Mabo Dofu, also known as Mapo Tofu, is a classic and flavorful Chinese dish that is characterized by its soft, silken tofu braised in a savory sauce made with ground meat, typically pork or beef, and a spicy bean paste. The dish originated in the Sichuan province of China and has become a popular dish worldwide due to its unique combination of flavors and textures. This article provides two variations of the Mabo Dofu recipe: a traditional version that uses ground pork and a vegetarian version that uses crumbled tempeh. Both recipes include detailed instructions and ingredient lists, ensuring that home cooks of all skill levels can create this delicious dish in their own kitchens.
Let's cook with our recipes!
MAPO TOFU RECIPE
Famous Mapo Tofu Recipe From Sichuan Cuisine. Recipe video below.
Provided by Elaine
Categories Main Course
Time 20m
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Add a small pinch of salt and ground pepper. Mix well and set aside.
- Cut tofu into square cubes (around 2cms). Bring a large amount of water to a boil and then add a pinch of salt. Slide the tofu in and cook for 1 minute. Move out and drain. This helps to remove the raw soy flavor form tofu.
- Get a wok and heat up around 2 tablespoons of oil, fry the minced meat until crispy. Transfer out and leave the oil in.
- Add another 1 tablespoon of vegetable cooking oil and fry doubanjiang for 1 minute over slow fire until the red turns red (bring us a lovely red color dish) and add fermented black beans, garlic, scallion white and ginger, cook for 30 seconds until aroma. Optionally mix pepper flakes in. Pepper flakes should be added at the end because it contains little water and can be burnt easily.
- Pour in water or stock. Add light soy sauce, sugar and half of the cooked beef (providing more flavors to the soup) after the broth boils and let it continue simmering for 2-3 minutes. Place the tofu in, simmer for another 6-8 minutes. The longer time of simmering helps the tofu to absorb the flavors.
- During the process of simmering, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2.5 tablespoons of water in a small bowl to make water starch. Stir the water starch and then pour half of the mixture to the simmering pot. Back push and wait for around 30 seconds and then pour the other half. You can slightly taste the tofu and add pinch of salt if not salty enough. Add cooked beef to creates some crispy texture and then drizzle sesame oil. Mix well.
- Transfer out when almost all the seasonings stick to tofu cubes. Sprinkle Szechuan peppercorn powder (to taste)and chopped garlic greens if using.
- Serve immediately with steamed rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 501 kcal, Carbohydrate 21 g, Protein 22 g, Fat 35 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Cholesterol 35 mg, Sodium 1072 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 6 g, ServingSize 1 serving
MAPO DOFU
Steps:
- Place the noodles in a large bowl and cover with boiling water. Let soak until softened, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and toss with 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil to prevent sticking.
- In a small saucepan or wok, heat the beef stock to a simmer and then keep warm on low heat.
- In a small frying pan set over medium heat, dry-toast the peppercorns until fragrant. Remove from the heat and crush in a mortar and pestle, place in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin or use a spice grinder.
- Heat a wok over high heat and add the peanut oil. Add the garlic, ginger, chili and 1 tablespoon of the ground peppercorns and stir-fry a few seconds. Add the pork and chili bean sauce and continue stir-frying. As the pork browns, add the rice wine. When the pork has browned, add the tofu and mix gently. Season the stir-fry with soy sauce,
- black rice vinegar, the remaining 1 teaspoon sesame oil, salt and ground white pepper.
- Add the hot beef stock to the pork and tofu and bring to a boil. In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water, then stir into the sauce to thicken. Stir in the scallions and remove from the heat. Serve over the noodles and sprinkle with the remaining peppercorns.
MABO DOFU - TOFU WITH BEEF
This recipe comes from an English-language Chinese cookbook of my mother's. I have made it...easy and delicious, and better than in the Chinese restaurants. As most Chinese dishes, it is best as part of a meal of a variety of dishes and a group of people. Accompany with Oriental boiled rice. Mabo Dofu (Bean Curd with Ground Beef and Chili Peppers)
Provided by Eduardo Maldonado
Categories Soy/Tofu
Time 20m
Yield 4 side dish servings, 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cut bean curd into bite-sized squares and set aside. Heat oil and fry garlic, chili peppers and chopped leek.
- Add meat. When meat changes color, lightly stir in bean curd, soy sauce and = sugar.
- Cover with lid and cook for 10 min.
- Add cornstarch mixture, allowing it to thicken for a few minutes.
- Turn out into serving dish, sprinkle with the sesame oil and serve hot. EmmaDeer
MAPO TOFU
This mapo tofu recipe is the true blue, authentic real deal-the spicy, tongue-numbing, rice-is-absolutely-not-optional mapo tofu that you get in the restaurants!
Provided by Kaitlin
Categories Tofu
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- First, we toast the chilies. If you have homemade toasted chili oil, you can skip this step. Heat your wok or a small saucepan over low heat. Add ¼ cup of the oil and throw in the fresh and dried peppers. Stir occasionally and heat until fragrant, about 5 minutes, ensuring that the peppers don't burn. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Heat the remaining ¼ cup of oil in your wok over medium heat. Add the ginger. After 1 minute, add the garlic. Fry for another minute, and then turn up the heat to high and add the ground pork. Break up the meat and fry it until it's cooked through. Add your ground Sichuan peppercorns and stir for about 15-30 seconds, taking care to not let it burn, as it will turn bitter if it does.
- Add the spicy bean sauce to the mixture and stir it in well. Add ⅔ cups of chicken broth to the wok and stir. Let this simmer for a minute or so. While that's happening, ready your tofu and also put a ¼ cup of water in a small bowl with your cornstarch and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Add the cornstarch mixture to your sauce and stir. Let it bubble away until the sauce starts to thicken. (If it gets too thick, splash in a little more water or chicken stock.)
- Then add your chili oil from before-peppers and all! If you are using homemade chili oil, ONLY use the standing oil, as it's likely that you have salted it and you only want the oil, not additional salt. Stir the oil into the sauce, and add the tofu. Use your spatula to gently toss the tofu in the sauce. Let everything cook for 3-5 minutes. Add the sesame oil and sugar (if using) along with the scallions and stir until the scallions are just wilted.
- Serve with a last sprinkle of Sichuan peppercorn powder as a garnish if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 335 kcal, Carbohydrate 8 g, Protein 11 g, Fat 29 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Cholesterol 27 mg, Sodium 126 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 2 g, ServingSize 1 serving
MAPO DOFU: SPICY TOFU WITH MEAT SAUCE (SZECHWAN STYLE)
Ever wonder what to do with a package of tofu? Something delicious and different so that your guests will ask, "How did you make this? It's wonderful!" Think Chinese cooking is scary and mysterious? This simple and simply delightful recipe can change all that in one stroke. My family loves this and it's so easy, it gives me a break.
Provided by Tumerica
Categories Soy/Tofu
Time 20m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a large sturdy frying pan (preferably a 12" one), saute the onions and the garlic in the oils until onions are somewhat tender (saute less if using green onions).
- Add in the ground meat and chop it up with your spatula as you stir-fry. Continue until meat is no longer pink (takes only a few minutes--do not overcook!).
- Add in ginger, chili paste (to taste--leave it out if cooking for a toddler), sake or other wine, soy sauce, and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, skimming off fat, if needed.
- Add in the cubed tofu and stir gently, while trying to avoid breaking up the cubes. Cook only until tofu is coated and hot (not long!).
- Stir the cornstarch into a few tablespoons of water--just to moisten--and add this mixture slowly to the meat and tofu--stirring constantly.
- Scoop heaping portions of the mapo dofu over steamed white rice and let guests add in more chili paste, if they desire.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 323.2, Fat 19.6, SaturatedFat 3.6, Cholesterol 61.6, Sodium 500.1, Carbohydrate 12.7, Fiber 0.5, Sugar 3.6, Protein 22
MA-PO TOFU (SPICY BEAN CURD WITH BEEF)
Provided by Shirley Cheng
Categories Wine Wok Ginger Stir-Fry Lunar New Year Ground Beef Tofu Spice Leek Soy Sauce
Yield Makes 4 portions
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- In dry heavy skillet over moderate heat, toast peppercorns, stirring, until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl and let cool, then grind in spice grinder to fine powder. Set aside.
- In large pot over moderately high heat, bring 4 cups water to boil. Add tofu, remove from heat, and let steep, uncovered, 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer tofu to medium bowl and set aside.
- In small bowl, whisk together hot bean paste, black-bean paste, 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, and chili powder. Set aside.
- In small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 3 tablespoons water. Set aside.
- In wok or heavy large sauté pan over moderate heat, heat oil until hot but not smoking. Add beef, ginger, garlic, and scallions and stir-fry until meat is browned, about 1 minute. Add rice wine and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of moisture evaporates, 1 to 2 minutes. Add hot bean paste mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is incorporated and oil in pan turns red, about 1 minute.
- Add tofu, leeks, stock, light and dark soy sauces, and remaining 2 tablespoons oyster sauce and bring to boil. Whisk cornstarch mixture to recombine, then add to pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until juices thicken slightly, about 1 minute.
- Transfer to serving dish. Sprinkle with Sichuan peppercorn powder and cilantro, if using. Serve immediately.
MAPO TOFU
Even if you're not keen on tofu, give this mapo tofu a go. It's hot and really strongly flavoured thanks to chilli bean paste, fermented black beans and more
Provided by Diana Henry
Categories Dinner, Lunch, Main course, Supper
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Get all the ingredients ready before you start cooking and set them out in bowls. Drain the tofu and cut it into 1.5cm cubes. Put it in a bowl and cover with very hot water. Leave this while you get on with everything else.
- Heat a wok and pour in the groundnut oil. Get this really hot and fry the pork until it's crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon but leave the oil behind.
- Add the bean paste and cook, stirring for a few mins until fragrant, then add the black beans, ginger and garlic. Cook, stirring, for a min or so, then add the stock and let it bubble away.
- Stir the cornflour and water into the mixture in the wok, drain the tofu and stir it into the sauce. Tip in the spring onions and the mince.
- Add the chilli oil, if using, and sprinkle over the Sichuan peppercorns. The sauce shouldn't need seasoning with salt, as many of the ingredients are salty already. Serve with boiled white rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 310 calories, Fat 21 grams fat, SaturatedFat 4 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 6 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 2 grams sugar, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 22 grams protein, Sodium 1 milligram of sodium
CHINESE MABO TOFU
A simple, delicious Chinese mabo tofu recipe that has been passed on for years. Easy to prepare!
Provided by poshpal
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian Chinese
Time 40m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl; set aside.
- Brown ground pork in a small skillet over medium-high heat, about 5 minutes. Drain fat.
- Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet or wok. Cook the garlic and ginger root in the oil until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in tofu and cook for 2 minutes. Season with the soy sauce, hot bean sauce, and sugar; stir to combine.
- Stir in the cooked pork and green onion. Sprinkle with the cornstarch and water mixture; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir the sesame oil into the thickened mabo tofu.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 267.5 calories, Carbohydrate 8.3 g, Cholesterol 36.7 mg, Fat 17.4 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 22.3 g, SaturatedFat 4.7 g, Sodium 1636.8 mg, Sugar 3.9 g
MABO DOFU
My grandmother's recipe for pork tofu. Serve over white rice.
Provided by sakuraiiko
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian Chinese
Time 40m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat the sesame oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat, and cook and stir the ginger and garlic until the garlic just begins to brown, about 30 seconds. Stir in the pork, breaking it up as you stir, and cook and stir until the pork is browned and broken into small pieces. Add the chili bean sauce, soy sauce, sake, and oyster sauce, stir to mix the ingredients together, reduce heat, and let simmer until the mixture thickens slightly, about 3 more minutes.
- Thin the sauce with water as needed (sauce should not be watery) and gently stir in the tofu. Simmer until the tofu is hot and coated with sauce, about 10 minutes, stirring a few more times. Serve sprinkled with chopped green onion.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 260.2 calories, Carbohydrate 3.3 g, Cholesterol 40.9 mg, Fat 19.5 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 17.2 g, SaturatedFat 5.5 g, Sodium 436.8 mg, Sugar 1.3 g
Tips:
- Choose the right tofu: Use firm or extra-firm tofu for this recipe. Soft or silken tofu will not hold up well in the cooking process.
- Press the tofu: Pressing the tofu removes excess water and helps it to absorb the flavors of the sauce better. To press the tofu, wrap it in a few layers of paper towels and place it on a plate. Place another plate on top of the tofu and weigh it down with something heavy, such as a can of beans or a heavy skillet. Let the tofu press for 30 minutes.
- Use a good quality beef: The beef should be well-marbled and cut into thin slices. This will help it to cook quickly and evenly.
- Don't overcook the beef: The beef should be cooked just until it is no longer pink. Overcooking will make it tough and chewy.
- Use a flavorful sauce: The sauce is what really makes this dish special. Be sure to use a sauce that is flavorful and has a good balance of sweet, sour, and savory flavors.
Conclusion:
Mabo dofu is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is a great way to use up leftover tofu and beef, and it is also a good source of protein and vegetables. With a few simple tips, you can make a delicious mapo dofu that your family and friends will love.
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