Sichuan fire: Mapo Tofu 麻婆豆腐
What I needed was \"soft\" 嫩 tofu, and that\'s what I got. Neither the
silky \"flower\" tofu 豆花 that falls apart immediately or the \"firm\" tofu
老豆腐 that is best for sautéing. Will show it to you closer in a minute. I
also bought long, tender green garlic greens, plucked before they start
to form the characteristic root bulb. These go by the name 蒜苗 or 青蒜 and
Sichuan cooks love them. They impart a mild garlic flavor, with some
crunch and a fresh note missing from dried cloves of garlic. They are
\"brighter\" as well as more subtle. To the right of the garlic greens in
the photo above you see fresh cilantro, complete with roots, stems, and
leaves. I bought a handful of these. They have so much more flavor than
dried coriander seeds.
3 years agoin Food-Shanghai