WATCH: How To Make Mapo Tofu
A favorite Chinese dish, Mapo Tofu is a silky tofu and ground pork dish is extra flavorful. It's tossed in a delicious sauce made with soybean paste, garlic, ginger, and chili. The delicate soft tofu easily breaks down and becomes part of the sauce, creating a well-mixed meal you'll want to serve with lots of rice.
- Mapo Tofu Recipe
- Takes 20 minutes
- Makes 4 servings
- 2 packs silken tofu, drained
- 1/4 kilo ground pork
- Salt, to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, more to taste
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled, finely chopped
- 1-inch ginger, peeled, finely chopped
- 4 tablespoons Doubanjiang (spicy fermented bean paste)
- 3 teaspoons chili-garlic sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon five-spice powder
- 1 teaspoon sugar, or to taste
- 1 1/2 tablespoons flour
- 2 pieces red chili pepper (siling labuyo), finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons green onion, chopped
- 1 Gently slice the bean curd or silken tofu into small cubes. Set aside.
- 2 In a small bowl, season ground pork with salt and pepper. Sprinkle flour onto the pork, and mix well.
- 3 In a wok over medium heat, heat oil then sauté ground pork, about 15 minutes or until just cooked through.
- 4 Add the garlic and ginger, and cook until aromatic. Add the bean paste, black pepper, chili-garlic sauce, and the five-spice powder. Stir. Sprinkle in flour and mix to coat, making sure the ground pork is well coated with the sauce.
- 5 Add the cubed tofu, and gently stir. Bring to a simmer. Stir again, being careful not to break the tofu. Add chili and green onions. Cook until heated through, and serve while hot on steamed rice.
