Chinese Mapo Tofu: Spicy Tofu And Ground Pork Dish
A classic Sichuan dish featuring soft tofu and ground pork in a fiery, numbing sauce made with doubanjiang, Sichuan peppercorns, and chili oil. Mapo Tofu is beloved for its bold flavors and comforting warmth.
Equipment
- Wok or large skillet
- Knife and cutting board
- Spatula
- Mortar and pestle or spice grinder
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Small bowl (for cornstarch slurry)
Ingredients
- 1 block soft or medium tofu about 14 oz, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 200 g ground pork
- 2 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns
- 2 tbsp doubanjiang fermented broad bean paste
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (slurry)
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 inch ginger minced
- 2 green onions chopped
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1-2 dried red chilies optional, for extra heat
Instructions
- Cut tofu into 1-inch cubes and soak in lightly salted water for 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Toast Sichuan peppercorns in a dry skillet for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Grind into a fine powder and set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground pork and cook until browned and crumbly.
- Push pork to one side. Add garlic, ginger, and dried chilies (if using). Stir-fry for 30 seconds until aromatic.
- Add doubanjiang and stir to combine with pork. Pour in stock, soy sauce, and sugar. Stir well.
- Gently add tofu cubes, stirring lightly to coat with sauce. Simmer for 5-7 minutes.
- Add cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce if needed. Simmer until sauce is glossy.
- Sprinkle ground Sichuan peppercorns and chopped green onions over the dish. Serve hot with steamed rice.
Notes
For a vegetarian version, substitute ground pork with minced mushrooms or omit entirely. Adjust the amount of doubanjiang and chilies to suit your spice preference. Serve with steamed white rice and stir-fried greens for a complete meal.
Nutrition
Calories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 18gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 780mgPotassium: 350mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 6IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 14mg
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