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Mapo tofu

From the video “How to Make Authentic Chinese Mapo Tofu (麻婆豆腐)” by Chinese Cooking Demystified. RecipesMD is not affiliated with Chinese Cooking Demystified. Steps are in our own words.

Machine-read from the video · not yet checked by a personMediumFine for a weeknight
Medium
Total time
~45 min
est.
Serves
~2
est.
Cost
~$1.73*
per serving, Ontario (~3 portions assumed)save ~$15.27* vs ordering out
Difficulty
Medium
Ingredients
18

Ingredients

May contain gluten, soy, sesame

Read from the ingredient list. Check packaging if you have an allergy.

The video doesn’t say how many this serves, so amounts are shown as made in the video.

Ontario grocery estimate*

~$5.18*for the batch in the video
~$1.73*per serving

You save about ~$15.27* per serving (90% less*) than ordering it out — ~$45.82* for ~3 portions.

Order out = a typical Ontario mapo tofu with rice, before delivery fees, tax and tip.

7 ingredients priced from Ontario averages · 5 predicted from typical costs · not priced: sichuan peppercorns, stock concentrate, shaoxing wine

* Estimate, not a quote: 5 line(s) we couldn't price were filled with typical costs for their type; the video doesn't state how many it serves, so 3 portions were assumed; restaurant comparison is a typical Ontario mapo tofu with rice at ~$17, before delivery fees, tax and tip. Prices: Ontario averages (StatCan 2026-07) + RecipesMD estimates, pro-rated, staples excluded.

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stated said or written in the video · shown seen in the video · estimated our guess (1 here)

Nutrition & health

Nutrition per serving185 kcal · 9% of 2,000
Fat11 g14%
Saturated fat2.5 g13%
Sodium1,276 mg55%
Carbohydrate8.4 g3%
Fiber1.3 g5%
Total sugars1.9 gno daily value
Added sugars0 g0%
Protein14 g27%

Estimate from the ingredient list — not dietary advice. % Daily Value uses FDA reference amounts; 5% or less is low, 20% or more is high. Added sugars are counted from sweeteners and sweet sauces in the list.

Health indexMiddle of the road
  • Starting point60
  • Protein+20 of 20
  • Fiber+10 of 20
  • Saturated fat−13 of 20
  • Sodium−20 of 20
  • Added sugars (estimate)0 of 20

RecipesMD health index — an estimate from the ingredient list, not medical or dietary advice

From 12 of 15 ingredient lines (98% of the measured weight), divided into 2 servings (estimated: 265 g protein foods at ~170 g per serving; model check 2 agrees). Not counted because the video gives no amount: Canola Oil, Sugar, Green Onions. Not matched to nutrient data: Sichuan Peppercorns. Source: USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy (2018-04, public domain) + 4 Branded Foods records.

Equipment

  • mortar and pestle
  • wok
  • knife
  • cutting board
  • pot
  • strainer
  • spatula

What the video didn’t say

  • servings count not stated
  • total cooking time not stated
Cook it this week →Watch on YouTube ↗Markdown

Read from the public video by gemini-3.5-flash-lite on 2026-10-01. Thumbnail and video are Chinese Cooking Demystified’s, shown through YouTube’s official embed.

Same dish, other creators

Other versions of mapo tofu

Compare side by sideMapo tofu: 2 versions2 creator versions · from ~$1.73*/servingChinese Cooking DemystifiedJ. Kenji López-Alt

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Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about Mapo tofu

What makes Chinese Cooking Demystified's Mapo tofu recipe and technique special?

Chinese Cooking Demystified's take on Mapo tofu focuses on home kitchen precision, balancing Chinese flavors with an estimated under 30 minutes total preparation time. Crucial step: Fry chili bean paste until red oil separates, or sauce will be raw. Every step is timestamped to the exact second in the video so you can follow along hands-free.

How much does it cost to make Mapo tofu at Ontario grocery prices?

Based on Statistics Canada benchmark consumer food pricing, this Mapo tofu recipe costs approximately economical home-cooked pricing per serving (yielding 2 to 4 portions). Home cooking saves an estimated 60% to 75% compared to ordering takeout at a restaurant.

Can I make Mapo tofu ahead of time or store leftovers?

Yes. Leftover Mapo tofu can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. If the recipe contains delicate leafy greens or dressed ingredients, keep the dressing separate until ready to serve to maintain crisp texture.

What substitutions can I make in Chinese Cooking Demystified's Mapo tofu?

This recipe utilizes approximately 18 ingredients across 12 steps. For gluten-free adaptations, swap regular soy sauce or flour with tamari or cornstarch. For vegetarian adaptations, replace meat proteins with extra-firm tofu, mushrooms, or legumes while preserving the aromatics.

Where can I watch the video tutorial for Mapo tofu?

The official cooking video by Chinese Cooking Demystified is embedded directly on RecipesMD, featuring video timeline scrubbing that jumps directly to each step, adjustable playback speeds, and Kitchen Mode.