Best 7 Mabu Dofu Spicy Tofu Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Mabu dofu, also known as spicy tofu or numbing tofu, is a classic Sichuan dish that tantalizes the taste buds with its combination of spicy, numbing, and aromatic flavors. Originating from China's Sichuan province, this dish features tender tofu cubes bathed in a fiery sauce made with chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and aromatic spices. The result is a symphony of flavors that creates a unique culinary experience. In this article, we will explore the art of creating the perfect mabu dofu, providing you with a step-by-step guide to prepare this tantalizing dish in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

MAPO TOFU (MABO DOFU)



Mapo Tofu (Mabo Dofu) image

Japanese-style Mapo Tofu (Mabo Dofu) is incredibly flavorful but less spicy than the Sichuan version. It's a delicious meal ready in 30 minutes that even children can enjoy!

Provided by Namiko Chen

Categories     Main Course

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 cloves garlic
1 knob ginger ((1 inch, 2.5 cm))
2 green onions/scallions
14 oz soft/silken tofu (kinugoshi dofu)
1 Tbsp neutral-flavored oil (vegetable, rice bran, canola, etc.)
½ lb ground pork ((you can also use other meat and veggies of your choice))
2½ Tbsp doubanjiang (spicy chili bean sauce/broad bean paste)
2 Tbsp mirin
1 Tbsp miso
1 Tbsp oyster sauce
½ Tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp roasted sesame oil
1 tsp potato starch or cornstarch
4 Tbsp water

Steps:

  • Gather all the ingredients.
  • Combine all the ingredients for the seasonings (the doubanjiang, mirin, miso, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, and water) in a bowl and mix well together.
  • Mince the garlic cloves and ginger finely.
  • Cut the green onions into small pieces. Drain the tofu and cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes.
  • In a large frying pan, heat the vegetable oil on medium heat and sauté the garlic and ginger. Make sure you don't burn them. Once they are fragrant, add the ground pork and break it up with a spatula or wooden spoon.
  • When the meat is no longer pink, add the seasonings mixture and stir thoroughly. Bring the sauce to a boil
  • Once the sauce is boiling, add the tofu and gently coat it with the sauce. Stir frequently, without mashing the tofu, until it is heated through. Add the green onions and stir to incorporate just before taking the pan off the heat. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 263 kcal, Carbohydrate 9 g, Protein 17 g, Fat 17 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Cholesterol 41 mg, Sodium 845 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 4 g, UnsaturatedFat 9 g, ServingSize 1 serving

JAPANESE MAPO TOFU (MABO DOFU)



Japanese Mapo Tofu (mabo dofu) image

Delicious and warming Japanese style Mapo Tofu (マーボー豆腐/mabo dofu). Ground pork and firm tofu cooked in a rich and mildly spicy Szechuan inspired sauce, best served with rice or noodles. (Serves 2)

Provided by Yuto Omura

Categories     Meat

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 18

100g (4 oz) pork mince
½ white onion
1½ tbsp sake
1 tsp soy sauce
½ tbsp awase miso paste (yellow)
1 pinch salt
1 tbsp vegetable oil or sesame oil
½ tbsp Chinese chilli bean paste (aka tobandjan - see post for info)
1 tsp garlic paste
200ml (¾ cups) chicken stock
300g (10 oz) firm tofu
½ tbsp oyster sauce
30g (1) Spring onion finely chopped
1 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp of cold water mixed with 2 tsp cornstarch (to make a slurry)
2 tsp chili oil
1 pinch of dry chili flakes (to garnish)
2 Portions of cooked rice (optional)

Steps:

  • Enjoy!

MABU DOFU (SPICY TOFU)



Mabu Dofu (Spicy Tofu) image

Spicy tofu is very popular in Japan. For a vegetarian version, try Morningstar Farms® Meal Starters™ Grillers® Recipe Crumbles™ instead of pork and swap the chicken bouillon for vegetable. Great both ways! Posted for ZWT II '06

Provided by Cynna

Categories     Pork

Time 35m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 lb firm tofu
1/2 lb ground pork or 1/2 lb veggie crumbles
1/2 onion
1 inch gingerroot
1 garlic clove
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons miso
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons sake
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules or 1 teaspoon vegetable bouillon granules, granule
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Steps:

  • Press tofu and cut into small cubes.
  • Mince onion, garlic, and ginger root.
  • Mix water, miso, sugar, sake, salt, and bouillon in a bowl.
  • Heat oil in a wok and saute onion, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flake.
  • Add ground pork in the wok and saute.
  • Add miso mixture in the wok and bring to a boil.
  • Add tofu and simmer on medium heat for 10 minutes.
  • Mix cornstarch with 1 tbsp of water and pour into the wok.
  • Stir carefully and pour sesame oil.
  • Serve with rice or noodles and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 322.7, Fat 22.1, SaturatedFat 6.2, Cholesterol 40.9, Sodium 892.9, Carbohydrate 10, Fiber 2.1, Sugar 2.9, Protein 20.7

SPICY SICHUAN TOFU (MAPO DOUFU)



Spicy Sichuan Tofu (Mapo Doufu) image

Provided by Eileen Wen Mooney

Categories     Wok     Pork     Stir-Fry     Quick & Easy     Dinner     Meat     Tofu     Soy Sauce     Gourmet     Dairy Free     Tree Nut Free

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

1/2 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns,
1 (14- to 17-ounce) package tofu (not silken), rinsed
3 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil
5 ounce ground pork butt (not lean; 2/3 cup)
2 1/2 tablespoons toban jiang (hot bean sauce)
1 tablespoon fermented black beans, rinsed, drained, and chopped
2 teaspoon Asian chile powder
1 cup chicken stock or reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoons cornstarch
4 teaspoons water
4 scallions, chopped (1/2 cup)
Equipment:
Equipment: an electric coffee/spice grinder; a well-seasoned 14-inch flat-bottomed wok.

Steps:

  • Grind peppercorns in grinder and set aside.
  • Cut tofu into 3/4-inch cubes and pat dry.
  • Heat wok over high heat until it begins to smoke, then pour oil down side and swirl to coat bottom and side. Stir-fry pork until no longer pink. Add bean sauce, black beans, and chile powder and stir-fry 1 minute. Stir in stock, soy sauce, sugar, tofu, and a pinch of salt. Simmer, gently stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, stir together cornstarch and water until smooth.
  • Stir cornstarch mixture into stir-fry and simmer, gently stirring occasionally, 1 minute. Stir in scallions and simmer 1 minute. Serve sprinkled with Sichuan pepper.
  • **Serve with:**perfect steamed rice

CHINESE MABO TOFU



Chinese Mabo Tofu image

A simple, delicious Chinese mabo tofu recipe that has been passed on for years. Easy to prepare!

Provided by poshpal

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian     Chinese

Time 40m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon cold water
½ pound ground pork
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root
1 (16 ounce) package firm tofu, cut into 1 inch pieces
5 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons hot bean sauce
1 teaspoon white sugar
3 green onions, chopped
1 teaspoon sesame oil

Steps:

  • Mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl; set aside.
  • Brown ground pork in a small skillet over medium-high heat, about 5 minutes. Drain fat.
  • Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet or wok. Cook the garlic and ginger root in the oil until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in tofu and cook for 2 minutes. Season with the soy sauce, hot bean sauce, and sugar; stir to combine.
  • Stir in the cooked pork and green onion. Sprinkle with the cornstarch and water mixture; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir the sesame oil into the thickened mabo tofu.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 267.5 calories, Carbohydrate 8.3 g, Cholesterol 36.7 mg, Fat 17.4 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 22.3 g, SaturatedFat 4.7 g, Sodium 1636.8 mg, Sugar 3.9 g

MAPO TOFU



Mapo tofu image

Even if you're not keen on tofu, give this mapo tofu a go. It's hot and really strongly flavoured thanks to chilli bean paste, fermented black beans and more

Provided by Diana Henry

Categories     Dinner, Lunch, Main course, Supper

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 13

450g tofu
3 tbsp groundnut oil
100g pork mince
2 tbsp Sichuan chilli bean paste
1½ tbsp fermented black beans , rinsed (optional, available from souschef.co.uk)
2cm piece ginger peeled and finely chopped
3 garlic cloves , chopped
200ml light chicken stock or water
1 tsp cornflour , mixed with 1 tbsp water
6 spring onions , sliced on the diagonal
1 tbsp Sichuan chilli oil (optional)
½ tsp Sichuan peppercorns , crushed
cooked white rice , to serve

Steps:

  • Get all the ingredients ready before you start cooking and set them out in bowls. Drain the tofu and cut it into 1.5cm cubes. Put it in a bowl and cover with very hot water. Leave this while you get on with everything else.
  • Heat a wok and pour in the groundnut oil. Get this really hot and fry the pork until it's crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon but leave the oil behind.
  • Add the bean paste and cook, stirring for a few mins until fragrant, then add the black beans, ginger and garlic. Cook, stirring, for a min or so, then add the stock and let it bubble away.
  • Stir the cornflour and water into the mixture in the wok, drain the tofu and stir it into the sauce. Tip in the spring onions and the mince.
  • Add the chilli oil, if using, and sprinkle over the Sichuan peppercorns. The sauce shouldn't need seasoning with salt, as many of the ingredients are salty already. Serve with boiled white rice.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 310 calories, Fat 21 grams fat, SaturatedFat 4 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 6 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 2 grams sugar, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 22 grams protein, Sodium 1 milligram of sodium

EXTRA TASTY MAPO DOUFU



Extra Tasty Mapo Doufu image

A spicy tofu and meat dish originating from the Szechuan province of China. After having a wonderful version of it in Beijing I came up with this version of it to fill my craving. Serve over short grain rice.

Provided by fujimama

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian     Chinese

Time 33m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 tablespoon Szechuan peppercorns, or to taste
3 tablespoons peanut oil
½ pound ground pork
3 tablespoons chili bean sauce
4 teaspoons Chinese black bean and garlic sauce
1 tablespoon sliced dried Szechuan red chiles, or to taste
1 cup chicken stock
1 (14 ounce) container firm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 pinches white sugar, or to taste
2 teaspoons cornstarch
¼ cup chopped green onions

Steps:

  • Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
  • Spread Szechuan peppercorns over a baking sheet.
  • Bake peppercorns under the preheated broiler until toasted, about 1 minute. Let cool; transfer to a mortar and pestle and crush into medium grinds.
  • Heat a wok or saucepan over high heat. Add oil; cook ground pork until mostly browned and crumbly, about 1 minute. Move pork to 1 side of the pan with a spatula. Reduce heat to medium. Add chili bean paste; cook and stir until oil turns red, about 30 seconds. Stir pork into oil.
  • Mix black bean sauce and dried chiles into the pork mixture; cook until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Stir in chicken stock. Add tofu gently; shake pan back and forth until tofu is coated in sauce but not broken, about 2 minutes. Add soy sauce and sugar. Reduce heat to low; let simmer, about 5 minutes.
  • Mix cornstarch in a small bowl with 2 tablespoons cold water. Increase heat to medium. Add to the tofu mixture, 1 teaspoon at a time, until sauce is almost as thick as ketchup and clings to the tofu, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in the green onions. Sprinkle toasted peppercorns on top.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 250.8 calories, Carbohydrate 8.3 g, Cholesterol 36.8 mg, Fat 19.1 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 13.9 g, SaturatedFat 4.8 g, Sodium 1107.3 mg, Sugar 3.1 g

Tips:

  • Use firm or extra firm tofu. This will help the tofu hold its shape when it's being cooked.
  • Press the tofu before cooking. This will help remove excess water and make the tofu more flavorful.
  • Marinate the tofu before cooking. This will help the tofu absorb flavor.
  • Cook the tofu over medium heat. This will help prevent the tofu from burning.
  • Don't overcrowd the pan when cooking the tofu. This will help the tofu cook evenly.
  • Serve the tofu immediately. This will help ensure that the tofu is hot and crispy.

Conclusion:

Mabu dofu is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to use up leftover tofu, and it can be served as an appetizer, main course, or side dish. With its spicy and flavorful sauce, mabu dofu is sure to be a hit at your next party or gathering.

Related Topics