Mapo Tofu is a sour sweet spicy Szechuan bean curd dish from China that dates back to the Qing Dynasty. The name actually comes from a famous lady Mrs. Chen, who was known to make the most delectable bean curd dish at her reputable Chen Xingcheng Restaurant. Ma is actually derived from the pock-face marks on her face, and Po means elderly woman in Mandarin, hence Mapo for the tofu she used to cook.
This dish sounds a lot easier than it looks. Just like most Asian cuisines, it needs that perfect balance of sweet, sour, bitter and spice. It will surely test your capabilities but I hope this recipe breaks it down for you to make achieving that balance easier. Don’t forget to tag me or send me your recreations if you make this. I would love to share!
Serves 2 | 30 minutes l
Ingredients:
- 1 packet of silken organic tofu
- 1 tbsp of pure black sesame oil
- 1/2 tbsp of fresh black beans
- 1 tsp of Sriracha powder
- 1 tbsp light organic soy sauce
- 2 tbsp of Amoy Mapo Tofu Sauce
- 5 cloves of garlic (minced)
- Half a medium sized onion (diced)
- 3 stems of spring onion (chopped)
- Half a red capsicum (diced)
- Half a green capsicum (diced)
- 1/2 cup water
Method:
- In a medium sized pan over medium to high heat, pour the oil and let it heat up for a few mins
- Add the garlic and onion and stir for a few mins until light golden
- Add the Sriracha powder, half of the spring onions, and the washed black beans to the pan and mix for a few more mins until fragrant
- Add the mapo tofu sauce, soy sauce, and stir in
- Add the water, and mix again. If the mixture is too salty, add a little more water to dilute it.
- Add the capsicum (green and red) and let the mixture come to a light simmer (5-7 mins)
- Prepare the tofu by dicing it into cubes, and placing it into a pot of salted boiling water for 5-7mins
- Gently drain the tofu using a meshed sieve and add it to the simmering mixture
- Gently stir it all together.
- In a small bowl, add 1 tsp of cornstarch and 1.5 tbsp of room temp water. Mix well and add to the tofu mixture.
- The mapo tofu sauce should be a little thicker in consistency and ready to serve!
- Garnish with spring onion.
All recipes and images are copyright and the intellectual property of ‘The Veggie Wifey’, and cannot be altered or redistributed for commercial or other purposes.