Wok & Skillet

  • * START HERE *
  • Recipes
    • Asian (by Cuisine)
      • Chinese
      • Filipino
      • Indonesian
      • Japanese
      • Korean
      • Malaysian
      • Thai
      • Vietnamese
    • Recipes by Ingredient
      • Chicken
      • Beef
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Vegetables and Salads
      • Noodle Recipes
      • Rice Recipes
      • Soups
    • QUICK AND EASY (30 mins and under)
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Baked Goodies
    • Drinks
    • Desserts and Sweets
  • Resources
    • How To's
    • Kitchen Resources
    • Asian Pantry
    • Healthy Wok Cookbook
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • * START HERE *
  • Recipes
    • Asian (by Cuisine)
      • Chinese
      • Filipino
      • Indonesian
      • Japanese
      • Korean
      • Malaysian
      • Thai
      • Vietnamese
    • Recipes by Ingredient
      • Chicken
      • Beef
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Vegetables and Salads
      • Noodle Recipes
      • Rice Recipes
      • Soups
    • QUICK AND EASY (30 mins and under)
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Baked Goodies
    • Drinks
    • Desserts and Sweets
  • Resources
    • How To's
    • Kitchen Resources
    • Asian Pantry
    • Healthy Wok Cookbook
  • About
  • Contact
search icon
Homepage link
  • * START HERE *
  • Recipes
    • Asian (by Cuisine)
      • Chinese
      • Filipino
      • Indonesian
      • Japanese
      • Korean
      • Malaysian
      • Thai
      • Vietnamese
    • Recipes by Ingredient
      • Chicken
      • Beef
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Vegetables and Salads
      • Noodle Recipes
      • Rice Recipes
      • Soups
    • QUICK AND EASY (30 mins and under)
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Baked Goodies
    • Drinks
    • Desserts and Sweets
  • Resources
    • How To's
    • Kitchen Resources
    • Asian Pantry
    • Healthy Wok Cookbook
  • About
  • Contact
×
Home » Asian Recipes (by cuisine) » Chinese Recipes

Mapo Tofu

Published: Mar 20, 2019 · Modified: Aug 8, 2024 by Char · This post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. View my disclosure policy for details · 4 Comments

581 shares
  • Share
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
mapo tofu long pin

Mapo Tofu is a well-loved Szechuan classic dish with various renditions all around the world. Tender pieces of tofu absorb the delicious flavors of the spicy and aromatic sauce with ground pork. Enjoy with steamed rice. 

mapo tofu with ground szechuan peppercorns

Whenever I think of Szechuan cuisine, Mapo Tofu is always the first dish that comes to mind. The tender pieces of tofu take on the amazing flavors of the spicy aromatic sauce comprising of marinated ground pork and a spicy bean paste.

This is Chinese comfort food! The best part is that you can make it at home in just minutes! Be sure to prepare lots of steamed rice to sop up that yummy sauce. 

Mapo Tofu can also easily be made into a vegetarian dish by substituting ground pork with minced shiitake mushrooms. If you're looking for a unique spin on this dish, check out my Mapo Eggplant recipe! 

Mapo Tofu is one of those dishes that tastes even better the next day. Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

How to Make Mapo Tofu

First, marinate ½ a pound of ground pork in 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 teaspoon soy sauce and 2 dashes of ground white pepper.

Let this pork mixture sit at room temperature as you prepare the rest of the ingredients (which should only take a few minutes). 

marinade for mapo tofu

Mix 2 teaspoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Stir well to break up all of the cornstarch clumps. 

mixing cornstarch with water

Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a wok over medium-high heat. 

When the wok starts to smoke a little (that's how you know it's hot enough), add the ground pork. When the pork is about half-way cooked, add 2 cloves of garlic (minced) and about ½ inch of ginger (finely julienned) to the wok. 

Stir-fry until the ground pork is cooked all the way through.

ground pork in a wok with garlic and ginger

Add 3 tablespoons of chili black bean paste or doubanjiang to the pork mixture.

Would you like to save this?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

If you're using doubanjiang, be sure to chop the broad beans first before adding them to the wok. They will be too large otherwise. If you're using chili black bean paste and it's not spicy enough for your taste, add 1 tablespoon of Szechuan chili oil and some ground Szechuan peppercorns.

ground pork with chili black bean paste for mapo tofu

Stir in ½ a cup of water. 

pouring water to mapo tofu sauce

Then 2 tablespoons of sugar.

pouring sugar in to mapo tofu sauce

Push the ground pork towards the side of the wok, then add 1 large block of firm tofu (cut into large cubes) into the sauce in the wok. Reduce the heat to low.

Let it simmer for about 2 minutes to allow the tofu to marinate in the yummy sauce. Stir occasionally so that all of the tofu is covered in the sauce, but gently so that you don't break up the delicate tofu pieces.

tofu cubes in wok for mapo tofu

Turn up the heat to bring the sauce to a boil. Give your cornstarch mixture a stir, then pour in into the sauce.

pouring cornstarch in to mapo tofu sauce

In just a few seconds, you will see the sauce start to thicken. 

Transfer the Mapo Tofu to a serving dish.

mapo tofu in a wok

Top with fresh chopped scallions and if you wish, freshly ground Szechuan peppercorns.

Serve immediately with steamed rice.

Enjoy!

mapo tofu closeup
mapo tofu

Mapo Tofu

Char Ferrara
Mapo Tofu is a well-loved Szechuan classic dish with various renditions all around the world. Tender pieces of tofu absorb the delicious flavors of the spicy and aromatic sauce with ground pork. Enjoy with steamed rice. 
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin for later
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
 
 

  • ½ lb ground pork
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 2 dashes ground white pepper
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • ½ cup + 2 tablespoons water divided
  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ inch ginger finely julienned
  • 3 tablespoons chili black bean paste or doubanjiang
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 block tofu firm, cut into large cubes
  • ground Szechuan peppercorns
  • ½ cup chopped scallions garnish
US Customary - Metric

Instructions
 

  • Marinate ground pork with sesame oil, soy sauce and white pepper. Let it sit at room temperature for just a few minutes as you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
  • Mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water. Stir well to break up the clumps.
  • Heat cooking oil in a wok over medium-high heat. 
  • When the wok starts to smoke a little, add the ground pork. When the pork is about half-way cooked, add garlic and ginger.
  • Stir-fry until the pork is cooked all the way through.
  • Add chili black bean paste and sugar.
  • Stir in ½ cup of water.
  • Push the ground pork towards the side of the wok, and add the tofu to the wok. Reduce the heat to low.
  • Let it simmer for about 2 mins. Stir occasionally and gently.
  • Turn up the heat to high to bring the sauce to a boil. Add the cornstarch mixture.
  • Transfer to a serving dish. Garnish with chopped scallions and ground Szechuan peppercorns.
  • Serve immediately with steamed rice. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 383kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 27gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 233mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8g
Tried this recipe?Tag @wokandskillet on Instagram or Facebook!

More Chinese Recipes

  • rice cooker claypot chicken rice
    Rice Cooker Claypot Chicken Rice
  • char siu fried rice
    Chinese BBQ Pork (Char Siu) Fried Rice
  • air fryer char siu with rice and vegetables
    Air Fryer Char Siu
  • muah chee (chinese peanut mochi)
    Muah Chee (Chinese Peanut Mochi)

Comments

  1. Shelley says

    March 21, 2019 at 8:39 am

    I don't have black bean chili sauce i'll have to pick some up to try this out, it looks delish!

    Reply
    • Char says

      March 21, 2019 at 7:01 pm

      Thanks, Shelley!! 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Mapo Eggplant recipe | Wok & Skillet says:
    March 22, 2019 at 8:41 pm

    […] Eggplant is a spin on the Szechuan classic Mapo Tofu. Silky roasted eggplant is topped with a slightly spicy and garlicky bean sauce with ground pork, […]

    Reply
  2. Sesame Oil Recipes - Wok & Skillet says:
    February 15, 2020 at 5:13 pm

    […] MAPO TOFU […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




charmaine ferrara

HI! I’M CHAR

I take the mystery out of Asian cooking so that you can make your favorite takeout dishes at home!

More about me

Popular Posts

  • Chicken Rice
    Rice Cooker Hainanese Chicken Rice

  • These traditional Chinese Peanut Cookies are sweet morsels of peanutty goodness that crumble and melt in your mouth. This popular Chinese New Year treat is so easy to make and irresistibly delicious.
    Chinese New Year Peanut Cookies

  • Pineapple Jam Tarts
    Pineapple Jam Tarts

  • thai larb salad
    Thai Larb

  • pad woon sen
    Pad Woon Sen (Thai Stir Fried Glass Noodles)

  • chicken chashu
    Chicken Chashu for Ramen

Recent Posts

  • meal planning with plan to eat
    Weekly Meal Planning with Plan to Eat: A Real-Life Look

  • slow cooker beef massaman
    Slow Cooker Beef Massaman Curry

  • Massaman Curry Paste

  • Indonesian Chicken Soup (Soto Ayam)

Looking for More Recipes?

Click Here to go to My Recipe Index

Simple Meal Planning - Plan to Eat

Let’s Keep in Touch

Sign up for my newsletter to get the best recipes, kitchen tips, and fresh inspiration—delivered straight to your email inbox!




Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.


Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Char
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy

Resources

  • *Start Here*
  • Resources
  • Recipes

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. View my disclosure policy for details.

Copyright © 2025 Wok & Skillet

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required