Comfort food always helps me to feel warmth. It reminds me of home and if gives me a sense of safety and belonging. Cooking this time of year helps to keep my mind off chaos. I love the feeling of manipulating food. I love playing with traditional recipes and giving it new life, a new twist - adapting to my new lifestyle such as this Not So Spicy Vegan Mapo Tofu 麻婆豆腐 recipe. Similar to how Grandma used to make it, yet totally different. This healthy vegetarian recipe is good for anyone looking to have a flavorful vegetarian meal. Either way, you make it you will have a delicious Chinese homey meal that is great served with plain white jasmine rice. This quick and easy recipe is ready in 15 minutes!
Instead of pork, you can easily make it vegan without compromising on flavour by using mushrooms. King oyster mushrooms are probably best for texture and mouthfeel. If you find yourself short of king oysters, button mushrooms works just as wonderful.
MAPO TOFU CALLS FOR FIVE MAIN INGREDIENTS:
- Tofu (medium firm tofu works best)
- Mushrooms (button or king oysters)
- Black bean sauce with garlic
- Vegetable Broth
- Sichuan Peppercorn
I also like that it has garlic and ginger in it - it is the perfect boost for your immune, fights cold and the flu and also is antibacterial! If you fancy, dice up some onions and sautee the onions with garlic and ginger until soft and golden.
If you don't like biting into tiny gingers, I recommend grating it.
Sichuan peppercorns are very spicy with a long lingering burn. And the black bean sauce with garlic is very salty. It is important to start with a little, taste, and adjust to your preference. Always taste throughout making this recipe.
If it is too bland, add more black bean sauce. Personally I like adding another tablespoon of sichuan peppercorn, but it is your mapo tofu, not mine.
Did you make this recipe? I’d love see how you went with my recipes! Leave a comment below or Tag me on Instagram @Instanomss #instanomss
This recipe was adapted from Juno Kim.
PrintNot So Spicy Vegan Mapo Tofu 麻婆豆腐
Not So Spicy Vegan Mapo Tofu 麻婆豆腐 is a classic Chinese Cantonese dish. It is one of my childhood favourite comfort homecooked dishes. For a healthier take on Mapo Tofu, try Mapo Tofu with mushrooms. This healthy vegetarian recipe is good for anyone looking to have a flavorful vegetarian meal. Either way, you make it you will have a delicious Chinese homey meal that is great served with plain white jasmine rice. This quick and easy recipe is ready in 15 minutes!
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 5
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 bowls 1x
- Category: main dish
- Method: stir fry
- Cuisine: Chinese, Vegan
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup Vegetable Oil
- 15 Button Mushrooms (or 4 Large king oyster mushrooms), finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon sichuan peppercorn, more if you prefer spicier
- 3 tablespoon ginger, grated
- 6 cloves garlic, minced 蒜
- ½ tablespoon black bean sauce with garlic
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1.5 teaspoon corn starch
- 400g Tofu (medium or firm works best)
- Drizzle of toasted sesame oil
- 1 stalk of green onions, finely chopped for garnish 蔥
- drizzle of XO chili oil to taste
Instructions
- In a heavy bottomed non-stick Wok or Cast Iron, heat oil over medium high heat. Let the oil simmer, not smoke.
- Sautee garlic, ginger and onions, stir for 30 seconds.
- Add in mushrooms and cook evenly until golden brown. Stir every 20 seconds so it doesn't stick to the pan.
- Add in sichuan peppercorns and cook for a minute.
- Add in black bean sauce with garlic. Stir and cook for a minute.
- Add your vegetable broth, stir and bring to a simmer.
- In a seperate small bowl, dissolve 1.5 teaspoon of corn starch into cold water and add this mixture into your pot and stir evenly. Add more if you prefer your mapo tofu thicker.
- Add your tofu and sesame oil and stir gentlely.
- Adjust your spice preference. If you do not find it spicy enough, add a little bit more sichuan peppercorns.
- Serve and enjoy over jasmine white rice!
Notes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 313
- Sugar: 6.5 g
- Sodium: 159.6 mg
- Fat: 23.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 15.8 g
- Protein: 16.8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: vegan mapo tofu, vegan chinese cuisine, vegetarian chinese recipes, 經典廣東手工菜, classic Chinese Cantonese cuisine, chinese recipes, mushroom recipes, chinese dishes, comfort food
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Melinda says
Comfort food minus the meat! Loved the flavor combination of tofu and mushrooms, with the perfect amount of spice.
★★★★★
Oscar says
This looks amazing, going to save this for the weekend. Thank you.
★★★★★
Deb says
This dish is addictive! Thanks for the recipe Nancy 🙂
★★★★★
Nicola says
I've been looking for a good mapo tofu recipe and this one sounds divine! Excited to try it out 🙂
★★★★★
Nancy says
I made this a last night and it was absolutely delicious. Will definitely make again.
★★★★★
Julia says
Love that this vegan and slightly more mild for those with lower spice tolerance 🙂
★★★★★
Stephanie says
Love how quick this was to make and absolutely loved how it turned out!! Will be making again!
★★★★★
Rosanna Stevens says
I loved this! A delicious way to use mushrooms, thank you
★★★★★
Cindy says
Love it! The spices are spot on and so good.
★★★★★
Marcellina says
Such a tasty and easy midweek meal!
★★★★★
Jerika says
I'm satisfied with this flavorful vegetarian meal.:) Yum! Thanks.:)
★★★★★
Linda says
Mapo tofu is my comfort food and this one is so delicious!
★★★★★
Michelle says
Ma po tofu is one of my favorite restaurant dishes and I'm so excited to be able to make my own now!!
★★★★★
Amy says
Great recipe! My husband is not so great with spice but loves Chinese food so this was perfect.
★★★★★
Gina Abernathy says
A big bowl of comfort food. The mushrooms are amazing. Delicious!
★★★★★
Alexandra says
Tofu has never looked or tasted better!
★★★★★
Kyleigh says
I love the addition of tofu!
★★★★★
Jamie says
I love this for a quick and easy meal! Great flavors!
★★★★★
Sean says
This looks fantastic. Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says
I have tofu at work that I need to use up and I think everyone would enjoy this. I love that it's meatless, since there are quite a few that are vegetarian/vegan.
★★★★★
Katie says
This spicy tofu is so addictive!! I can't get enough of this recipe!
★★★★★
Jean says
mapo tofu is my fave with rice, Im glad this isnt too spicy and really enjoyed making your recipe.
★★★★★
Andrea says
this tofu is delicious! so so good!
★★★★★
Bianca says
I love how you introduce me to something new and delicious with every recipe! Yet another amazing dish that I definitely will be making again
★★★★★
Anna says
I didn't realize tofu and mushrooms go so well together. This is so yum. Will surely make it again
★★★★★
Katie says
Such a wonderful recipe! I am already looking forward to the next time I make it!
★★★★★
Andrea White says
this tofu dish is so tasty! love it!
★★★★★
Jacqui says
I love tofu, this Mapo tofu recipe is killer! The mushrooms make this one shine and extra tasty. Could eat this every day - thanks so much for sharing.
★★★★★
Anaiah says
This vegan mapo tofu was a huge hit! Super flavorful and delicious and so perfect with white rice. Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
Nancy says
Yes!! that's what I love hearing!
Andrea White says
so delicious! i love tofu and this recipe is something special!
★★★★★
Nancy says
THanks Andrea! I really like this vegan version!
Kayla DiMaggio says
Loving this mapo tofu! It is so easy and delicious! Love that it isn't too spicy!
★★★★★
Nancy says
THis mapo tofu recipe is so filling and even kids can enjoy it!
Emily says
I love this recipe with king oyster mushrooms! So delicious and not too spicy. Looking forward to making it again!
★★★★★
Nancy says
King oyster mushrooms are such a great meat replacement ingredient!
Shilpa says
Loving this vegan mapo tofu and adding mushrooms is a great idea. Thanks for sharing.
★★★★★
Nancy says
We agree! Adding mushrooms is so delicious!
Jacqui says
Wanna cook Tofu to perfection? Then you gotta make this recipe! It’s so tasty!
★★★★★
Nancy says
Thanks Jacqui!! Who doesn't love mushrooms right?
Terri says
Thanks for this authentic , easy and delicious recipe!
★★★★★
Nancy says
THanks Terri!
Colleen says
This looks delicious, and replacing the meat with mushrooms sounds even better. I have some tofu in the fridge so now I know what we'll be eating this weekend. Thanks!
★★★★★
Nancy says
Hope this solves dinner tonight for you 🙂
Kristen says
This sounds fantastic - I love everything in here.
Curious if there is a substitute for the black bean and garlic sauce?
★★★★★
Nancy says
you can also try using oyster sauce if you want to sub out black bean sauce. The flavour profile will be a little less strong
Ayngelina Brogan says
I have been looking for some vegetarian recipes to make while we're all stuck in and this one is great, I have everything but the black bean sauce, which is going on my grocery list!
★★★★★
Nancy says
Can't wait to see what you make of it! Tag me @instanomss let me see your dish 🙂
Joyce says
Great idea on replacing the meat with king oyster mushrooms. I think I will like this!
★★★★★
Nancy says
It's super tasty and you def won't miss the meat!
Cynthia says
Yum! I love mapo tofu and my oldest gorges on tofu. Do you have a recipe to make black bean garlic sauce? We aren’t going to the grocery stores and are ordering groceries online.
Nancy says
i haven't tried to make my own black bean sauce - since I will have to buy and ferment the black beans 🙂 Hopefully you can get your hands on it. Or you can order it with Amazon. I've linked it on my blog post 🙂