Mapo Tofu
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Mapo Tofu is a bold and flavorful dish that pairs tofu and ground pork with a rich, spicy sauce made with oyster sauce, vegetable stock, and garlic.
We make a lot of tofu dishes in our house. It’s one of our go to proteins when we want a vegetarian meal. While I tend to make Asian dishes with tofu there are plenty of other tofu recipes out there.
The tofu dish I make most frequently is Korean BBQ Tofu Bowls. We also eat a lot of Egg Roll in a Bowl with tofu. One of the best General Tso’s recipes I’ve ever made is this General Tso’s Tofu and Cauliflower.
What is tofu?
Tofu, also known as bean curd, is a plant-based protein made by coagulating soy milk and pressing the curds into solid white blocks. It has a mild flavor and a soft, slightly spongy texture, which allows it to absorb the flavors of the ingredients it’s cooked with.
The interesting thing about this recipe is that it is made with both tofu and either ground pork or ground beef. The tofu really takes on the flavor of the meat as well as the oyster sauce.
A mixture of peas and carrots is added to the dish as well. I bought a bag of frozen peas and carrots as was suggested but you could add fresh if you wanted too.
WHat firmness of tofu should I use?
In this recipe you want to go with either firm or extra firm tofu. It will be right on the package when you are buying it. These types of tofu hold their shape well. I almost always use extra firm tofu in my stir fry recipes.
Once the dish is finished it’s served over top of rice. You could also serve it in lettuce wraps or on top of quinoa if you would like.
Ingredients:
- olive oil
- onions
- ground pork (you could also use ground beef or chicken)
- garlic
- vegetable broth (you can also use beef broth if you prefer)
- oyster sauce
- soy sauce
- extra firm tofu (or firm tofu)
- frozen peas and carrots mix
- cornstarch
- green onions
- salt and pepper
To make the dish first press the water out of the tofu. This is important so that your dish isn’t watery and so that the tofu will keep its shape.
How do you press water out of tofu?
Drain the water from the tofu. Wrap the tofu in a kitchen towel or paper towels and place between two plates. Set a heavy pot or skillet on top that presses the tofu down and pushes out the water. We like to use a tofu press because we eat tofu often.
Heat the oil in a saute pan and add the onion. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Add in the ground pork and cook until it is no longer pink. Add in the garlic and stir fry. Stir in the vegetable broth, oyster sauce, and soy sauce and bring the mixture to a simmer.
Add in the tofu, peas, and carrots. Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes. In a small bowl whisk together the water and cornstarch. Add to the pan, stir, and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the green onions and serve over rice.
This dish packs a lot of flavor for how simple the ingredients are. I like the combination of the tofu with the ground pork. It’s different from most dishes I’ve had but it really works.
How do I store the leftovers?
Store the leftovers in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I prefer to store the Mapo Tofu separate from the rice then I combine them when I reheat them.
Mapo Tofu
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 onion diced
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
- 1 Tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
- 14 oz. extra firm tofu drainer
- 2 cups frozen peas and carrots
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 green onion chopped
- 4 cups rice cooked
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Add in the onion and saute for 2-3 minutes.
- Add in the ground pork and stir until it is no longer pink.
- Add in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in the vegetable broth, oyster sauce, and soy sauce and bring to a simmer.
- Add in the tofu, peas, and carrots. Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- In a small bowl combine the cornstarch and water. Pour into the skillet and mix well. Continue cooking for 2 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in the green onions.
- Serve over top of rice.
Notes
