Mapo Tofu

4.58 from 14 votes

Authentic and easy Mapo Tofu recipe, with soft silken tofu cooked in a spicy, numbing, savory, and aromatic Mapo Tofu sauce with ground pork. This recipe is fail-proof and beginner-friendly.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Tofu

Cuisine: Chinese Recipes

Keyword: Mapo Tofu

Servings: people

Author: Bee Yinn Low

Ingredients

1 block silken tofu 18-oz/500 g
2 tablespoons cooking oil
2 tablespoons chili oil
2 cloves garlic chopped
4 oz (113g) ground pork

Mapo Tofu Sauce

3 tablespoons Sichuan spicy bean paste 辣豆瓣酱
1 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 teaspoon fermented black beans rinsed and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup (125 ml) water
1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorns roasted and ground to powder
2 stalks leeks or scallions, chopped
salt to taste

Instructions

Cut the tofu into small pieces, drain any excess water from it, and set aside. Heat a wok, then add cooking oil and chili oil. Stir-fry chopped garlic, ground pork, and spicy bean paste until the pork is halfway cooked.
Next, add chili powder, soy sauce, and fermented black beans, stir-frying until aromatic. Carefully add the tofu and water; gently stir to blend the tofu without breaking it, ensuring it mixes well with the sauce.
Reduce the heat and simmer for about 3-5 minutes until the sauce thickens. Then, add roasted Sichuan peppercorn powder, chopped scallions, and add salt to taste. Gently stirring to blend everything well. Serve hot with steamed rice.

Notes

- If you're new to Chinese cooking, especially the mala flavors, consider reducing the amount of chili oil, chili powder, and Sichuan peppercorns.

- You can use firm tofu if you prefer a chewier texture.

- Prepare all the ingredients before starting to cook, as stir-frying happens quickly.

- Use a soft silicone spatula to gently stir-fry the tofu to prevent it from breaking.

- Remember to lower the heat while simmering the tofu with its sauce. This helps the tofu absorb the flavors without stirring too much and potentially breaking it.
- In the United States, Chinese pantry ingredients can be purchased at large Asian supermarket chains like 99 Ranch Market and H Mart. For Spicy Bean sauce, I recommend the Lee Kum Kee brand, which is marketed as Chili Bean Sauce (Toban Djan).

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