Who doesn’t love Chinese food? But authentic dishes often call for some hard to find ingredients. Luckily, you can still make fast, easy, Chinese-style dishes with everyday ingredients. This Mapo Tofu recipe is one that I found in a magazine two decades ago, and quickly grew to love. The tofu melds with the other ingredients to take on an almost cheesy quality. And even Tony, who isn’t a big tofu fan, really likes it. It has a family-friendly, “Hamburger Helper” vibe to the taste.
Special Diet Notes: Family-Friendly Mapo Tofu
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, nut-free, and peanut-free.
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (3/4-inch) piece ginger, minced, or ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ pound ground beef or pork
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 to 3 tablespoons black bean sauce, to taste
- 12 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained and cut into ½-inch cubes
- 1 zucchini, sliced
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- 2 green onions, trimmed and sliced
- 1 to 2 small chile peppers, diced or ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 3 cups cooked brown or white rice
- Sesame oil (optional)
- Chili oil (optional)
- Preheat the oil in a wok or pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and sauté for 1 minute. Add the ground meat and stir fry until lightly browned and crumbly.
- Stir in the chicken broth and bean sauce. Add the tofu and zucchini and sauté for about 5 minutes.
- Add the bean sprouts, green onions, and peppers (if using) and sauté for 2 minutes.
- Divide the rice between 4 plates or bowls and top with the mapo tofu. Serve with the sesame oil and hot chili oil for drizzling, if desired.
More Deliciously Easy Asian Dinner Recipes that are Not Authentic
Restaurant-Style Beef & Broccoli
Thai Basil Chicken
Healthy Chinese Chicken Salad
For More Dairy-Free Dinner Recipes, Get Eat Dairy Free!
