The Japanese version of this famous Sichuan spicy dish (Mapo Tofu/Mapo Doufu) is made with readily available ingredients and it is a lot less oily but is still an incredible flavour explosion in a bowl – I want the sauce on tap! This dish is on the table in 15 minutes, only 340 calories per serving and you can adjust the spiciness to your own taste. Serve it with rice – and because it is so saucy, I often add vegetables to it to make it a complete meal, such as chopped Chinese greens (Chinese broccoli, bok choy, pak choy) or even grated carrots!
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Mapo Tofu
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp oil (peanut, vegetable or canola)
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1 tsp ginger , finely chopped or minced
- 1/4 cup scallions/shallots , minced
- 5 oz / 150 g ground/minced pork (or beef or chicken)
- 2 tsp chili bean sauce , adjust to taste (see notes)
- 12 oz / 300 g Firm Tofu (see notes)
Sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp chicken or vegetable stock powder
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp Hoisin Sauce
- 2 tbsp Sake or Chinese Wine
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine cornflour with a splash of water, mix to combine, then add remaining Sauce ingredients and mix well.
- Cut the tofu into 1/2 "/ 1 cm cubes.
- Heat oil in wok over high heat.
- Add garlic and ginger and stir fry for 10 seconds.
- Add scallions/shallots and stir fry for 30 seconds.
- Add mince and stir fry until the outside is brown, breaking up clumps.
- Add Chili Bean Sauce and stir fry for 30 seconds.
- Add tofu and sauce, and gently stir to cook the sauce until it becomes thick and saucy (about 1 to 2 minutes).
- Serve with rice.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
daisukigo says
Hi Nagi!
Just want to thank you for this Recipe, ’cause it’s fanta-bulous! ?
I have been feeling under the weather for the past one week or so and this is exactly what I need, so comforting and YUM! ?
I doubled the recipe ’cause I made it for Breakfast AND Lunch (for the following day ?)
I added a bit more Chilli Bean Sauce, a few dashes of Thai Fish Sauce and some cut Bird’s Eye Chillis (I love my food SUPER SPICY ?) and I stick to 1 tsp of Sesame Oil for the Sauce though I doubled everything else because I find too much of sesame oil can be so overwhelming…
It turned out to be so delish and yummy-licious! ?
Thank you for this awesome Recipe!
I just made your “One-Pan Spanish Chicken with Chorizo, Tomatoes & Potatoes” yesterday and I can’t wait to make all your other Recipes!
Nagi says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Daisukigo, thank you for letting me know! And I’m glad you enjoyed the Spanish Chicken too!! N x
Cameron says
Since you live in Australia, do you use metric tablespoons (20mL) or the U.S ones (15mL)?
Nagi says
Hi Cameron! I use Australian but for all my recipes, you can use tbsp / cup etc measures wherever you are because the difference is not enough to affect the recipe UNLESS the recipe specifies. So for example, in some baking recipes where it matters whether US or AUS tbsp measures are used, I provide different measures for people in different countries! 🙂
bill everday says
i learned a version of Ma Po Tofu from a friend in Shenyang China that included peanuts and many red chiles. very fiery. i’m excited to try this version!
Nagi says
Oooh! The Sichuan version is so much more spicy!!! I hope you enjoy this Japanese version 🙂
Gary says
Hi Nagi, I spent a year working in Japan where I became addicted to mapo tofu! Can’t wait to try this recipe. Being that you were born and raised in Nihon, I’m hoping that you have a recipe for takoyaki just waiting to flow from your nimble fingers into your blog. Keep up the good work. Aloha from Hawaii. P.S. How do you folks down under keep the ingredients from falling up out of the pot?
Nagi says
Oooh! I hope you do try this Gary!!! As for Takoyaki – my mother is starting a Japanese food blog off shoot to RecipeTin Eats and it WILL be on there because I will demand it!!! 😉 N x
Josie says
hi! I don’t know how to add the recipes in recipe tin, can you help?
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Hi Josie! All you do is open the app on your iPhone/iPad, tap on the browser, open this recipe in the browser. Then tap the “Print” button on the recipe (so that way all the ads etc are removed and you just have the recipe) then tap Save and it’ll go straight into the RecipeTin app! 🙂
Sarah @SavoringSpoon says
Hi Nagi! I made this for lunch yesterday and it was very yummy! I liked this not-so-spicy version. The Spork also really enjoyed it!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
I giggle every time I see you refer to the Spork! I’m so glad you liked this version of Mapo Tofu!! Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and let me know! N x
Farah @ The Cooking Jar says
I keep hearing of Mapo tofu but never tried it before. I love the addition of ground beef in there for added texture. Need to try this one day!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Hope you do! This is really delicious. I love strong flavoured dishes and this is right up there!