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This Mapo Tofu Recipe hot, spicy, numbing, and just filled with the most incredible flavor. Plus it's on the table in under 30 minutes!

bowl of tofu and ground pork in a brown sauce

On a cold day like today, what can be better than a steaming hot and spicy bowl of braised pork and tofu? Not a whole lot, let me tell you.

This Mapo Tofu recipe is just incredible. The flavors are intense and spicy (similar to this tan tan ramen actually), with a touch of numbing quality from the Sichuan peppercorns...it's like pure gold.

And even more perfect served with these pickled mustard greens to cut the fat and spiciness of the dish.

And if you're one of those tofu haters, you won't be after you try this. Same goes for this super yummy sambal tofu recipe or this incredible honey garlic tofu. Don't judge before you try them!

If you don't like super spicy dishes, I've included some tips below to reduce the spice level of the dish. However, note that this dish is meant to be spicy and you won't be able to remove all the spice (why would you want to really??).

Jump to:

The Ingredients
Step By Step Instructions
Expert Tips
More Chinese Recipes
Recipe
💬 Comments

Where is Mapo Tofu From?

Mapo tofu originated from the Sichuan province of China. It is incredibly popular both in China and in US based restaurants. It is typically a very spicy dish, however, is usually toned down in restaurants in the US.

The Ingredients

Don't be intimidated by the long list of ingredients. This dish is actually incredibly easy to make. Most of the ingredients can be found at your local market, and the remaining are very easy to get on Amazon. I've included links in the recipe card for buying the ingredients.

The full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Below are some of the main seasonings.

Sichuan Peppercorns

The Sichuan peppercorns used offer this delightful spicy, tongue numbing quality that is very common among many Szechuan (Sichuan) style dishes. It's not traditionally spicy like you would find in other peppers, but has a slight numbing effect that is very common in Sichuan cuisine.

Broad Bean Paste

The broad bean paste is a much needed staple if you're going to be regularly cooking Sichuan cuisine. It is SOOO amazing filled with this intensely spicy, salty umami flavor. It is delicious and you should definitely keep a jar in your fridge at all times.

The best broad bean paste is Pi Xian broad bean paste. It comes straight from an area called Pixian within the Sichuan province and is widely known as the best.

Chili Oil

Chili oil is an important part of Mapo Tofu. It provides the much sought after spice in the dish. You can buy it (I included a link in the recipe card), or you can make your own. I absolutely LOVE this Chili Oil from The Woks of Life. I find the fresh made to be much tastier, and it's super easy to make.

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Step By Step Instructions

Mix the broth, broad bean paste, soy sauce, salt, sugar, sake, 1 tbsp. ground Sichuan peppercorns, 1 tbsp. chili oil and sesame oil in a bowl. Set aside.

In a large skillet or wok, stir fry the pork until it is no longer pink. Break it up into small pieces while cooking. Add the garlic when halfway done.

Learn how to season a wok.

Add the sauce mixture and stir to combine.

ground pork in a skillet with brown sauce

Add the cubed tofu to the top of the pork mixture in an even layer, reduce the heat to medium low, cover and cook for 10 minutes.

Remove the lid and stir the tofu into the pork mixture very gently. Add the cornstarch mixture (mix the cornstarch with the water with a spoon), a little at a time, until the sauce is thick and glossy.

Stir in the remaining chili oil at this point. If you want a spicier dish, add more chili oil. Add less for a less spicy dish (note it will still be spicy).

Remove from heat and serve with steamed rice, or with this incredibly easy to make restaurant style Fried Rice. Garnish with the chopped scallions, ground peppercorns and chili oil.

mapo tofu (ground pork and tofu) in a bowl with 2 bowls of rice and chili oil on the side

If you'd like a less spicy version, try this Japanese Mapo Tofu from Just One Cookbook.

Expert Tips

How to adjust the spice level: This dish is spicy by nature. I adjust the heat of the dish by using more or less chili oil. The Sichuan peppercorns add more of a numbing quality instead of spice to the dish. You can reduce the amount used, but I highly recommend using the amount called for in the recipe as it acts as a wonderful flavor enhancer.
Stir the tofu very gently to prevent it from breaking up and becoming mush. We want the cubes to stay intact.
Add the cornstarch mixture slowly while gently stirring over medium heat. If your sauce is still to thin, make more cornstarch slurry (1 part cornstarch to 2 parts water) and slowly add it until the desired consistency has been reached (should be thick and slightly glossy). If it's a too thick, add a touch of chicken broth to thin it add.