simple mapo tofu recipes

Easy Mapo Tofu: A Simple Recipe Guide

Mapo Tofu, a beloved Sichuan dish, is famous for its numbing-spicy flavor and silky tofu. Here’s a simple recipe to make it at home.

Ingredients: 300g soft tofu (cut into 1cm cubes), 150g ground pork, 2 tbsp doubanjiang (broad bean paste), 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sugar, 100ml water or stock, 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorn powder, 2 minced garlic, 1 tbsp cooking oil, chopped green onions for garnish.

Steps:

1. Prep: Soak tofu in warm water for 5 minutes to remove excess moisture; drain.

2. Sauté: Heat oil in a wok over medium heat. Add minced garlic and stir-fry until fragrant. Add ground pork, breaking it up, and cook until browned.

3. Flavor Base: Stir in doubanjiang, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant and oily.

4. Simmer: Pour in water/stock, soy sauce, and sugar. Bring to a gentle boil. Carefully add tofu cubes, gently shaking the wok to mix (avoid stirring vigorously to prevent breaking tofu).

5. Thicken: Simmer for 3-4 minutes. In a small bowl, mix 1 tsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp water, then stir into the wok to thicken the sauce slightly.

6. Finish: Turn off heat. Sprinkle Sichuan peppercorn powder and chopped green onions. Serve hot with steamed rice.

Tips: For extra heat, add a pinch of chili flakes. Adjust seasonings to taste. Enjoy this quick, flavorful homemade Mapo Tofu!