This Korean-style tofu with spicy meat sauce recipe is our take on mapo tofu. This recipe is hearty, packed with protein, and simmered in a spicy sauce.
Mapo tofu (mapo doufu) itself is originally known to be a Chinese dish that originated from the Sichuan province. Authentic mapo tofu dishes are traditionally very spicy and have a distinct bright red color. It’s also typically made with minced beef. You will find that there are many different variations of mapo tofu recipes. Today, we are sharing a Korean-style mapo tofu recipe.
Key features and tips
This is a Korean spin on mapo tofu. We use Korean ingredients, such as Korean hot red chili pepper paste (gochujang) and fermented soybean paste (doenjang), to make a great spicy meat sauce that goes great with the cubed tofu. It is filled with umami goodness.
We dry out the tofu first by microwaving the blocks of tofu. It only takes a few extra minutes, but we think it’s worth the effort. Microwaving the tofu first will help firm up the tofu a bit more as well. The texture is just awesome when you do this.
Ingredients needed to make our version of mapo tofu
- Garlic
- Ginger root
- Firm tofu
- Ground beef
- Ground pork
- White cooking wine
- Potato starch
- Hot red chili pepper paste (gochujang)
- Fermented soybean paste (doenjang)
- Fish sauce
- Cayenne pepper
- Coconut aminos
- Ground black pepper
- Oyster sauce
- Avocado oil
- Water
- Salt
How to make this Korean-style mapo tofu
Step 1: Microwave the tofu
Remove one tofu from the package and place it in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cover the bowl with wax paper or paper towel, and microwave on high for about two minutes. Repeat for the second package of tofu. (Doing this will help to dry out and firm up the tofu.) Wait until the tofu has cooled down enough to be safe to touch, and then cut the tofu into cubes (cubed into ½ inch pieces). Set aside the tofu for later.
Step 2: Make the spicy sauce
Now, let’s make the sauce mixture. Mix together the white wine, potato starch, hot chili pepper paste (gochujang), fermented soybean paste (doengjang), fish sauce, cayenne pepper, coconut aminos, black pepper, oyster sauce, and black pepper in a small bowl. Mix well. Set this sauce aside for later.
Step 3: Time to stir-fry
Put a large-sized pan or a wok onto medium heat and add oil to the pan. Once the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and ginger root to the hot pan. Stir well to make sure the garlic and ginger do not burn. After about 1-2 minutes of stir-frying the garlic and ginger root, add in the ground beef and ground pork. Make sure to break it up and crumble the meat well (like taco meat) while it’s cooking. Cook until the meat is browned and well-done.
Step 4: Add the tofu
Next, add the cubed tofu to the same fry pan with the browned meat. Mix it together well for about 2-3 minutes. Try to be gentle when stirring to not break the tofu.
Step 5: Add water
Now add the water to the pan with the meat and tofu. Let it come to a boil. Once it starts boiling, then turn the stove down to low/simmer.
Step 6: Add the spicy sauce
Next, pour in the sauce and mix together well. Continue mixing everything together well for about 3 minutes until the sauce thickens up. After everything is mixed well, and the sauce has thickened up, it’s done and you can remove it from heat.
Step 7: Enjoy!
We hope you enjoy our Korean-Style Tofu with Spicy Meat Sauce (Mapo Tofu) recipe!
Serving Suggestions For Korean-Style Tofu with Spicy Meat Sauce (Mapo Tofu)
We prefer to serve freshly steamed rice with this Korean-style tofu with a spicy meat sauce (mapo tofu) recipe. You could forgo the rice if you’re staying low-carb and eat this with a variety of vegetable-based side dishes (banchan). You can also add mushrooms or any other vegetable of your choosing, to make this a complete and well-rounded meal all on its own.
Need Side Dish (Banchan) Recipe Ideas?
- Easy Asian Pan-Fried Zucchini
- Korean Seasoned Spinach Side Dish (Sigeumchi-namul)
- Korean Green Onion Salad
- Korean Spicy Stir-Fried Eggplant
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Korean-Style Tofu with Spicy Meat Sauce (Mapo Tofu)
This Korean-style tofu with spicy meat sauce recipe is our take on mapo tofu. This recipe is hearty, packed with protein, and simmered in a spicy sauce.
Ingredients
- 3 garlic cloves (about 1 Tbsp, minced)
- ½ tsp ginger root (minced)
- 2 12.3oz packages of firm tofu
- ½ lb ground beef
- ½ lb ground pork
- 2 Tbsp white cooking wine
- 1 Tbsp potato starch
- 1 Tbsp hot red chili pepper paste (gochujang)
- 1 tsp fermented soybean paste (doenjang)
- 1 tsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 Tbsp coconut aminos
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 Tbsp avocado oil
- 2 cups water
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Remove tofu from the package and place it in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cover the bowl with wax paper or paper towel, and microwave on high for about two minutes. Repeat for the second package of tofu. Doing this will help to dry out and firm up the tofu. Wait until the tofu has cooled down enough to be safe to touch, and then cut the tofu into cubes (cubed into ½ inch pieces). Set aside the tofu for later.
- Now, let’s make the sauce mixture. Mix together the white wine, potato starch, hot chili pepper paste (gochujang), fermented soybean paste (doengjang), fish sauce, cayenne pepper, coconut aminos, black pepper, oyster sauce, and black pepper in a small bowl. Mix well. Set this sauce aside for later.
- Put a large-sized pan or a wok onto medium heat and add oil to the pan. Once the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and ginger root to the hot pan. Stir well to make sure the garlic and ginger do not burn. After about 1-2 minutes of stir-frying the garlic and ginger root, add in the ground beef and ground pork. Make sure to break it up and crumble the meat well (like taco meat) while it’s cooking. Cook until the meat is browned and well-done.
- Next, add the cubed tofu to the same fry pan with the browned meat. Mix it together well for about 2-3 minutes. Try to be gentle when stirring to not break the tofu.
- Now add the water to the pan with the meat and tofu. Let it come to a boil. Once it starts boiling, then turn the stove down to low/simmer.
- Next, pour in the sauce and mix together well. Continue mixing everything together well for about 3 minutes until the sauce thickens up. After everything is mixed well, and the sauce has thickened up, it’s done and you can remove it from heat.
- Enjoy!
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