Delicious and simple mapo doufu dish is the best to serve with rice. Love spicy food? Try out this quick & flavorable mapo tofu recipe. And, learn how to cook authentic mapo tofu!
Like tofu? Check out these crispy teriyaki tofu, bean crud pudding and kimchi tofu soup recipes too!
Mapo Tofu (麻婆豆腐)
Mapo tofu is a popular and classic Sichuan Chinese dish. "Ma" stands for "ma-zi" (麻子) which means pockmarks. "Po" means "popo" (婆婆) which means an old woman or grandma. Literally translated as "pockmarked grandma's beancurd".
What is mapo doufu made of?
And, it consists of spicy sauce, tofu (doufu) and minced meat. Typically, mapo tofu dish use douban (fermented broadbean and chili paste) and douchi (fermented black beans) with minced meat, pork or beef and tofu.
Also, Sichuan ma po tofu is very spicy, hot, numbing, aromatic and tender. However, this mapo tofu recipe I use simple ingredients and cook in the way that my family can handle the spiciness.
Cooking tips for mapo doufu (麻婆豆腐):
- Add 1/2 tablespoon of chili garlic sauce at a time, depends on how spicy you can tolerance it. Personally, I used 1.5 tablespoons of chili garlic sauce because this is how spicy my family can handle.
- I like to use Lee Kum Kee chili garlic sauce because it is not as spicy and hot, but it still gives very good flavor to the meat and tofu.
- We like soft tofu because it is smooth and soft. On the other hand, some people like to use medium firm or firm.
- If you use soft tofu, I suggest not to stir fried too hard with the pork and add tofu last.
FAQs:
What does tofu taste like?
Doufu has a bland taste. I would said pretty much no taste at all. It usually cooks with something with sauce that have strong flavors.
How spicy is mapo tofu dish?
This ma po tofu recipe is not too spicy. It is mild. You can add more chili garlic sauce.
Instructions for how to cook mapo tofu:
1. First, minced garlic and cut Tofu into small blocks set them a side. Then, add 1 teaspoon of sesame oil into non-stick pan. After that, turn on fire to medium high and stir fried minced garlic a little.
2. After, add ground pork and stir fried or loose up ground pork
3. Next, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1.5 teaspoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1.5 tablespoons of chili sauce, 4 tablespoons of water and keep stir fried until the pork is cooked.
4. After, in a small container add 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water and mix it well. Then, add the cornstarch mixture to the stir fried pork and turn the fire to medium low.
5. Lastly, add cut tofu and be gentle do not stir too hard because soft tofu will break easily and cook it for a minute and add green onion on top.
Enjoy this simple and tasty mapo tofu recipe! Also, check out these Chinese eggplant and pork, ma yi shang shu, kung pao chicken recipes.
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Ma Po Tofu (麻婆豆腐)
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb Ground pork
- 1 block Soft Tofu
- 1.5 teaspoons Soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- 4 tablespoons Water
- 1.5 tablespoons Chili garlic sauce Lee Kum Kee
- 1 teaspoon Sesame oil
THICKEN SAUCE:
- 1 teaspoon Cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon Water
Instructions
- First, minced garlic and cut tofu into small blocks set them a side. Then, add 1 teaspoon of sesame oil into non-stick pan. After that, turn on fire to medium high and stir fried minced garlic a little.
- After, add ground pork and stir fried or loose up ground pork
- Next, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1.5 teaspoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1.5 tablespoons of chili sauce, 4 tablespoons of water and keep stir fried until the pork is cooked.
- After, in a small container add 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water and mix it well. Then, add the cornstarch mixture to the stir fried pork and turn the fire to medium low.
- Lastly, add cut tofu and be gentle do not stir too hard because soft tofu will break easily and cook it for a minute and add green onion on top.
Notes
Cooking tips for mapo doufu (麻婆豆腐):
- Add 1/2 tablespoon of chili garlic sauce at a time, depends on how spicy you can tolerance it. Personally, I used 1.5 tablespoons of chili garlic sauce because this is how spicy my family can handle.
- I like to use Lee Kum Kee chili garlic sauce because it is not as spicy and hot, but it still gives very good flavor to the meat and tofu.
- We like soft tofu because it is smooth and soft. On the other hand, some people like to use medium firm or firm.
- If you use soft tofu, I suggest not to stir fried too hard with the pork and add tofu last.
Nutrition