Spicy and Rich Mapo Tofu: An Authentic Home-Style Recipe
How to Make Delicious Mapo Tofu
A recipe for incredibly flavorful and slightly spicy Mapo Tofu that you can easily make at home. It’s a true rice-lover’s delight!
Main Ingredients- 1 block Tofu (approx. 300g, firm or stewing tofu recommended)
- 200g Ground Pork (leaner cuts are preferred)
- 1/2 stalk Green Onion (use mostly the white parts)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 King Oyster Mushroom
- 3 Korean Green Chilies (adjust for spiciness)
- 8 Dried Red Chilies (or chili flakes)
- 1 Bell Pepper (using various colors adds visual appeal)
Sauce Ingredients- 2 Tbsp Doubanjiang (Sichuan chili bean paste)
- 5 Tbsp Chili Oil
- 1.5 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 2 Tbsp Soju or Mirin
- Cornstarch Slurry (mix 3 Tbsp cornstarch with 3 Tbsp water)
- 2 cups Water (400ml)
- 2 Tbsp Doubanjiang (Sichuan chili bean paste)
- 5 Tbsp Chili Oil
- 1.5 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 2 Tbsp Soju or Mirin
- Cornstarch Slurry (mix 3 Tbsp cornstarch with 3 Tbsp water)
- 2 cups Water (400ml)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, cut the tofu into 1.5cm cubes. Blaching the tofu in boiling water with a little salt for about 1 minute helps it hold its shape better and gives it a firmer texture. Drain the tofu and set aside.
Step 2
Finely chop the green onion. Prepare the minced garlic, king oyster mushroom, Korean green chilies, bell pepper, and dried red chilies by mincing or dicing them. Using plenty of green onion will enhance the aroma from the infused oil.
Step 3
Heat a pan with a generous amount of chili oil over medium-low heat. Add the finely chopped green onion and slowly stir-fry until fragrant and lightly golden, allowing the green onion oil to infuse the oil.
Step 4
Once the aroma of the green onion oil is released, add the minced garlic and stir-fry together briefly to add a subtle garlic fragrance. Be careful not to burn the garlic by adjusting the heat.
Step 5
Now, add the ground pork to the pan. Increase the heat to high and stir-fry until the pork is cooked through and no longer pink. Break up any clumps to ensure even cooking.
Step 6
Once the pork is cooked, add all the prepared diced vegetables (king oyster mushroom, green chilies, bell pepper, dried red chilies) and stir-fry over high heat for 1-2 minutes to retain their crispness.
Step 7
When the vegetables are slightly softened, add the doubanjiang (2 Tbsp), oyster sauce (2 Tbsp), soy sauce (1.5 Tbsp), sugar (2 Tbsp), soju or mirin (2 Tbsp), and black pepper (1 tsp). Stir-fry for about 1 minute until the seasonings are well combined. Cooking over high heat helps develop the flavors of the sauce.