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Mapo Tofu with Mushrooms & Pork Dinner Recipe

This dinner recipe for Mapo Tofu combines spicy Sichuan flavors with tender tofu, mushrooms, and pork.
It's a quick and flavorful dish perfect for weeknight meals, especially when served with white or brown rice to soak up its bold, spicy sauce.
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Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 4

Equipment

  • 10-inch skillet
  • Mortar and pestle or heavy knife for crushing peppercorns

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ teaspoons Sichuan peppercorns
  • 3 tablespoons peanut, grapeseed, or safflower oil
  • 4 ounces ground pork or use turkey
  • 4 ounces fresh shiitake mushroom caps coarsely chopped (1 ½ cups)
  • 2 garlic cloves grated or minced
  • 1 1-inch piece fresh ginger peeled and finely chopped
  • Pinch of red chile flakes
  • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons black bean garlic sauce to taste
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 package (14 to 16 ounces) firm tofu, drained and cut into ¾-inch cubes
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water

For Garnish:

  • Sliced scallions white and green parts
  • Toasted sesame oil

Instructions
 

  • Toast Peppercorns: Heat a dry 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Toast the Sichuan peppercorns until aromatic, about 1 minute. Transfer to a mortar and pestle or crush with the flat side of a knife blade.
  • Cook Pork and Mushrooms: Return the skillet to medium-high heat and add the oil. Stir in the pork and mushrooms, cooking until most of the liquid evaporates, and both are well-browned about 5–10 minutes.
  • Build the Flavor: Add the reserved Sichuan peppercorns, garlic, ginger, and chile flakes to the skillet; cook for 1 minute. Stir in Shaoxing wine, black bean paste, soy sauce, and ⅓ cup water.
  • Add Tofu and Thicken: Gently stir in tofu cubes and cornstarch slurry. Cook until heated through and slightly thickened, about 1–2 minutes.
  • Serve: Garnish with sliced scallions and a drizzle of sesame oil before serving. Serve with rice.

Notes

  • If Sichuan peppercorns are unavailable, substitute black peppercorns for a less complex but still delicious version.
  • Fermented black beans can replace black bean garlic sauce; chop them finely and add with the pork.
  • Adjust the spice level by adding or omitting red chile flakes.
Keyword dinner recipe, Easy tofu and pork recipe, Mapo tofu with mushrooms, Quick Chinese dinner ideas, Sichuan mapo tofu, Spicy tofu dinner recipe
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