MaPo Tofu Recipe

I want you today to present one of my absolute favorite Chinese dishes: Mapo tofu. Mapo Tofu (or Mapo Doufu) is a classic of Sichuan cuisine and is one of the most popular dishes in China. Anyone who has ever tried Mapo Tofu, will know why. The variety of flavors, strong seasoning and, typical for Sichuan Province Focus are just mega and will probably convince even the biggest tofu muffle them that well cooked tofu is a treat.

What is MaPo Tofu

MaPo Tofu (Má pó doufu, 麻 婆 豆腐) is one of those meals with many spellings and translations. Fuchsia Dunlop is translated in her book “Sichuan Cookery” as “beans cheese pockmarked Mother Chen”. It should be named after the disfigured by pockmarks wife of Restaurateurs of the Qing Dynasty. They say they have this spicy, aromatic, oily dish cooked for traders who had their cargoes unloaded on the way to the markets of the city with her on edible oil and come noon.

Mapo Tofu is probably one of the most famous dishes and symbolizes the culinary culture of Sichuan with its fiery-sharp farmhouse kitchen and all the action in the private restaurants. Worldwide there are countless imitations, but this is “the real thing” – as taught at the Sichuan Provincial Cooking School and is also offered in the restaurants named after “Old Mother Chen” in Chengdu.

How to make MaPo Tofu

The Sichuan pepper conjures up a pleasant tingling sensation on the lips, and the delicate tofu slides down the throat. It is plentiful and warm – a perfect winter dish. This recipe uses a traditional swing minced beef, which is unusual in the szechuan kitchen where pork but is most commonly used. Sometimes the meat is pre-fried and, only in the last minute of the preparation to the main course, so its crunchiness is retained.

The traditional vegetable is green garlic, Sichuan Suan Miao (蒜苗), in other parts of China qīng Suan (青蒜) called, but with spring onions it works.

The amount of oil can be reduced (at least 3 tablespoon!), But it is traditionally so that the dish is served with a good charge of chili-red oil. For the deepest ruby color genuine Sichuan chili bean paste and ground Sichuan chilli must be used.

Print Recipe

MaPo Tofu Recipes

Cuisine

Tofu Recipe

Prep Time

10

Cook Time

20

Servings

Ingredients

• 450 g firm tofu
• 2 spring onions
• 120 ml peanut oil
• 170 g ground beef
• 1/2 tablespoons Sichuan chili bean paste
• 1 tablespoon fermented black beans
• 2 teaspoon ground Sichuan chilli (any other hot variety does it well)
• 240 ml chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 2 teaspoon light soy sauce
• salt
• 4 tablespoons cornstarch
• 6 tablespoons water
• 1/2 teaspoon ground Sichuan pepper

Cuisine Tofu Recipe Prep Time 10 Cook Time 20 Servings Ingredients 450 g firm tofu 2 spring onions 120 ml peanut oil 170 g ground beef 1/2 tablespoons Sichuan chili bean paste 1 tablespoon fermented black beans 2 teaspoon ground Sichuan chilli (any other hot variety does it well) 240 ml chicken broth 1 teaspoon white sugar 2 teaspoon light soy sauce salt 4 tablespoons cornstarch 6 tablespoons water 1/2 teaspoon ground Sichuan pepper

Instructions

1. Cut tofu into about 2.5 cm cubes, keep ready in hot, lightly salted water.

   
2. onions very diagonally cut into very thin "horse's ears".
3. Heat wok on high heat, heat the peanut oil in it until the smoke point, stir fry the meat in it briskly until it is crisp and slightly brown, but not yet dry.

   
4. flame on medium, chili bean paste and cook stir fry for about 30 seconds until the oil has a bright red color. Black beans and ground chilies and cook for a further 20 s stir fry until the chilies have the oil given its color.

   
5. broth add, stir well, then add the drained tofu. Gently mix (Stirring ladle wok just a few times forwards and backwards), do not stir, the tofu would fall apart. Season with sugar and soy sauce, and if necessary add salt. For 5 min simmer so that the tofu can absorb the flavors.

   
6. add onions and carefully fold. Strength solution in two or three steps stir until the sauce has thickened enough and nice shiny stick to meat and tofu remains. Do not add more than necessary.

   
7. Finally, all fill in a large bowl, sprinkle with the ground Sichuan pepper and serve.

   

Share this Recipe