The secret to making the best tasting mapo tofu is to use the freshest Sichuan peppercorns you can find, plus a high quality Chinese Doubanjiang. To make the best vegan mapo tofu, I used dried shiitake mushrooms and their soaking water for an intense umami. I also used homemade fermented black bean sauce instead of soy sauce to give it extra depth of flavor. Soft (or even silken) tofu is often used in China for the best texture. Feel free to replace it with medium or firm tofu if you find soft tofu too hard to handle in a braised dish. In the past I’ve shared a recipe for authentic Sichuan style mapo tofu, which is rich and flavorful thanks to the added ground meat. But sometimes I just want a lighter dinner with plant-based ingredients. That’s why I developed this vegetarian mapo tofu recipe. The cooking process is quite similar to that of the original mapo tofu, but it’s healthier and still yields a super delicious result.
Key Ingredients
Doubanjiang
Fermented black bean sauce
Fermented black bean sauce, or Douchijiang (豆豉酱) in Chinese, is a delightfully savory sauce made from douchi (cooked black soybeans fermented in salty water), onion, chili peppers, Shaoxing wine, sugar, garlic, and ginger. The flavor is like that of soy sauce, but with an even stronger fermented fragrance and much more dimension. It’s a fantastic multi-purpose sauce, as well as a key ingredient in Twiced Cooked Pork, Steamed Fish with Black Bean Sauce, and Stir Fried Chicken with Black Bean Sauce. You can either buy it pre-made from the store or make your own. (Making your own is way better! But I understand if you’re pressed for time.) Once you have these two ingredients, you’re halfway to authentic-tasting vegetarian mapo tofu!
Sichuan peppercorns
Sichuan peppercorn (Hua Jiao, 花椒) is another key ingredient that you might not be familiar with. Fresh Sichuan peppercorns have a pungent aroma that lingers around the nose. Its taste is almost indescribable: numbing, tingling, and somewhat refreshing like mint. These peppercorns add a savory, smoky, and slightly citrusy flavor to a dish, and it’s that flavor that makes genuine Sichuan food. I consider it even more important than Sichuan chili peppers, truly distinguishing the dish and giving it a character unlike anything else. It’s a key ingredient in many classic Sichuan dishes such as Dan Dan Noodles, Mala Chicken, and Red Oil Wontons. I highly recommend you purchase Sichuan peppercorns from Mala Market. They carry the freshest Sichuan peppercorns in the US, sourced directly from Sichuan. It truly makes a world of difference. It might seem like a lot of trouble to source three special ingredients to make one dish. But here is the deal. Each ingredient is fermented for months, sometimes years, to achieve its ultimate umami taste. And you can spend a few dollars to get years of essence packed into your dish. Isn’t that amazing? Think about aged balsamic vinegar and parmesan cheese in Italian cooking. They’re totally worth the investment. Plus, you can use these ingredients to create so many great Chinese dishes.
Also Important: Dried Shiitake Mushrooms
While dried shiitake mushrooms aren’t as uncommon as the Sichuan ingredients discussed above, they’re crucial to giving the dish a big, mouth-filling umami. The traditional version of this dish uses ground pork, and I’m happy to let you know that dried shiitake mushrooms pack just as much savory goodness. You’ll rehydrate the mushrooms, mince them up, and use the rehydrating water as broth for the sauce. It’s an easy way to get huge flavor, and it works perfectly here.
Cooking notes
One word about oil
Authentic mapo tofu uses quite a lot of oil to create that appetizing red color. For the homemade version, I tend to hold back on the oil to make my dinner healthier. I usually use 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil just so it’s just enough to properly cook the spices. If you are concerned about oil intake, you can reduce the oil to 1 tablespoon. In this case, you might need to splash some water if the spices start to stick to the pan.
How to create a rich sauce
As I mentioned above, the doubanjiang, fermented black beans, and Sichuan peppercorns are the key to creating the best sauce. In addition, I added dried shiitake mushrooms to the dish. They add a bit more nutrition to the meal, and the mushroom juice lends its rich flavor to the sauce.
Need more veggies?
It’s not shown in the pictures here, but sometimes I add a batch of spinach or baby bok choy at the end of the cooking, just to add some greens to my meal. It only takes a few seconds to cook through the veggies and it’s super tasty. It’s extra convenient if you’re cooking for one, to make a very nutritious one-pot meal. That’s it! I hope you find the recipe easy to follow and the results rewarding!
More easy delicious vegetarian recipes
Chinese Eggplant with Garlic SauceEasy Vegetarian Thai CurryEasy Vegetarian Lentil StewVegetarian Hot and Sour SoupVegetarian Chow Mein
If you give this recipe a try, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it (once you’ve tried it), and take a picture and tag it @omnivorescookbook on Instagram! I’d love to see what you come up with. The recipe was updated with major changes in 2021. If you want the older version, see the recipe below.
Vegetarian mapo tofu (old version)
INGREDIENTS
Spice mix
2 tablespoons fermented black beans2 tablespoons Doubanjiang (spicy fermented bean paste)1 teaspoon Chinese chili flakes1/4 teaspoon ground Sichuan peppercorns
Cooking
2 to 3 tablespoons peanut oil (or vegetable oil)2 green onions, chopped1 tablespoon minced ginger2 cloves garlic, minced2 cups vegetable stock1 (450-g / 16-oz) block medium-firm or firm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch (1.5-cm) cubes1/2 lb (225 g) mushrooms, sliced1/8 teaspoon five-spice powder1 teaspoon sugar or to taste1 tablespoon cornstarch(Optional) Homemade chili oil, for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
