Mapo tofu
Mapo tofu, from above
Non vegSichuan

Mapo tofu

Soft tofu, red oil, a tingle on the lips. Rice was invented for this sauce.

30 minTime
29 gProtein each
hotSpice
The pockmarked grandmother's tofu3 chapters · 2 min read

Make it your way

Grandma's wayChilli bean paste, Sichuan pepper and soft tofu, the Chengdu way.
The original
424kcalsame
29 gproteinsame
5 gfibresame
30minutessame

The original mapo tofu.

Per serving, worked out from the ingredient table.

Ingredients

3 servings
Firm tofu1 block, soft or medium firm, in 2 cm cubes
Minced pork (pork mince, ground pork)100 g (or minced beef)
Doubanjiang2 tbsp Pixian chilli bean paste
Fermented black beans1 tbsp, rinsed and chopped
Red chilli powder (indian red chili powder)1 tsp chilli flakes
Garlic3 cloves, minced
Ginger1 tbsp, minced
Sichuan peppercorn1 tsp, toasted and ground
Soy sauce2 tsp
Sugar½ tsp
Cornflour (cornstarch)1 tbsp, in 3 tbsp water
Cooking oil (vegetable oil)2 tbsp
Water1 cup stock or water
Spring onion (green onion, scallion)2 stalks, sliced
Salta pinch, for the tofu water

Method

6 steps
  1. 1Simmer the tofu cubes in lightly salted water for 2 minutes, then lift out gently.
  2. 2Heat the oil in a wok and fry the minced pork on high until browned and crisp.
  3. 3Turn the heat to low. Add the chilli bean paste, black beans, chilli flakes, garlic and ginger and fry.
  4. 4Pour in the stock, soy and sugar. Slide in the tofu and simmer, nudging the pan instead of stirring.
  5. 5Add the cornflour slurry in two or three goes, letting it bubble between each.
  6. 6Scatter spring onion and the ground Sichuan pepper. Serve at once with steamed rice.
Serve it like this

Serve bubbling in a shallow bowl with spring onion and a last pinch of Sichuan pepper on top, steamed rice on the side.

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Make it a meal

What goes with Mapo tofu: a bread or rice, a side, something to drink and something sweet.

Bread or rice Mantou120 min
Bread or rice Yunnan pineapple rice60 min
On the side Smashed cucumber salad15 min
On the side Stir fried bok choy with garlic10 min
On the side Egg drop soup15 min
To drink Sol kadhi40 min
Something sweet Tang yuan45 min
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