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Enroll in one of the world's most beloved spicy dishes, Sichuan Spicy Tofu, although spicy, it's fragrant and tantalizing to the senses…
Fall in love with Sichuan Spicy Tofu at Soa Soa
Sichuan Province stands atop the culinary hierarchy in Chinese history, with Sichuan Spicy Tofu reigning as the pinnacle of intense spiciness, sometimes leaving tongues tingling. Sichuan natives embrace spice so fervently that it's become a legendary saying: “Not loving spice means not being Sichuanese!”
The day we visited Soa Soa, Saigon, rare as it is, was greeted with a downpour and a gentle breeze, so we felt the urge to indulge in spicy dishes. After scanning through the menu, we mustered up the courage to order the world-renowned spicy dish everyone knows: Sichuan Spicy Tofu, a legend passed down through generations.
Sichuan Spicy Tofu, a tongue-numbing legend in itself
And indeed, a legend it is!
Do you want to know the quickest way to warm up on a cold day? It's by eating spicy food!
Soa Soa restaurant really knows how to make Sichuan Spicy Tofu. The tofu skin is tender, cut into perfect squares without crumbling or breaking, immersed in a vibrant red sauce that shines, making anyone who sees it feel that when that sauce mixes with white rice, it's heavenly delicious!
The tofu skin can be kept whole or cut into small, neat squares, but it must be young tofu, both white and soft
But don't pour it over if you can't handle spicy food because, honestly, the sauce is so spicy it'll make you cry!
That's why they say Sichuan cuisine isn't for the faint-hearted, but you don't have to be a spice lover to appreciate the deliciousness of this tofu dish.
This tofu dish must be stir-fried in a large pan, over high heat, usually with minced meat and shiitake mushrooms to enhance the flavor
I'd give Soa Soa restaurant a solid 10 for achieving the perfect balance between spiciness and richness, reaching the level of 'soul-torturing' for this dish. I'm not great with spicy food, so after the first bite, I almost wanted to give up, but then I regretted the smooth texture melting on my tongue when I tasted the young tofu skin, combined with the fragrant aroma of shiitake mushrooms and the rich, savory taste of stir-fried minced meat. Closing my eyes and enjoying every bite with my best friend, we finished a plate of vibrant red spicy tofu, and I… became a fan of this dish forever, folks!
The secret to the intense aroma and spiciness of this dish lies in Sichuan fresh chili peppers and various herbs, spices,...
That's why there are only a few dishes like this one, a plate of tofu that captures all 7 characteristic tastes of Chinese cuisine: the Rich and Soft taste of young tofu, the Fresh and Crispy taste of meat, the Spicy, Hot, Fragrant taste of fresh chili peppers, and various natural herbs and spices. And it's cheap too ^^
Hear the tale of Sichuan Spicy Tofu narrated by Soa Soa restaurant staff
As the dish was spicy, I asked the waiter for a cold drink. Seeing my teary eyes from the spiciness, they stood there… making jests to help me quickly forget.
They recounted that while the name Sichuan Spicy Tofu is globally renowned, the true original name of this dish should be Mapo Tofu. Mapo roughly translates in Chinese to 'Pockmarked Grandma' - a woman with pockmarked skin who lived in Chengdu during the 19th century. She ran a small eatery in Chengdu, but there was always an excess of tofu daily due to the simple taste of plain tofu, which didn't attract many customers. She devised methods to blend it with various ingredients to create a more robust flavor.
Few realize that the original name of this globally acclaimed Sichuan Spicy Tofu is actually Mapo Tofu, which also translates to: 'The tofu dish of the pockmarked woman'
Surprisingly, Mrs. Huang's newly cooked stir-fried tofu not only gained fame throughout Sichuan at the time but also conquered both Asia and Europe – Mapo Tofu, which also means: 'The tofu dish of the pockmarked woman'.
While some prefer to visit Soa Soa restaurant for their hotpot and grill, I'm personally obsessed with their 'pockmarked woman' tofu dish. Sincerely recommend anyone who enjoys spicy food to give it a try at least once.
>> Check out Soa Soa's 15% discount offer all month long
P/s: Soa Soa restaurant is located at 64 Pham Ngoc Thach, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, everyone!
Hoàng Nguyen.
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