The Best Vegan Mapo Tofu Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a substitute for pork in mapo tofu? ›

A VEGAN VERSION

In this vegan mapo tofu recipe, I omitted the pork and used finely diced shiitake mushrooms instead. If you don't like mushrooms, you can leave it out. Alternatively, you can substitute the mushrooms with 2/3 cup of finely diced sweet bell peppers or jicama for crunch.

Make the Sauce: Combine chicken broth, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, black bean garlic sauce, cornstarch, and Sichuan peppercorns in a bowl; whisk to combine and set aside. Make the Ma Po Tofu: Heat a wok over high heat until hot. Add oil, swirling to coat sides.

Add red peppers, black beans and bean paste and cook, stirring until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add garlic and ginger and let sizzle, then add mushrooms, soy sauce, sesame oil and Sichuan pepper.

Chinese mapo tofu is made with a soybean paste called doubanjiang. In Korean mapo tofu, this doubanjiang is substituted with a mixture of gochujang and doenjang. The salty and spicy, fermented soybean doubanjiang is effectively replaced with Korean fermented soybean paste and spicy Korean red chili pepper paste.

For a smoky ham or bacon flavor, there is a liquid hickory smoke flavoring, or a smoked paprika. For a more general kind of meaty taste that can imitate chicken or pork, I like nutritional yeast flakes. Soy sauce and miso can help make something salty and a bit meaty. Mushrooms can also help with the meaty aftertaste.

So, you can use seitan, a type of plant-based meat made from vital wheat gluten, for things such as vegan sausages and ribs. Meatier mushrooms like chanterelles, shiitake, or even minced creminis can also stand in for pork in a variety of dishes. Even lentils, when seasoned just right, can replace ground pork.

Difference between Chinese and Japanese Mapo Tofu

Most distinctly, Japanese mabo dofu doesn't include any chili or Sichuan peppercorn. Most distinctly, Japanese mabo dofu doesn't include any chili or Sichuan peppercorn. The only “spicy” element comes from doubanjiang, spicy bean paste.

Is Mapo Tofu at PF Chang's vegan? Yes, it is!

Vegetarian Mapo Tofu. This meat-free version of a popular Sichuan dish boasts tender tofu draped in a savory, mouth-numbing sauce. The characteristic tongue-tingling comes from Sichuan peppercorns.

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

What side dishes go with mapo tofu? ›

Serve the mapo tofu with the tempura zucchini, ponzu sauce, and cooked rice on the side. Enjoy!

Add tofu and carefully fold in, being careful not to break it up too much. Stir in chili oil and half of scallions and simmer for 30 seconds longer. Transfer immediately to a serving bowl and sprinkle with remaining scallions and toasted ground Sichuan pepper. Serve immediately with white rice.

Mapo tofu tastes spicy: both conventionally spicy with heat on your tongue, and málà, a numbing kind of spicy that is characteristic of Sichuan food. The sauce is pleasingly oily, which ampliflies the spiciness and flavor. It also has a deeply savoriness to it thanks to the umami from the doubanjiang.

Mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐, ma po dou fu) is one of the most popular dishes from Sichuan cuisine. The tofu pieces are braised in a rich spicy, and savory sauce along with fresh garlic and scallions, with a small amount of ground pork to enhance the flavor. The dish is so appetizing and it goes perfectly with steamed rice.

Adding more peppers and chili will give you brighter, redder mapo tofu. The vibrant red in classic mapo tofu is from stir frying Chinese dry chilis and fresh hot red peppers in oil.

Whether shiitakes, Portobellos, or creminis, mushrooms come loaded with umami and have a chewy, satisfying texture, making them perfect replacements for meat, especially pork.

Ground pork: You can definitely sub ground chicken thighs, beef, or turkey in place of pork. Fresh shiitake mushrooms: You can substitute your favorite fresh mushroom—just make sure you slice them thinly. If you want to add even more umami, use some rehydrated dried shiitake mushrooms in the soup!

Tofu may be used as a pork substitute. Although at times it can taste like chicken, tofu in general adapts well to any type of flavor. In fact, tofu's bland nature makes it a popular choice.

Any minced meat will work here, but my favorite for its flavor (and most traditional for mapo tofu) is ground pork. You can substitute ground beef, chicken, or even turkey. Just note that ground chicken and turkey will be more lean, so it's more likely to be dry!