Mapo Yam

 Mapo Yam is an innovative Sichuan-style home dish that combines classic mapo flavor with soft, glutinous Chinese yam.

 It features a spicy, numbing, savory and slightly salty taste, with tender yam covered in glossy red sauce. Smooth in texture, rich in aroma and easy to make,

 it is a delicious light spicy dish perfect with steamed rice.

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

300g fresh Chinese yam

80g ground pork

Aromatics

3 garlic cloves (minced)

1 small piece of ginger (minced)

2 scallions (chopped, white and green separated)

1 tbsp fermented black beans (rinsed)

Seasonings

1 tablespoon Sichuan chili bean paste

1 tsp light soy sauce

½ tsp dark soy sauce

1 tsp sugar

A pinch of salt

Moderate Sichuan peppercorn powder

Cooking oil

Cornstarch water (for thickening)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Chinese yam

   Peel the yam and cut it into small rectangular chunks or thick slices.

   Soak the cut yam in cold water with a little white vinegar to prevent oxidation and discoloration.

   Boil water in a pot, blanch the yam for 2 minutes, then drain and set aside. This removes the raw taste and makes the texture softer.
2. Fry the minced pork

   Heat cooking oil in a wok over medium heat.

   Add ground pork and stir-fry continuously until it changes color and releases oil.

   Add minced ginger, minced garlic, fermented black beans and white scallion parts, stir-fry quickly to bring out the rich fragrance.
3. Stir-fry the spicy base

   Add Sichuan chili bean paste, stir-fry on low heat to dissolve the paste and produce bright red oil.

   Drizzle with light soy sauce and dark soy sauce, stir evenly to enhance color and umami.
4. Simmer with yam

   Pour in an appropriate amount of hot water, add sugar and a little salt to balance the flavor.

   Put in the blanched yam, turn to low heat and simmer gently for 4–5 minutes, allowing the yam to fully absorb the mapo sauce.
5. Thicken the sauce

   Pour in prepared cornstarch water in batches, stir gently over low heat until the sauce thickens and clings tightly to every piece of yam.
6. Finish and serve

   Sprinkle with Sichuan peppercorn powder and green scallions.

   Stir one last time, then turn off the heat. Transfer to a plate and serve hot with rice.

Cooking Tips

1. Wear gloves when peeling yam to avoid skin itching caused by mucus.
2. Blanching yam in advance keeps it from breaking during simmering.
3. Use low heat to stir-fry chili bean paste to avoid burning and bitter taste.
4. Sichuan peppercorn powder is the soul of mapo flavor, do not skip it.
5. Adjust spiciness and saltiness according to personal taste preference.