbsp cornflour
• large pinch of toasted ground Sichuan pepper, to garnish
• 3 spring onions, trimmed and sliced

Steps

1. Drain the tofu and press gently with kitchen paper to remove any excess moisture. Alternatively, you could place the tofu on a clean tea towel, place a clean medium chopping board over the top and leave for 10 mins to press out any excess moisture. Slice into 1.5 x 1.5cm sized chunks.
2. Mix all of the sauce ingredients together in a jug.
3. Heat a wok over a high heat and drizzle in the rapeseed oil. Add the garlic, ginger and chillies and stir for a few seconds. Tip in the mushrooms and stir-fry for a few seconds, then add the Sichuan pepper and the tofu, gently stirring. Add the chilli bean paste and dark soy sauce, followed by the Shaoxing rice wine or sherry. Pour in the sauce ingredients, stir everything to combine, and bring to the bubble, cooking for 1 min.
4. Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle over the ground toasted Sichuan pepper and spring onions to serve.