My Best Mapo Tofu, with Mắc Khén Pepper

Name: My Best Mapo Tofu, with Mắc Khén Pepper
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 14 to 16 ounces medium or medium-firm tofu; 1 ¼ tsp Tingly Mắc Khén Pepper; 3 Tbsp canola oil; 6 ounces ground beef or pork, fattier kind preferred, roughly chopped to loosen (or plant-based ground beef); 1 tsp minced fresh ginger; ½ tsp Silk Chili or Cobanero Chili Flakes; 1 Tbsp Chinese fermented black beans, optional; 2 ½ to 3 Tbsp doubanjiang chile bean sauce, Pixian kind preferred; 1 generous tsp sugar; 2 tsp regular soy sauce; Salt; 2 large green onions, white and green parts, cut on the diagonal into pieces about 1 ½ inches long; 1½ Tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 3 Tbsp water

Image of My Best Mapo Tofu, with Mắc Khén Pepper

Servings

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

20 minutes

"Mapo tofu is about low-meat cooking, so it dovetails with my eating habits. I'm jazzed to use a Viet-grown spice in one of my favorite tofu dishes. For a vegan version, use a favorite plant-based ground beef."

Author:

Andrea Nguyen, a culinary bridge- builder and leading authority on Asian cuisine, James Beard award-winning author, cooking teacher, and consultant. Andrea’s newest cookbook, Ever-Green Vietnamese, offers doable, modern takes on Viet plant-based traditions; it was named one of the best cookbooks of 2023 and a 2024 James Beard Award finalist.

Ingredients

14 to 16 ounces medium or medium-firm tofu
1 ¼ tsp Tingly Mắc Khén Pepper
3 Tbsp canola oil
6 ounces ground beef or pork, fattier kind preferred, roughly chopped to loosen (or plant-based ground beef)
1 tsp minced fresh ginger
½ tsp Silk Chili or Cobanero Chili Flakes
1 Tbsp Chinese fermented black beans, optional
2 ½ to 3 Tbsp doubanjiang chile bean sauce, Pixian kind preferred
1 generous tsp sugar
2 tsp regular soy sauce
Salt
2 large green onions, white and green parts, cut on the diagonal into pieces about 1 ½ inches long
1½ Tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 3 Tbsp water

Directions

Cut the tofu into ½-inch cubes and put into a bowl. Bring a kettle of water to a rolling boil. Turn off the heat and when the boiling subsides, pour water over the tofu to cover. Set aside for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, measure out 1 ⅓ cups of water (the stuff you just boiled is fine) and set aside near the stove. You’ll be using it later for the sauce.
In a large wok or skillet, toast the Mằc Khén Pepper over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until richly fragrant and slightly darkened; you may see a wisp of smoke. Let it cool briefly, then pound with a mortar and pestle or grind in a spice grinder. Set aside
Drain the tofu in a strainer or colander and put it near the stove. As with all stir-fries, assemble your ingredients next to the stove.
Heat the oil in the wok or skillet over high heat. Add the meat, stirring and mashing into small pieces until crumbly and cooked through, about 2 minutes. Add the ginger, chile flakes, fermented black beans, and chile sauce. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the meat is a rich reddish-brown color and the chile sauce has turned the oil slightly red. Add the sugar and soy sauce, stir to combine, then add the tofu. Gently stir or give the wok a shake to combine without breaking up the tofu much.
Pour in the 1 ⅓ cups water you set aside earlier. Bring to a vigorous simmer, and cook for about 3 minutes to allow the tofu to absorb the flavors of the sauce.
Taste the sauce and add a pinch of salt or sugar, if needed. Add the green onion and stir to combine. Give the cornstarch one last stir, then pour enough into the wok to thicken the sauce. You may not need to use it all. In Sichuan, the sauce is more soupy than gravy-like. Sprinkle in the ground Mằc Khén Pepper, give the mixture one last stir to incorporate, then transfer to a shallow bowl. Serve immediately with lots of hot rice.