Spicy Winter Hotpot Recipes

Steps:

• For the soup base:
• Heat a 3 1/2 pint capacity wok over a high heat, and add the groundnut oil. Stir-fry the chiles and Sichuan peppercorns until fragrant. Add the chile bean sauce, and chile sauce, then pour in the stock. Add the star anise, mushrooms, orange peel, chile oil, and ginger, and bring everything to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20 minutes. Ten minutes before serving, stir in the chiles.
• For the hotpot:
• Whilst the stock is simmering, divide all the fish balls, spring onions, cabbage, deep-fried tofu, and fresh tofu on 4 serving plates, cover with plastic wrap, and chill them in the refrigerator.
• For the soy dipping sauce:
• Combine the black vinegar, soy sauce, and chiles in a bowl, and set the sauce aside.
• For the special dipping sauce:
• Let each guest prepare their own Taiwanese dipping sauce at the table. In a small bowl, stir to combine, the egg yolk, satay sauce, cilantro, and spring onions.*
• For the assembly:
• To serve, arrange all the ingredients on the table. Transfer the soup base to an electric wok or fondue pot, and set it up in the center of the table. Let the guests help themselves, and cook the raw ingredients in the spicy broth. Serve with both dipping sauces.

Steps:

• Make the base stock by combining beef or pork bones or chicken skeleton with water, ginger, scallion, bay leaves. Bring to boil then simmer for 3 hours. Alternatively, season with the bouillon of your choice to skip the 3 hours of boiling bones.
• To make the aged-spicy paste, chop the Szechuan Spicy Bean Paste, soaked dry chili, ginger, garlic, and black bean. Combine 4 tbsp of oil and all the chopped ingredients, cook in low heat for 10 minutes. Stir frequently. Add the rest of the dry spices and cooking wine and sugar to the paste. Continue to cook in low heat for another 30 minutes then turn off the heat.
• Before serving the hot pot, combine the aged-spicy paste with base stock and bring to boil. Add additional ginger, dried chili, and salt to taste.
• Enjoy the spicy goodness!

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.