Mala Tempeh

Name: Mala Tempeh
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 2 blocks (8 ounces, or 227 g, each) tempeh, cut into ½-inch (1 cm) cubes; 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine; 1 tablespoon light soy sauce; 1 tablespoon sesame seeds; 1 cup (30 g) whole dried Chinese chili peppers; 1 teaspoon sugar; ¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch; 1 teaspoon Sichuan chili flakes; ¾ teaspoon salt; 3 tablespoons peanut oil (or vegetable oil), plus more if needed; 3 tablespoons peanut oil (or vegetable oil), plus more if needed; ¼ teaspoon freshly ground Sichuan peppercorns; 5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced; 1 tablespoon grated ginger; 4 scallions, roughly chopped; 1 cup (40 g) chopped cilantro, for garnishing (optional); Toasted sesame seeds, for garnishing

Preparation info

Yield
4
servings

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
20 min

Appears in

Chinese Homestyle

By Maggie Zhu

Published 2022

About

A plate of crispy mala tempeh smothered in chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and tons of aromatics creates an electrifyingly hot, numbing sensation that’s so addictive. Take the challenge if you can handle the heat!

Ingredients

Tempeh

2 blocks (8 ounces, or 227 g, each) tempeh, cut into ½-inch (1 cm) cubes
1

Asia
China
Side dish
Vegan

Method

To prepare the tempeh: In a medium bowl, combine the tempeh, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, and 2 teaspoons sugar and stir to mix well. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes to marinate.
To make the spice mix: In a large bowl, combine the sesame seeds, chili pepper, 2 tablespoons chili flakes, and 1 teaspoon sugar and stir to mix well.
To make th