Spicy Hotpot Food

SPICY SAUSAGE AND BEAN HOTPOT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180 deg C/350 deg F/Gas 4.
• Heat a large flameproof casserole or dutch oven over medium-high heat. If using oil heat and then brown sausages, in 2 batches, about 10 minutes. Drain excess oil/fat if desired.
• Lower heat to medium-low then add onions and cook for 5-6 minutes or until soft.
• While onions are cooking mix all liquid ingredients and sugar in a jug. When onions are ready add contents of jug and bay leaves. Raise heat and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium, then add sausages and beans. Place in oven for 40 minutes until thick.
• Stir in chopped parsley to serve.

SPICY HOTPOT BROTH (SICHUAN) -- HONG TANG LU

Steps:

• Make a paste out of the black beans and 1 Tbsp Shaoxing rice wine, using either a mortar and pestle or a food processor.
• Wash the ginger and cut it into slices about the thickness of a coin.
• Using a scissors, snip the chiles into 1 inch sections and remove the seeds.
• Heat 3 tbs of the oil in a wok over a medium flame so it's hot but not smoking.
• Stir fry the chiles to flavor the oil; you want the oil to sizzle around the chiles, making them crisp and fragrant, but NOT burning; using a slotted spoon remove them and set aside.
• Rinse out and dry the wok, the put on a simmer/low heat.
• Add the rest of the oil and the beef drippings.
• Once the drippings have melted completely, turn up the heat to medium.
• When the oils just begin to smoke (around 250-300 degreesF), add the chile bean paste and stir fry until the oil is rich and fragrant (60-90 seconds).
• The paste should NOT burn; if necessary either move the wok off the heat or turn the heat down to let the paste sizzle in the oil.
• When the oil has reddened, add the black bean mash and the ginger.
• Stir fry until they also are fragrant.
• Add about 1 1/2 quarts of the beef stock and bring to a boil.
• When the liquid reaches a boil, add the rock sugar, the rest of the Shaoxing wine, and (optional) the glutinous rice wine.
• Salt to taste.
• Add the chiles and the Sichuan pepper (adjust the quantity depending on how "hot and numbing" you want it) leave the broth to simmer for 15-20 minutes.
• You are now ready to use this to dip ingredients to cook.
• =============== NOTE ================.
• You will add the rest of the chicken stock to top up the hotpot as the meal progresses.