Baek Jong-won’s Mapo Tofu (No Doubanjiang)
Baek Jong-won’s Mapo Tofu Made Without Doubanjiang – Simple Yet Delicious!
This Mapo Tofu recipe is incredibly easy to make and delivers amazing flavor, even without doubanjiang! Perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
Main Ingredients- 180g Tofu (firm or stewing type)
- 1 Tbsp Green Onion (white part, chopped)
- 1 Tbsp Scallion (chopped, for garnish)
All-Purpose Seasoning Sauce (Make ahead for convenience!)- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (or cooking wine)
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
Mapo Tofu Sauce & Stir-fry Ingredients- 1/2 cup Water (100ml)
- 1/2 cup Ground Pork (approx. 100g)
- 1/2 cup All-Purpose Seasoning Sauce (approx. 6 Tbsp)
- 2 Tbsp Cooking Oil
- 1 Tbsp Doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- Cornstarch Slurry (1/5 cup water (40ml) + 1/5 Tbsp cornstarch (1.5g))
- 1/5 cup water (40ml) + 1/5 Tbsp cornstarch (1.5g) mixed together
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (or cooking wine)
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
Mapo Tofu Sauce & Stir-fry Ingredients- 1/2 cup Water (100ml)
- 1/2 cup Ground Pork (approx. 100g)
- 1/2 cup All-Purpose Seasoning Sauce (approx. 6 Tbsp)
- 2 Tbsp Cooking Oil
- 1 Tbsp Doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- Cornstarch Slurry (1/5 cup water (40ml) + 1/5 Tbsp cornstarch (1.5g))
- 1/5 cup water (40ml) + 1/5 Tbsp cornstarch (1.5g) mixed together
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the all-purpose seasoning sauce. Combine 1 tablespoon each of sugar, gochugaru, minced garlic, soy sauce, mirin, and gochujang in a bowl. Mix well. This sauce can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator for 3 hours to a day to allow the flavors to meld, resulting in a deeper taste. It’s versatile and can be used in various dishes.
Step 2
Cut the tofu into approximately 2cm cubes. Cutting them too small can cause them to break apart easily, so aim for a manageable size.
Step 3
Finely chop the white parts of the green onion and set aside. Also, wash and finely chop the scallions for garnish.
Step 4
Measure and prepare all the sauce ingredients for stir-frying the Mapo Tofu. Having everything ready beforehand will make the cooking process smoother and more organized.
Step 5
Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped green onions and stir-fry briefly until fragrant. Once the aroma is released, add the ground pork and begin to stir-fry.
Step 6
Break up the ground pork with a spatula to prevent clumping and continue stir-frying. Following Chef Baek Jong-won’s tip, cook the pork over high heat until it looks like it might burn! This high-heat cooking method enhances the pork’s flavor. Cook until the pork is golden brown and some of its fat has rendered out.
Step 7
Once the pork is nicely browned, add 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 cup of the prepared all-purpose seasoning sauce, and 1 tablespoon of doenjang. Stir everything together to combine the flavors.
Step 8
Gently add the cubed tofu to the pan. Use a spatula to carefully mix the tofu with the sauce, trying not to break the tofu pieces. Ensure the tofu is coated evenly with the sauce.
Step 9
Adjust the consistency with the cornstarch slurry as needed. Mix 1/5 cup of water with 1/5 tablespoon of cornstarch. Don’t pour all of it in at once; observe the sauce thickening as it simmers. Add the slurry gradually until you reach your desired thickness. Be cautious: adding too much at the beginning can make the dish mushy. I prefer a slightly saucier consistency, so I added only a small amount.
Step 10
Once the sauce has reached the desired consistency, turn off the heat. Drizzle in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil for added richness and aroma. Finally, sprinkle the chopped scallions over the top as a garnish. Your delicious Mapo Tofu is ready!
Step 11
Using homemade spicy gochujang resulted in a perfectly savory and spicy Mapo Tofu. This dish is a fantastic side that will make you want to finish your rice in no time!
Step 12
For a more authentic Chinese Mapo Tofu flavor, you can substitute doenjang with doubanjiang (fermented bean paste). However, this recipe using doenjang still delivers a wonderfully deep and satisfying taste.
Step 13
Give this recipe a try! Chef Baek Jong-won’s recipes are known for being consistently delicious, rarely disappointing. Enjoy this hearty dish with a bowl of warm rice. ♡
