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5.0 from 6 votes

Chinese Sichuan Mapo Tofu

Mapo Tofu is a quick Chinese Sichuan dinner recipe to make at home. This is an easy and flavorful way to prepare tofu, with minced meat and an aromatic red sauce. 

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4 - 6 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients

For the sauce:
  • 3 Tbsp dou ban jiang (red fermented broad bean paste)*
  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 Tbsp douchi (salted black bean)**
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 C water or chicken broth, divided
For the dish:
  • 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • 150 g (1/3 lb) lean ground pork
  • 1 large white onion, diced
  • 1 package medium firm tofu, cut into cubes
  • 1 tsp Chili oil (optional, if you like more spice, add more, if not, omit)
  • ¼ tsp ground Sichuan peppercorn (optional)
  • chopped green onions (for garnish)

Instructions

For the sauce:
    Cup of Yum
  1. In a small bowl, mix together the dou ban jiang (red broad bean paste), sugar, and douchi (salted black bean). Set aside.
  2. In another small bowl, mix together 1 Tbsp cornstarch and 1/2 C water or chicken broth. Mix until the cornstarch is dissolved.
For the dish:
  1. Heat a large wok over high heat. Add in 1 Tbsp oil. Add in the ground pork and using a spatula, break it up into small pieces. Fry for about 2 minutes. Add in the diced onion and fry with the pork until fragrant, about another 3-4 minutes.
  2. Next, add the cubed tofu to the pork mixture and stir gently to mix.
  3. Add the remaining 1 C of water/chicken broth, along with the dou ban jiang sauce mixture and stir to coat the pork and tofu.
  4. Bring the mixture up to a boil, and then add in the cornstarch slurry. The sauce will thicken and coat all of the pork, tofu and onion.
  5. Add in chili oil and ground Sichuan peppercorn, if you wish.
  6. When the mapo tofu comes to a simmer, remove it from heat and garnish with chopped green onions.
  7. Serve hot over steamed rice.

Notes

  • * Chili paste or chili oil can be substituted for dou ban jiang in a pinch.
  • ** Douchi is optional, omit if can’t be found.