Roasted Oaxacan Mapo

Method

1. Start by prepping your soy sauce, sesame oil, fresh ginger so the cooking goes quickly.
2. Set a wide pan over medium heat and sweat the leeks in a little butter until translucent.
3. Add the mapo and let it roasted, undisturbed, so it takes on real color before you stir.
4. Stir in the scallions along with a good pinch of salt, scraping up anything stuck to the bottom of the pan.
5. Pour in the cream, bring to a gentle simmer, and cook until thickened and glossy.
6. Off the heat, brighten it up with a squeeze of lemon and a final crack of pepper.
7. Plate it up while hot and pass extra at the table.