A bowl to set your senses alight, fragrant and fiery mapo tofu originated in the spice-loving province of Sichuan in China. It's a textural treat with creamy eggplant, silky tofu and soft rice doused in a chilli-laced sauce. Quick and simple, but packed with sweet, hot and wholesome flavour, it’s one for your vegetarian repertoire.
Place rice and 310ml (1¼ cups) cold water in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 15 minutes or until cooked. Set aside, covered, until you’re ready to serve. While rice is cooking, continue with step 2.
Roughly chop eggplant into 4cm pieces. Peel and grate ginger. Peel and crush garlic. Shred bok choy. Thinly slice spring onions, keeping the white and green parts separate.
Heat a frypan over medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil and eggplant, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring once or twice, for 6–8 minutes or until golden and caramelised.
Add garlic, white spring onion and ginger and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. Add chilli bean paste, sesame oil, sugar and 60ml (¼ cup) water and cook for a further 5–7 minutes or until sauce is slightly reduced and thickened.
Add bok choy and cook, stirring, for 1–2 minutes or until wilted. While bok choy is cooking, chop silken tofu into cubes.
Add silken tofu to eggplant and toss gently to coat, taking care not to break up tofu. Divide rice, eggplant and tofu between bowls and top with green spring onion to serve.