Mala Paste for Hotpot, by Pippa Middlehurst Recipe

Ingredients for Mala Paste

• 3 shallots, sliced

• 1 garlic head, peeled

• 1 tbsp ginger, grated

• 2 tbsp neutral oil

• 1 tbsp ground Sichuan peppercorns

• 3 tbsp doubanjiang

• 1 tbsp red miso paste

• 1 tbsp fermented black beans, rinsed

• 2 tbsp chopped pickled jalapeños

• 1 tbsp pickled jalapeño juice

• 1 tsp ground coriander

• 1 tsp ground fennel

• 2 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine

• 1 tbsp Sichuan chilli oil

• ½ tsp MSG

• 2 tbsp light soy sauce

• 1 tsp dark soy sauce

• 2 tbsp light (soft) brown sugar

• 1 tbsp honey

• 1 tbsp fish sauce

• 2 tbsp sesame oil