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Chinese · Dinner

Mapo Tofu

Non-vegEasy

Diet: Non-veg · High-protein

Mapo Tofu is a Chinese dish. Fold soft tofu gently to retain its shape.

Prep
15 min
Cook
20 min
Total
35 min
Servings
4
Difficulty
Easy
Cuisine
Chinese
Course
Dinner

Estimated times for the original batch. Preparation, cooking and listed waiting time are included. Batch cooking can take longer.

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Representative photograph of Mapo Tofu.
Representative photograph of Mapo Tofu. Garnishes and presentation may differ. Photo credit and licence
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Ingredients

Metric weights use grams. US weights use ounces; liquids use fluid ounces. Conversions are rounded. Spoon measures use 5 ml teaspoons and 15 ml tablespoons; cups use 240 ml.

Serves 4

Base

Simmer

Finish

Equipment

Kitchen scales; measuring jug and spoons; knife; cutting board; mixing bowls; saucepan with lid; sieve; heavy frying pan; spatula; food thermometer; heatproof spoon; spatula.

Check all product labels and cross-contact. Diet groups describe this listed recipe, not every substitution.

Steps

Fry · About 5 min

  1. Heat oil from 20 ml neutral oil, 150 g minced pork, 15 g garlic, chopped, 15 g ginger, chopped, 25 g doubanjiang; fry pork 5 minutes, then aromatics and doubanjiang 2 minutes.

Simmer · About 8 min

  1. Add 600 g soft tofu, cubed, 300 ml water, 15 ml soy sauce; simmer gently 8 minutes. Pork must reach 71°C / 160°F.

    Check: The food must be hot through at 71°C / 160°F.

Thicken · About 2 min

  1. Mix cornflour and water from 10 g cornflour, 30 ml cold water, ½ tsp ground Sichuan pepper, 30 g spring onions. Stir in, simmer 2 minutes and add pepper and onions.

Tips

  • Fold soft tofu gently to retain its shape.
  • Judge Mapo Tofu by the texture and doneness signs in its steps. Your pan and heat affect how long Mapo Tofu takes to cook.

Substitutions

  • Replace pork with chopped mushrooms for a different version.

Storage

  • Get perishable Mapo Tofu into the fridge within two hours, or within one hour above 32°C / 90°F. Eat Mapo Tofu within two days, keeping it covered at 4°C / 40°F or colder.
  • Bring cooked Mapo Tofu to 74°C / 165°F, stirring or turning it for even heating. When Mapo Tofu is part of the meal, serve cold salads, dips and chilled desserts straight from safe refrigeration.
  • If Mapo Tofu includes a thick sauce or soup, loosen it with a little water during gentle reheating. Any crisp coating on Mapo Tofu becomes softer in storage.

Make ahead

  • Prepare the measured ingredients for Mapo Tofu one day ahead. For Mapo Tofu, refrigerate chopped vegetables apart from the other perishable ingredients. Follow the cooking stages for Mapo Tofu on the day of serving.

FAQ

What matters most when making Mapo Tofu?

Fold soft tofu gently to retain its shape.

What can I substitute in Mapo Tofu?

Replace pork with chopped mushrooms for a different version.

Can I prepare Mapo Tofu ahead?

Prepare the measured ingredients for Mapo Tofu one day ahead. For Mapo Tofu, refrigerate chopped vegetables apart from the other perishable ingredients. Follow the cooking stages for Mapo Tofu on the day of serving.

Food safety references

FoodSafety.gov: cooking temperatures · Food Standards Agency: rice storage and reheating

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