Mapo Tofu — Ad-Free Recipe, Ingredients First

This dish rides on fermented chili bean paste and chili crisp, so a funky, deeply red one is what separates real mapo from bland chili gravy. Slide the soft tofu in gently and nudge it with the back of a spoon, never a spatula, so the cubes hold together through the simmer.

The Ingredients — and where to get them

Cook for 4 servings

Soft tofu

Silken or soft tofu for the custardy contrast against the spicy sauce; drain and cube gently.

14 oz

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Chili crisp

Stands in for chili oil and doubanjiang heat; the fermented, spicy backbone of the sauce.

2-3 tbsp

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Ground pork

A small amount of fatty pork fried crisp adds savor; the dish is mostly tofu.

1/4 lb

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Soy sauce

Seasons the sauce alongside the chili paste and broth.

1 tbsp

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Sichuan peppercorn

Ground and toasted for the numbing tingle that defines mapo; buy it fresh or it does nothing.

1 tsp

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Garlic, ginger, scallion

Aromatics for the base and raw scallion over the top.

to taste

Garlic → Ginger →

Using ground pork? It behaves the way it does for a reason — what this cut is for and how to cook it →

The Rundown

Greedometer ●●●●● Squeaky clean

About as virtuous as dinner gets.

EffortEasy

Cook it with

Instant PotSlow cookerOne-pot

The Method

Warm tofuSlip the cubed tofu into gently salted hot water while you cook; it firms slightly and stays intact when it joins the sauce.
Fry porkBrown the ground pork hard in oil until crispy, then add garlic, ginger, and chili crisp and fry until the oil runs red and fragrant.
Build sauceAdd a little broth and soy, bring to a simmer, then slide in the drained tofu and nudge it gently to coat without breaking the cubes.
FinishThicken with a cornstarch slurry in two additions until it clings. Off the heat, dust with toasted ground Sichuan pepper and top with scallion.

The Toolkit

Wide skillet · Spice grinder

Straight Answers

Can you make Mapo Tofu in an air fryer? — Yes, with an insert

Not on its own — an air fryer can’t hold a pool of liquid. You can simmer it in an oven-safe dish or a silicone insert made to fit the basket, but the broth won’t reduce or brown the way it does on the stove, and that insert comes out scorching, so use oven mitts. For real depth, a pot on the stove wins.

Can you freeze Mapo Tofu? — Yes

Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.

Can you make Mapo Tofu ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — it holds well and often tastes better the next day. Make it ahead and reheat gently before serving.

Is Mapo Tofu gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in tamari instead of soy sauce (check the other labels too).

Is Mapo Tofu vegan? — No

No — it contains meat, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.

Community Notes

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© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.64

Mapo Tofu, and where to source it