Spicy and Savory Mapo Tofu
Spice Up Your Dinner with Delicious Mapo Tofu!
Craving a quick, flavorful, and satisfying dinner? This Mapo Tofu recipe is your answer! Perfect for a weeknight meal, it delivers a delightful balance of spicy, savory, and slightly sweet flavors that are sure to please the whole family. Tender tofu cubes simmered in a rich, aromatic sauce with savory ground pork create a truly irresistible dish. Let’s get cooking!
Main Ingredients
- 300g Firm Tofu (for pan-frying)
- 150g Ground Pork
- 1/2 stalk Scallion (white part mainly)
- 1/2 Onion
- 3 Tbsp Cooking Oil
- 2 Tbsp Cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds (for garnish)
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, adjust to spice preference)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Doubanjiang (Spicy Broad Bean Paste)
- 1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (to remove pork odor)
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 tsp Salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 200ml Water
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, adjust to spice preference)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Doubanjiang (Spicy Broad Bean Paste)
- 1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (to remove pork odor)
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 tsp Salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 200ml Water
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
In a medium bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients: 1 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp gochugaru, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp doubanjiang, 1 Tbsp oyster sauce, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp mirin, 1 Tbsp sesame oil, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, and 200ml water. Whisk everything together until the sugar is dissolved, creating a flavorful sauce base. Having the sauce ready makes the cooking process much smoother.
Step 2
Cut the firm tofu into approximately 2cm cubes. Avoid cutting them too small, as they might break apart during cooking. If you have time, letting the cubed tofu drain slightly on a sieve can help it absorb the sauce better and maintain its shape.
Step 3
Finely chop the white part of the scallion. Dice the onion into roughly the same size as the tofu cubes, or chop them if you prefer. Having your aromatics prepped will speed up the stir-frying process.
Step 4
Heat 3 Tbsp of cooking oil in a wok or a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped scallions and onions and stir-fry until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Then, add the ground pork. Break it up with your spatula and cook until it’s no longer pink and is nicely browned. Browning the pork adds an extra layer of flavor.
Step 5
Once the pork is cooked through, pour in the prepared sauce mixture. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for about 1 minute, allowing the flavors to meld together.
Step 6
Gently add the cubed tofu to the skillet. Using a spatula, carefully stir the tofu to coat it evenly with the sauce, being careful not to break the cubes. Let it simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the tofu to absorb the delicious sauce.
Step 7
In a small bowl, whisk together 2 Tbsp of cornstarch with 2-3 Tbsp of water to create a slurry. Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the simmering Mapo Tofu while stirring continuously until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency. Cook for another 2 minutes to ensure the sauce is glossy and coats the tofu beautifully. Keep stirring to prevent sticking.
Step 8
Finally, sprinkle 1 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds over the top for a nutty aroma and a beautiful finish. Your flavorful Mapo Tofu is ready to be served! Spoon generously over a bowl of hot steamed rice for a truly satisfying meal.
