BROTH
SPICY SOUP BASE:
REGULAR SOUP BASE:
FIXINGS:
For the Broth: Place all ingredients in a stockpot, cover with water, bring it to a light boil over medium heat and reduce to a simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours.
Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and reserve.
For the Spicy Soup Base: Add red and green Sichuan peppercorns to a blender, star anise, cinnamon sticks, and blend as fine as possible.
In a medium saucepot, add beef fat (tallow) vegetable oil, heat that over medium heat, once the fat gets melted, add chili pods, and lightly fry them until crisp and lightly darken.
Strain the oil into a heatproof container and place the strained oil back into the pot. Let the chilis cool down and blend them at high speed until very fine.
To your warm oil, add ginger, green onions, and ginger; then turn that over medium heat and sweat for one minute or until fragrant, then add doubanjiang, black bean paste, bay leaves, shiitake powder, and your Sichuan spice mix.
Once it starts to bubble, add your blended fry chilis, and let that cook, stirring occasionally for seven to ten minutes or until it becomes a dark red.
Remove bay leaves, add sugar and MSG, stir that in, and add Shaoxing wine; cook for one more minute, then add everything to a blender and blend until smooth as possible at high speed.
Pour the mixture into a 8 x 8” baking pan, spread it out evenly, and optionally top with a couple of whole red chilis. Cover with plastic wrap, place in the fridge, and cool until completely solid. Divide it into 4 to 6 pieces, depending on how spicy you want your soup base.
For the Regular Soup Base: Assembly - Fill both sides of your hot pot with your stock and set it up to medium-high. Non-spicy side: add shiitake mushroom, a pinch of ground white pepper, Chinese jujube, ginger, and green onions.
Spicy side: Add one block of your spicy soup base and let it dissolve. Season both sides with salt to taste.
