Mao Cai is basically spicy Sichuan hot pot cooked for one person. Instead of cooking the ingredients while eating, maocai comes in one bowl and all the ingredients are already cooked. There is also hot pot soup in the bowl. Mao Cai is a popular variation of hot pot in Sichuan and there are restaurants dedicated to serving mala maocai. You can literally cook any ingredients for maocai. In this recipe, I included some of the most popular ingredients such as beef, beef tripe, lotus root, fried tofu etc. However you can customize it however you like such as making it vegetarian.
How to cook Mao Cai Soup Base
The soup base of maocai is mainly made of Sichuan Hot Pot base. You can use store bought hot pot base or try out my homemade recipe. I also like to use some aromatics for the soup base such as garlic, ginger and scallion white. Additional dry chili and Sichuan peppercorn can be added too. Simply cook the ingredients in a little cooking oil until fragrant then add 3-4 cups of water. Boil for 8-10 minutes. Then take out the solid contents with a strainer. Now the soup is ready to cook maocai ingredients.
What ingredients to cook for Maocai?
Common ingredients include vegetables such as celtuce, lotus root, potato, konjac, seaweed, bamboo shoot, beansprouts, lettuce, corn, cauliflower, potato noodles, enoki mushroom, shiitake mushroom, napa cabbage, etc. Meat products such as sausage link, spam, sliced beef, beef tripe, meat balls, fish balls, quail egg, blood, etc. Tofu products such as tofu skin, tofu strips, deep fried tofu, fish tofu, etc. Some also add instant noodles to maocai.
How to serve Maocai?
Usually maocai is served seasoned and topped with minced garlic, green onion and cilantro. Sprinkle some sesame seeds increases the fancy. You typically don’t have to serve anything else with maocai as it already come with all kinds of ingredients. Bring a bowl of rice and enjoy!
Watch Full Video Instruction:
Ingredients
Method
- Start by chopping some scallion white and ginger. We are going to marinate them in shaoxing wine. Take out the amount of shaved you want and marinate with salt, white pepper powder, the scallion ginger marinate, oyster sauce, top with sesame oil. Mix well. Drop in some corn starch and chili powder. Mix and set aside.
- Slice beef tripe. Take out Chicken Patty Link.
- Peel lotus root and cut into slices. Slice corn. Prep mushroom. Cut cauliflower into smaller pieces. Prep seaweed, potato noodles, deep fried tofu.
- Chop scallion white, ginger and smack 3 garlic cloves. Take out dry chili and Sichuan peppercorn. Take out the proper amount of Sichuan hot pot base.
- In a pot add some cooking oil. Drop in the aromatics, stir fry until fragrant. Drop in dry chili and Sichuan peppercorn. Now add in a small block of Sichuan Hot pot base.
- Cook until the hot pot base is completely melted. Now add about 3-4 cups of water. Season with salt, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar and oyster sauce. Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes. Then take out the solid contents with a skimmer.
- Cook the ingredients one by one. You can start with the vegetables. When done, take them out with a strainer. Drop in a large serving bowl.
- Repeat this process and cook the rest of the ingredients then drop in the serving bowl.
- After all the ingredients are cooked, add the hot pot soup to the bowl.
- Top with green onion, garlic and cilantro. You can also sprinkle some sesame seeds.
- Serve.
Video
I just made the base to see if it’ll be good and yeah, it’s really good. I used premade hot pot base since I live in sichuan province and I have a favorite that I buy. But the additional ingredients from your recipe made it super tasty. I bought lots of veggies, some meats, and quail eggs to put in it for later. Thanks for the recipe!