Easy Mapo Tofu

A pan filled with tofu cubes, sliced mushrooms, chopped green onions, and red sauce, garnished with herbs, sits on a woven placemat with ginger in the background.

Mapo tofu is one of my favorite tofu dishes tossed with spicy, savory sauce and shiitake mushrooms and served over rice. This classic Chinese recipe is a main dish that will become a family favorite dinner in no time!

Course Dinner

Cuisine Asian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Servings servings

Calories 271kcal

Author Sherri Hagymas

Ingredients

For the sauce

2 shiitake mushrooms sliced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon ginger grated
1 teaspoon peppercorns Sichuan are best
1 tablespoon sesame oil

For the Tofu

1 tablespoon olive oil
28 ounces firm tofu cut ½ inch cubes
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 cup vegetable broth
2 tablespoons chili paste or more if you prefer
2 tablespoons bean paste
2 tablespoons green onions sliced

Instructions

In a large skillet, add the sesame oil, sliced mushrooms, soy sauce, ginger, peppercorns and sauté over medium for 1 minute. Place the cooked mixture in a bowl and set aside.
2 shiitake mushrooms, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon peppercorns, 1 tablespoon sesame oil
In the same skillet, add another tablespoon of oil and the cubed tofu and sauté on each for 6-8 minutes until lightly crispy. You can cook longer if you prefer an even more crispy exterior.
1 tablespoon olive oil, 28 ounces firm tofu
While the tofu is cooking, add the cornstarch to a medium bowl and slowly pour the vegetable broth in while whisking.
1 teaspoon cornstarch, 1 cup vegetable broth
Add the chili paste, bean paste and green onions and stir to combine.
2 tablespoons chili paste, 2 tablespoons bean paste
Pour the broth mixture over the tofu and stir for 30 seconds to a minute until the sauce has thickened for about less than 1 minute.
2 tablespoons green onions
Remove from heat and stir in the cooked mushroom mixture.
Serve over white rice, rice noodles or lo-mein noodles.

Notes

Add ½ pound of ground pork, ground chicken or ground turkey.

Adjust the heat by reducing or increasing the amount of bean paste.

Use fresh grated ginger or ginger paste found in tubes in most grocery produced departments.

How to store leftovers
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freeze: allow to cool and freeze in a freezer safe container or bag for a month.
Reheat: Place on a microwave safe bowl and heat for one minute in the microwave or until heated through.

Nutrition