**Mapu Tofu: A Spicy and Savory Sichuan Dish, Made Easy in the Microwave**
Mapu tofu, a classic Sichuan dish, is a delectable combination of soft, silky tofu, tender ground pork, and a spicy, flavorful sauce. Traditionally cooked in a wok over high heat, this recipe offers a simplified version using the convenience of a microwave. In just a few minutes, you can enjoy this iconic dish with its complex flavors and textures. This article provides two variations of the recipe: a classic version and a vegetarian alternative. Both recipes are easy to follow and adaptable to your preferences, making them perfect for busy weeknight dinners or quick lunches. Discover the unique taste of Mapu tofu, a delightful balance of heat, umami, and comfort, all made possible in the microwave.
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 TOFU (MICROWAVE RECIPE)
Mapo tofu is one of the most common foods in Japanese homes. It's very easy to cook on a stovetop but cooking it in a microwave cuts the cooking time in half. This recipe is very hard to resist. It always makes me want to eat more rice.
Provided by Pearl Ishizaki
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian Japanese
Time 30m
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Drain tofu, wrap in paper towels, and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook in the microwave for 2 minutes. Unwrap and slice into 3/4-inch cubes.
- Whisk miso paste, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, oyster sauce, doubanjiang, ginger, and garlic together in a bowl.
- Whisk 1 tablespoon water and cornstarch together in a small bowl until smooth.
- Combine miso mixture, remaining water, ground beef, and ground pork together in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cover and cook on 600W for 4 minutes. Drain liquid into the cornstarch mixture; mix well.
- Mix tofu, cornstarch mixture, and green onion carefully into the bowl of ground meat. Cover and cook until flavors combine, about 4 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 319.4 calories, Carbohydrate 12.5 g, Cholesterol 44.2 mg, Fat 19.3 g, Fiber 2.3 g, Protein 26.1 g, SaturatedFat 5.5 g, Sodium 799.7 mg, Sugar 3.7 g
MAPO TOFU
This spicy, aromatic Sichuan dish is recognizable from the citrus aroma of Sichuan peppercorns and the spicy fermented flavor of hot bean sauce. According to legend, Mapo Tofu (Pock-Marked Grandma's Tofu) was named after an old Chinese woman who served the dish to her restaurant guests. She became known for it and people began referring to the dish as the pock-marked woman's tofu.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 25m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Heat a wok over medium-high heat and toast the Sichuan peppercorns until fragrant, about 10 seconds. Remove from heat and transfer the peppercorns to a bowl to cool. Coarsely grind the peppercorns in a spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle and set aside. In a medium bowl, stir together the chicken broth, hot bean paste, cornstarch, hot sesame oil, soy sauce and sugar; set aside.
- Heat the wok over medium-high heat. Add the canola oil, garlic, ginger and fermented black beans and cook until fragrant, stirring often, about 10 seconds. Add the ground pork and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up the meat with a wooden spatula or spoon, until it is browned, 3 to 5 minutes. (Lower the heat to medium if the garlic starts to burn.) Add the reserved ground peppercorns, the tofu and the soy sauce mixture. Cook, stirring once to combine, until the sauce is reduced, thickened and glossy, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and garnish with the scallions. Serve with steamed jasmine rice.
MAPO TOFU
You can order mapo tofu from many Chinese restaurants, but it's also quite doable at home. You can find the pivotal fermented chile and broad (fava) bean sauce or paste called doubanjiang (sometimes rendered as "toban djan") at a Chinese market. Look for a doubanjiang from Pixian, in Sichuan, and bear in mind that oilier versions have extra heat but may lack an earthy depth. Sichuan peppercorns add mala - tingly zing - and fermented black beans, called douchi, lend this dish a kick of umami. Ground beef is traditional, but many cooks choose pork; you can also try lamb, turkey thigh or a plant-based meat alternatives. Add chile flakes for extra fire, and balance mapo's intensity with rice and steamed or stir-fried broccoli.
Provided by Andrea Nguyen
Categories dinner, lunch, weeknight, grains and rice, meat, one pot, main course
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings (about 4 cups)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Prepare the tofu: Cut the tofu into 3/4-inch cubes and put into a bowl. Bring a kettle of water to a rolling boil. Turn off the heat and when the boiling subsides, pour hot water over the tofu to cover. Set aside for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large (14-inch) wok or (12-inch) skillet over medium heat, toast the peppercorns for 2 to 3 minutes, until super fragrant and slightly darkened. (A wisp of smoke is normal.) Let cool briefly, then pound with a mortar and pestle, or pulse in a spice grinder.
- Set a strainer over a measuring cup, then add the tofu to drain; reserve 1 1/2 cups of the soaking water, discarding the rest. Set the tofu and reserved soaking water near the stove with the peppercorns and other prepped ingredients for swift cooking.
- Reheat the wok or skillet over high. When hot - you can flick water in and it should sizzle and evaporate within seconds - swirl in the oil to evenly coat, then add the meat. Stir and mash into cooked and crumbly pieces, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add 2 1/2 tablespoons doubanjiang, the douchi (if using), ginger and red-pepper flakes (if using). Cook about 2 minutes longer, stirring constantly, until things are vivid reddish brown. Add the soy sauce and sugar, stir to combine, then add the tofu. Gently stir or shake the pan to combine the ingredients without breaking up the tofu much.
- Add the reserved 1 1/2 cups soaking water, bring to a vigorous simmer, and cook for about 3 minutes, agitating the pan occasionally, to let the tofu absorb the flavors of the sauce.
- Slightly lower the heat and taste the sauce. If needed, add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of doubanjiang for heat, a pinch of salt for savoriness, or a sprinkle of sugar to tame heat.
- Add the scallions and stir to combine. Stir in the cornstarch slurry, then stir in enough to the mapo tofu to thicken to a soupy rather than a gravy-like finish. Sprinkle in the ground peppercorns, give the mixture one last stir to incorporate, then transfer to a shallow bowl. Serve immediately with lots of hot rice.
MAPO TOFU RECIPE BY TASTY
Mapo tofu is the perfect dish to add to your weekly routine. It's savory and spicy (and happens to be vegetarian!).
Provided by Aleya Zenieris
Time 1h15m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Fill a small pot with water and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the shiitake mushrooms. Soak for 30 minutes, until completely rehydrated. Remove the mushrooms from the water and reserve the soaking liquid. Coarsely chop the rehydrated mushrooms.
- Dice the tomatoes and green bell pepper. Stem and chop the white button mushrooms.
- In a small bowl, combine the chili garlic paste, black bean with garlic sauce, bean paste, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and sugar. Stir until smooth.
- Dice the tofu into 1-inch (2 ½ cm) cubes.
- In a large skillet or wok, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the rehydrated shiitake and button mushrooms, bell pepper, and tomato and cook until the pepper and mushrooms have softened slightly, 1-2 minutes.
- Add the sauce and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes, until fully combined and fragrant.
- In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and ½ cup (75 G) of the reserved mushroom soaking water until the cornstarch dissolves.
- Add the cornstarch slurry to the pan and cook until the sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tofu and cook until heated through, 2-3 minutes more.
- Serve immediately over cooked white rice.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 172 calories, Carbohydrate 15 grams, Fat 8 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 10 grams, Sugar 6 grams
Tips:
- Use firm or extra firm tofu: This type of tofu holds its shape better in the microwave and won't fall apart as easily.
- Press the tofu before cooking: This will help remove excess water and make the tofu crispier.
- Use a large microwave-safe bowl: This will give the tofu plenty of room to cook evenly.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap: This will help keep the tofu moist and prevent it from drying out.
- Cook the tofu in short intervals: This will help prevent it from overcooking.
- Stir the tofu frequently: This will help ensure that it cooks evenly.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the tofu: It should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit when it is done.
- Serve the tofu immediately: It is best when served hot and fresh.
Conclusion:
Mapo tofu is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great source of protein and vegetables, and it can be made in just a few minutes in the microwave. With a little planning and preparation, you can make a delicious and satisfying mapo tofu dish that the whole family will love.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love