Best 6 Punchy Korean Style Mapo Tofu Recipes

VEGAN MAPO TOFU

Steps:

• In a wok over medium low heat, add the vegetable oil and ground Sichuan peppercorns (remember to reserve ¼ teaspoon for garnishing the dish at the end).
• Cook for 30 seconds, and add the ginger. Cook for another 1 minute and add the garlic. Cook for another 1 minute. Add the black beans, and chilies. Cook for another 1-2 minutes.
• Turn up the heat to medium, and add the mushrooms. Cook until the mushrooms are cooked down and slightly caramelized, about 5 minutes.
• Add the spicy bean sauce and chili oil to the mixture and stir it in well. Turn up the heat to high, and add ⅔ cups water or broth and stir. Bring the mixture up to a simmer, and allow to bubble for 1 minute.
• Stir the cornstarch and water mixture to make sure the cornstarch is dissolved, and add it to the sauce. Allow the sauce to thicken (if it gets too thick, splash in more water or stock). If the sauce is too thin, make a little more cornstarch slurry and add it in. There will be variations depending on how high your heat is.
• Add the tofu to the wok and gently toss the tofu in the sauce. Allow the tofu to simmer for 3-5 minutes, and then add the sesame oil, sugar, and scallions.
• Give everything a final stir, and taste for seasoning (you likely won't have to add any additional salt, as the spicy bean sauce and fermented black beans are quite salty). Serve, garnished with a last sprinkle of Sichuan peppercorn powder.

PUNCHY KOREAN STYLE MAPO TOFU

Steps:

• In a medium-sized skillet over medium heat, saute the ground meat and chopped onion.
• When meat is nearly cooked through and onions are translucent, add miso and oyster sauce.
• Stir to coat meat and onion pieces throughout.
• Add tofu cubes and gently combine with meat and onion mixture. It might not look like enough sauce at first, but with enough stirring, all the tofu will be coated perfectly.
• Saute until meat is cooked through and tofu is heated, about 5 minutes.
• If needed, keep warm on low and stir occasionally so the sauce doesn't stick and burn. Otherwise, serve hot on top of white short grain rice.

MAPO TOFU

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.

KOREAN STYLE BBQ TOFU

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients (except tofu and sesame seeds) in a blender and puree. Pour into a shallow dish.
• Place tofu in the marinade, turning to coat. Cover and place in the fridge for 24 hours - 5 days.
• Remove tofu from the marinade (you can use it to make a sauce if you want, since there's no raw meat involved) and roll in the sesame seeds.
• Preheat a grill pan or skillet over medium high heat (I don't recommend an actual barbecue for this unless the grate is really narrow). Grease well.
• Place tofu in one layer on the pan and cook 6 minutes, then carefully turn over and cook another 5-6 minutes.
• Serve as part of a rice or noodle bowl, or with a stir fry. This also tastes great as part of a sandwich or wrap.

KOREAN-STYLE BROILED TOFU

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• Cut the tofu into 1/2" slices.
• Lightly brushed a rimmed baking sheet(s) with vegetable oil, place the tofu in a single layer on the sheet(s) and lightly brush the top with oil.
• Broil, as close to the heat as possible until the tofu is lightly browned.
• Turn over and brown on the other side.
• Combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, Splenda, garlic, sesame seeds and hot bean paste.
• Heat the soy mixture to a boil in a large pan over medium heat.
• Gently add the tofu in a single layer.
• Turn down to a simmer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, spooning the mixture over the top of the tofu.
• Sprinkle with the green onions and serve.

MA PO TOFU (FROM COOKING LIGHT)

Steps:

• Place tofu slices on several layers of paper towels, cover with additional paper towels. Place a dinner plate on top of covered tofu; let stand 30 minutes. Remove plate, discard paper towels. Cut tofu slices into 1/2-inch cubes.
• Combine broth, cornstarch, soy sauce, oyster sauce and chili garlic sauce, stirring with a whisk.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork; cook 4 minutes or until done, stirring to crumble. Add ginger and garlic; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add tofu; cook 4 minutes or until golden, stirring frequently. Add broth mixture to pan. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute or until mixture thickens. Remove from heat.
• Serve tofu mixture over rice. Sprinkle with onions.