Craving authentic Chinese cuisine but short on time? Our Cheats Mapo Tofu Packet recipe is your ultimate culinary lifesaver! In just 20 minutes, you'll transform simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality dish that'll make your taste buds dance with excitement. Whether you're a busy professional, a cooking novice, or someone who loves bold, spicy flavors, this foolproof recipe guarantees a delicious meal that looks and tastes like it took hours to prepare.
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 20 mins
Cuisine: Chinese
Serves: 2 servings
Ingredients
- 1 packet Mapo tofu sauce
- 1 block of soft tofu
- 100g ground pork
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Chopped scallions for garnish
Instructions
- Remove tofu from packaging and carefully drain excess water. Cut tofu into 1-inch cubes, ensuring they are uniform in size to ensure even cooking.
- Heat vegetable oil in a medium-sized wok or non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Allow oil to become hot but not smoking.
- Add ground pork to the hot pan, breaking it into small crumbles using a wooden spatula. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the meat is completely browned and no pink remains.
- Gently add tofu cubes to the browned ground pork, being careful not to break the delicate tofu pieces.
- Pour the entire packet of Mapo tofu sauce over the pork and tofu. Stir very gently to coat all ingredients, ensuring tofu remains intact.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 5-7 minutes, allowing the sauce to slightly thicken and flavors to meld together.
- Once sauce is heated through and slightly reduced, remove from heat.
- Garnish with freshly chopped scallions across the top of the dish for added freshness and color.
- Serve immediately with steamed white rice, ensuring each serving gets an equal portion of tofu and sauce.
Tips
- Choose the Right Tofu: Soft tofu works best for this recipe. Handle it gently to prevent breaking during cooking.
- High Heat, Quick Cooking: Ensure your pan is hot before adding ground pork to achieve perfect browning and flavor development.
- Gentle Stirring: When adding sauce and mixing ingredients, use a light touch to keep tofu cubes intact.
- Sauce Consistency: Let the sauce simmer to slightly thicken, which helps it coat the tofu and pork more effectively.
- Fresh Garnish: Chopped scallions aren't just for looks - they add a fresh, sharp flavor that cuts through the richness of the dish.
- Rice Pairing: Serve with steamed white rice to soak up the delicious sauce and create a complete meal.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 283kcal
Carbohydrates: 12g
Protein: 16g
Fat: 21g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 35mg
