Szechuan Bean Curd



  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dry sherry
  • 1 teaspoon hoisin sauce
  • 1/4 lb. ground pork
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1 lb. bean curd
  • 1 inch cube fresh ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 3 green onions
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon Szechuan peppercorns
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 4 teaspoons hot bean sauce
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 3/4 cup water


Mix the teaspoons of soy sauce, dry sherry, and hoisin sauce in a bowl. Add ground pork and stir to coat. Stir in the teaspoon of vegetable oil. Set aside to marinate.

Cut the bean curd into 1/2" cubes. Let drain in a colander for 10 minutes.

Mince the ginger and garlic. Cut the green onions into thin slices. Cut pepper into 1" squares. Mix the tablespoons of cornstarch and water together in a teacup.

Toast the Szechuan peppercorns in a small frying pan with no oil over medium heat until fragrant. Grind coarsely with a mortar and pestle.

Heat a wok over high heat. Add the tablespoon of vegetable oil. When oil is hot, add ginger and garlic. Stir once, then add ground pork. Stirfry pork for 2 minutes.

Stir in hot bean sauce, then add bean curd, pepper, the tablespoons of soy sauce, and the 3/4 cup of water. Simmer for 3 minutes.

Add green onions and the cornstarch/water mixture. Stirfry until sauce bubbles and thickens. Remove from heat and serve over rice. Sprinkle each serving with Szechuan pepper.

Makes 4 modest servings.
271 calories/serving

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