Step 1 of 5
Mapo tofu
Toast Sichuan pepper in a dry pan until fragrant, 1 minute. Grind. Cube tofu and sit it in warm salted water.
Questions about this dish
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips โ not a chatbot.
How long does Mapo tofu take?
35 min all in โ 15 min prep, 20 min cook. That is the time on this recipe, not a guess.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 3 people. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Medium.
How spicy is it?
Hot.
What allergens should I watch?
This recipe is labelled for Soy, Wheat. Labels are informational โ check the packets in your kitchen. This is not medical advice.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Dairy-free.
What does it cost to cook?
Weeknight budget โ about $8โ16 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
What equipment do I need?
Wok, Saucepan.
How much salt do I put in?
This recipe does not list salt as its own ingredient. Saltiness comes from Soy sauce โ 1 tsp. Taste at the end rather than adding a number we did not write.
How much soy sauce?
1 tsp of Soy sauce.
What can I use instead?
Pork โ Finely chopped shiitake. Brown hard for savoury depth. Doubanjiang โ Gochujang plus extra chilli. Korean-adjacent, not Sichuan. Different fermented base.
What should I watch for?
Raw doubanjiang tastes harsh. Cook it.
Any tips from this recipe?
Pixian doubanjiang is worth ordering once. Generic chilli bean paste is saltier and less complex. Vegetarian: skip pork, fry mushrooms, and use a little extra doubanjiang oil.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.