Mapo tofu

Mapo tofu is a popular Chinese dish that originates from the Sichuan province. The dish is typically made with tofu, ground meat (usually pork or beef), and a spicy sauce. It is often served with rice.

The exact origin of mapo tofu is unknown, but it is thought to have originated in the 19th century. The dish gained popularity in the early 20th century, when it became a staple of Sichuan cuisine.

There are many different recipes for mapo tofu, but all of them share the same basic ingredients and flavors. The dish is often made with a variety of different spices, including chili pepper, Sichuan pepper, and ginger.

Advice

Making mapo tofu can be a daunting task if you're not used to cooking with spices and sauces! To make the dish, start by preparing the ingredients: tofu, garlic, ginger, green onions, and Sichuan peppercorn. Heat a wok over medium-high heat and add oil and garlic. Once the garlic starts to sizzle, add the ginger and Sichuan pepper and stir-fry until fragrant. Next, add the tofu and stir-fry for a few minutes. Then, add the sauce mixture and stir-fry for another few minutes until the sauce thickens. Lastly, finish the dish by adding green onions and cooking for a few more minutes. The key to making perfect mapo tofu is to build flavors gradually and not to rush the process. Take your time and make sure to adjust the ingredients and spices to your taste.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

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Vegan Mapo Tofu

  • cilantro
  • salt
  • corn
  • fermented black bean
  • fermented broad bean paste
  • ginger
  • sichuan pepper
  • sesame oil
  • green onion
  • tofu block
  • water
  • garlic
  • soy sauce
  • vegetable oil
  • hot red pepper
  • shiitake mushroom
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Mapo Tofu

  • white rice
  • salt
  • douchi
  • ginger
  • rounded sugar
  • rounded sichuan peppercorn
  • cornstarch dissolved
  • red pepper flake
  • medium tofu
  • soy sauce
  • green onion
  • doubanjiang
  • canola oil
  • ground beef
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Real-Deal Mapo Tofu Recipe

  • dark soy sauce
  • ginger microplane grater
  • cornstarch
  • silken tofu
  • green onion
  • chicken stock
  • chili oil
  • vegetable oil
  • ground beef
  • fermented chili bean paste
  • sichuan peppercorn
  • xiaoxing wine
  • water
  • garlic cloves microplane grater
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Mapo Tofu

  • water
  • cornstarch
  • hoisin sauce
  • soy sauce
  • ginger
  • sesame oil
  • garlic
  • sugar
  • vegetable stock powder
  • tofu
  • scallions shallot
  • oil
  • chinese wine
  • chili bean sauce
  • ground pork
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The Best Vegan Mapo Tofu Recipe

  • dark soy sauce
  • ginger microplane grater
  • cornstarch
  • kombu
  • water
  • silken tofu
  • chinese chive
  • vegetable oil
  • porcini mushroom
  • fermented chili broad bean paste
  • chili oil
  • shaoxing wine
  • sichuan peppercorn
  • chinese hot chile
  • yacai
  • garlic cloves microplane grater
  • green onion
  • wood ear mushroom
  • white button mushroom
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Weeknight Mapo Tofu with Ground Pork

  • basil
  • silken tofu
  • cornstarch
  • tomato paste
  • sichuan peppercorn
  • ginger
  • jalapeño
  • chicken broth
  • vegetable oil
  • chinese black bean garlic sauce
  • garlic
  • green onion
  • ground pork
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Mapo Tofu with Ramps Recipe

  • dark soy sauce
  • ginger microplane grater
  • cornstarch
  • silken tofu
  • green onion
  • chicken stock
  • chili oil
  • vegetable oil
  • ground beef
  • fermented chili bean paste
  • sichuan peppercorn
  • xiaoxing wine
  • water
  • ramp
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Mapo Tofu

  • salt
  • white rice
  • soy sauce
  • canola oil
  • cornstarch
  • water
  • ground beef
  • ground pork
  • tofu
  • chile bean sauce
  • hoisin sauce
  • green onion
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Mapo Tofu

  • Mapo Tofu
  • rice
  • salt
  • shiitake mushroom
  • ground sichuan pepper
  • fermented black bean
  • cornstarch
  • ginger
  • vegetable broth
  • sichuan pepper
  • garlic
  • doubanjiang
  • sichuan chili
  • green onion
  • chili oil
  • silken tofu
  • Basic Chili Oil
  • cassia bark
  • chili flake
  • star anise
  • pods cardamom
  • ginger
  • oil

Ingredient Breakdown

 
green onion
cornstarch
ginger
water
vegetable oil
silken tofu
salt
garlic
soy sauce
ground beef
chili oil
sichuan peppercorn
dark soy sauce
ginger microplane grater
ground pork
fermented black bean
sichuan pepper
sesame oil
shiitake mushroom
white rice
doubanjiang
canola oil
chicken stock
fermented chili bean paste
xiaoxing wine
garlic cloves microplane grater
hoisin sauce
tofu
oil
cilantro
corn
fermented broad bean paste
tofu block
hot red pepper
douchi
rounded sugar
rounded sichuan peppercorn
cornstarch dissolved
red pepper flake
medium tofu
sugar
vegetable stock powder
scallions shallot
chinese wine
chili bean sauce
kombu
chinese chive
porcini mushroom
fermented chili broad bean paste
shaoxing wine
chinese hot chile
yacai
wood ear mushroom
white button mushroom
basil
tomato paste
jalapeño
chicken broth
chinese black bean garlic sauce
ramp
chile bean sauce
rice
cassia bark
chili flake
ground sichuan pepper
vegetable broth
star anise
pods cardamom
sichuan chili

Insights

Correlated with Higher Ratings

  • cornstarch

Staple Ingredients

  • green onion 89%

Common Ingredients

  • cornstarch 78%

Usual Ingredients

  • water 67%
  • ginger 56%
  • silken tofu 56%
  • vegetable oil 56%