The Legendary Ma-Po Tofu Recipe

Name: The Legendary Ma-Po Tofu
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 pound ground pork; 1 tablespoon wine (for marinating meat); 3 tablespoons soy sauce (for marinating meat); 1/2 teaspoon sugar (for marinating meat); 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (for marinating meat); 1 teaspoon sesame oil (for marinating meat); 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch (for marinating meat); 3 tablespoons vegetable oil; 2 boxes of tofu (regular or silken); 3 garlic cloves; 4 green onions (chopped - separate white and green parts); 6 tablespoons soy sauce (for sauce); 1 tablespoon cornstarch (for sauce); 1 tablespoon hot sauce (for sauce - Chinese black bean chili sauce in a jar is preferred, regular chili sauce is okay. This can be omitted or can be increased); 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Servings: persons

1 pound ground pork
1 tablespoon wine (for marinating meat)
3 tablespoons soy sauce (for marinating meat)
1/2 teaspoon sugar (for marinating meat)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper (for marinating meat)
1 teaspoon sesame oil (for marinating meat)
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch (for marinating meat)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 boxes of tofu (regular or silken)
3 garlic cloves
4 green onions (chopped - separate white and green parts)
6 tablespoons soy sauce (for sauce)
1 tablespoon cornstarch (for sauce)
1 tablespoon hot sauce (for sauce - Chinese black bean chili sauce in a jar is preferred, regular chili sauce is okay. This can be omitted or can be increased)
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1
["Marinate pork with wine, soy sauce, sugar, pepper, sesame oil, and cornstarch.", "Heat oil in large frying pan. Saute garlic and white part of green onion in oil for less than 1 minute.", "Stir fry the marinated ground pork for 5-6 minutes. You may cover 1-2 times to steam the pork. Do not add any water. Open the cover to stir-fry the pork continuously until done.", "Add diced tofu, stir gently, and cover for 3 minutes with medium temperature to simply ""warm up"" the tofu. Open the cover, mix and stir gently, tofu will be little mashed, which is okay.", "Mix soy sauce, cornstarch, hot sauce and pour over the tofu/meat in the pot. Stir gently and quickly with high heat until the sauce is thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning - add more soy, salt, pepper, or hot sauce as needed.", "Remove to a large bowl. Sprinkle with 1/2 ts sesame oil, 1/2 tsp black pepper and the green part of the chopped onion.", "Serve hot with white rice. Enjoy!", "Note: The picture shown is made with silken tofu. It can fall apart pretty easily. You can easily substitute regular or firm tofu too."]

622

kcal

Calories

Fat

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Avoid overcrowding the pan — cook in batches if needed for the best texture.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the flavors settle.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Brown sugar instead of white sugar adds a deeper, more caramel-like flavor.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

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This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 16 ingredients. The key ingredients include: 1 pound ground pork, 1 tablespoon wine (for marinating meat), 3 tablespoons soy sauce (for marinating meat), 1/2 teaspoon sugar (for marinating meat), and more.

Yes, The Legendary Ma-Po Tofu falls under the Vegetarian category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently before serving.

That's it — enjoy your meal!

The Legendary Ma-Po Tofu

Tips for the best results

Variations & substitutions

My Personal Notes

How did you like this recipe?

Frequently Asked Questions