Recipe Ancestor

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trace: Mapo Tofu

as of Sep 15, 2026

Mapo Tofu

VIRAL	ANCESTOR
Mapo Tofu #51 · dinner · chinese Host: Serious Eats — Mapo Tofu → YouTube → web writeups Viral recipe (as published / commonly shared) Ingredients 1 block soft or medium tofu (14–16 oz), cubed 4–6 oz ground pork or beef (optional for vegan omit) 2–3 tablespoons doubanjiang (chili bean paste) 1 tablespoon fermented black beans (optional) 2 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon ginger, scallions 1 cup stock; 1 teaspoon soy sauce; 1 teaspoon sugar 1–2 teaspoons Sichuan peppercorns (toasted/ground) Cornstarch slurry; chili oil Steps Blanch tofu briefly in salted water; drain. Brown meat; add doubanjiang, black beans, garlic, and ginger until red oil blooms. Add stock, soy, sugar; slide in tofu and simmer gently. Thicken with slurry; finish with Sichuan pepper, chili oil, and scallions; serve over rice. Source: Serious Eats — Mapo Tofu tags: tofu,pork,doubanjiang,sichuan-pepper · popularity: evergreen · meat: yes	Mapo tofu Book: Every Grain of Rice — Fuchsia Dunlop (2012) crumb: tofu in spicy bean sauce Sichuan classic of soft tofu in chili-bean sauce. Differences: The classic dish.

VIRAL

ANCESTOR

Mapo Tofu
#51 · dinner · chinese
Host: Serious Eats — Mapo Tofu → YouTube → web writeups

Viral recipe (as published / commonly shared)

Ingredients

1 block soft or medium tofu (14–16 oz), cubed
4–6 oz ground pork or beef (optional for vegan omit)
2–3 tablespoons doubanjiang (chili bean paste)
1 tablespoon fermented black beans (optional)
2 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon ginger, scallions
1 cup stock; 1 teaspoon soy sauce; 1 teaspoon sugar
1–2 teaspoons Sichuan peppercorns (toasted/ground)
Cornstarch slurry; chili oil

Steps

Blanch tofu briefly in salted water; drain.
Brown meat; add doubanjiang, black beans, garlic, and ginger until red oil blooms.
Add stock, soy, sugar; slide in tofu and simmer gently.
Thicken with slurry; finish with Sichuan pepper, chili oil, and scallions; serve over rice.

Source: Serious Eats — Mapo Tofu

tags: tofu,pork,doubanjiang,sichuan-pepper · popularity: evergreen · meat: yes

Mapo tofu
Book: Every Grain of Rice — Fuchsia Dunlop (2012)

crumb: tofu in spicy bean sauce

Sichuan classic of soft tofu in chili-bean sauce.

Differences: The classic dish.

Match: Exact

Recipes for print / share

Viral recipe

Mapo Tofu

Viral recipe (as published / commonly shared)

Ingredients
- 1 block soft or medium tofu (14–16 oz), cubed
- 4–6 oz ground pork or beef (optional for vegan omit)
- 2–3 tablespoons doubanjiang (chili bean paste)
- 1 tablespoon fermented black beans (optional)
- 2 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon ginger, scallions
- 1 cup stock; 1 teaspoon soy sauce; 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1–2 teaspoons Sichuan peppercorns (toasted/ground)
- Cornstarch slurry; chili oil

Steps
1. Blanch tofu briefly in salted water; drain.
2. Brown meat; add doubanjiang, black beans, garlic, and ginger until red oil blooms.
3. Add stock, soy, sugar; slide in tofu and simmer gently.
4. Thicken with slurry; finish with Sichuan pepper, chili oil, and scallions; serve over rice.

Citations
- Serious Eats — Mapo Tofu: https://www.seriouseats.com/mapo-tofu-recipe
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Mapo+Tofu
- web writeups: https://www.google.com/search?q=Mapo+Tofu+recipe

Compiled for personal use; see citations.

Viral recipe (as published / commonly shared) with citations — not a cookbook reprint. Download mapo-tofu.txt

Trace receipt

Dish: Mapo Tofu
Match: Exact
Ancestor: Mapo tofu
Source: Every Grain of Rice — Fuchsia Dunlop (2012)
Differences: The classic dish.
Book recipe: Not offered for print/share (not public domain). Buy or borrow the book.
Viral sources: Serious Eats — Mapo Tofu (https://www.seriouseats.com/mapo-tofu-recipe)
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Mapo+Tofu)
web writeups (https://www.google.com/search?q=Mapo+Tofu+recipe)
Date: Sep 15, 2026

Source — what this book IS
Every Grain of Rice — Fuchsia Dunlop (2012).
Home-style Chinese cooking focused on everyday Sichuan and broader Chinese techniques: steam, boil, stir-fry, and simple sauces.

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Recipe Ancestor

Mapo Tofu

Recipes for print / share

Viral recipe

Trace receipt

Related

Same meal (dinner)

Same cuisine (chinese)

Same book (Every Grain of Rice)