Japanese Mapo Tofu (Mabo Dofu)

Name: Japanese Mapo Tofu (Mabo Dofu)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Chinese, Japanese
Ingredients: 100 g ground pork (or beef/pork mix, other ground meat, minced soy meat); 1 pinch salt and pepper; ½ onion (finely diced); ½ tsp sake (or dry sherry, dry white wine); ½ tsp Japanese soy sauce (koikuchi shoyu); ½ tbsp yellow miso paste (awase) (red/white mix, or red); 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil; ½ tbsp chili bean sauce (toban djan) (adjust amount for spice preference); 1 tsp grated garlic (or garlic paste); 300 g firm tofu; 200 ml chicken bouillon (or other types of bouillon of your choice); 1 tbsp sake (or dry sherry, dry white wine); ½ tbsp oyster sauce (mushroom sauce for vegetarian alternative); ¼ tsp ground black pepper; finely chopped green onions (to garnish); 2 tbsp cold water (to make slurry); 2 tsp cornstarch (to make slurry, or potato starch); 2 tsp chili oil (rayu) (optional, adjust to taste); chili threads (optional garnish)

Instructions

Prep:5minCook:20min

Mabo Dofu is the Japanese take on a Sichuan classic. This popular homestyle dish is made with ground pork, tofu, and onions served in a fragrant and spicy sauce softened with miso paste.

Updated at: Wed, 29 Oct 2025 08:32:12 GMT