How to Make Japanese Style Mapo Tofu (Mabo Dofu) [25-Minute Weeknight Wonder]

Name: How to Make Japanese Style Mapo Tofu (Mabo Dofu) [25-Minute Weeknight Wonder]
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Asian, 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 tsp Japanese soy sauce (koikuchi shoyu); - 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

11 steps

Prep:5minCook:20min

In this video, I'll show you how to make delicious Japanese-Style Mapo Tofu in just 25 minutes! This miso-infused Mabo Dofu is the perfect weeknight meal - flavorful, quick, and incredibly satisfying with its perfect balance of spicy and savory flavors.

Updated at: Mon, 24 Mar 2025 00:16:54 GMT

Nutrition balance score

Good

Glycemic Index

Low

Glycemic Load

Low

Nutrition per serving

Calories370.6 kcal (19%)

Total Fat23.4 g (33%)

Carbs10.7 g (4%)

Sugars2.9 g (3%)

Protein27 g (54%)

Sodium1147.2 mg (57%)

Fiber2.4 g (8%)

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Instructions

Step 1

Heat pan on medium, brown ground pork with salt and pepper. Add oil only if needed.

Step 2

Add diced onion and fry until softened.

Step 3

Mix in sake, Japanese soy sauce, and yellow miso paste.

Step 4

Push pork to one side. On empty side, combine sesame oil, chili bean sauce, and grated garlic. Cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant, then mix with pork.

Step 5

Pour in chicken bouillon, add cubed firm tofu, and bring to boil. Reduce to simmer.

Step 6

Add sake, Japanese soy sauce, oyster sauce, and ground black pepper.

Step 7

Simmer until sauce reduces by half.

Step 8

Mix cold water with cornstarch in a small bowl, then add to pan.

Step 9

Cook until sauce becomes thick and glossy, then add chili oil and turn off heat.

Step 10

Garnish with chopped green onions and optional chili threads.