Monday, April 28, 2025

Dinner Tonight: Mapo tofu

Sichuan peppercorns add mala — tingly zing — and fermented black beans, called douchi, lend this dish a kick of umami.
Dinner Tonight

April 28, 2025

Mapo Tofu

Mapo Tofu
Mapo tofu's origins reach back to the late 1800s. Christopher Simpson for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Recipe by Andrea Nguyen | Total time: 30 minutes

You can order mapo tofu from many Chinese restaurants, but it's also quite doable at home. You can find the pivotal fermented chile and broad (fava) bean sauce or paste called doubanjiang (sometimes rendered as "toban djan") at a Chinese market. Look for a doubanjiang from Pixian, in Sichuan, and bear in mind that oilier versions have extra heat but may lack an earthy depth. Sichuan peppercorns add mala — tingly zing — and fermented black beans, called douchi, lend this dish a kick of umami. Ground beef is traditional, but many cooks choose pork; you can also try lamb, turkey thigh or a plant-based meat alternatives. Add chile flakes for extra fire, and balance mapo's intensity with rice and steamed or stir-fried broccoli.

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