Ma po tofu jaffles

MAKES 6 // PREP TIME 25 MINS // COOK 30 MINS Ma po tofu is amazing in a jaffle, the silken tofu making the filling almost like custard. For a vegetarian version, use 200gm finely chopped Swiss brown mushroom in place of the pork.

Softened butter, for spreading 12 slices white bread

MA PO TOFU

60 ml (¼ cup) Shaoxing wine 1½ tbsp dark soy sauce

2 tbsp doubanjiang

(see note)

2 birdseye chillies, finely chopped

1 long red chilli, thinly sliced 2 tbsp peanut oil

500 gm minced pork

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

10 gm (2cm piece) ginger, finely chopped

2½ tsp crushed Sichuan pepper 1 spring onion, white part only, thinly sliced

60 ml (¼ cup) chicken stock 2 tbsp chilli sauce (we used Lao Gan Ma brand chilli crisp sauce)

500 gm silken tofu, cut into

3cm pieces

½ tsp cornflour mixed with 1 tsp water

1 For ma po tofu, combine Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, doubanjiang and chillies in a bowl. Heat oil in a wok over high heat, add pork, garlic and ginger and stir-fry until starting to brown (1-2 minutes). Add Sichuan pepper and stir to combine, then stir in Shaoxing wine mixture, spring onion, stock and chilli sauce. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until pork is cooked through (8-10 minutes). Add tofu and cornflour mixture and stir gently until sauce is thickened slightly and tofu is warmed through and coated (1-2 minutes). Cool briefly.

2 Heat a jaffle maker. Butter bread and place half, butter-side down, on a sheet of baking paper. Cover with ma po tofu, spreading a little thicker in the centre and leaving a 5mm border, then sandwich with remaining bread, butter-side up. Toast in batches in jaffle maker until golden brown

(3-5 minutes).

Note Doubanjiang, a hot chilli broad bean paste, is available from Asian grocers.