[RECIPE] Mabo Tofu Don

The classic Mapo Tofu, or Mabo Tofu, combines Tofu, ground pork, and a garlicky, spicy meat sauce, and it's served over a bed of steaming rice as a Donburi (rice bowl dish). Perfect for busy weeknights, this quick and flavorful rice dish transforms simple ingredients into a comforting meal. 

Recipe: 

Serving: 2-3

Time: 20 minutes 

Ingredients:

• Cooked Rice

• 1 pack Tofu 

• 1/2 lb Ground Pork

• 2-3 pcs Scallion

• 1 tsp Grated Garlic 

• 1 tsp Grated Ginger 

• 2 tsp Tobanjan 

• 1 & 1/2 cup Water

• 2 tbsp Soy Sauce 

• 1 tbsp Sake 

• 2 tsp Torigara Powder (Japanese chicken stock) 

• 1 & 1/2 tbsp each Potato Starch and Water

• 2 tbsp Sesame Oil 

• Garlic Chili Oil 

Instructions:

1. Cook the rice to prepare. 

2. Chop the scallions and cube the Tofu. Grate the garlic and ginger, then set everything aside. 

3. Heat 1 tbsp of sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add the chopped scallions, grated garlic, and ginger. Stir-fry until fragrant. Add the ground pork and tobanjan, breaking up the meat as it cooks, until it's browned and fully cooked. 

4. Pour in the water, soy sauce, sake, and Torigara Powder. Stir well, then cover the pan and let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes. 

5. Gently fold in the cubed Tofu, being careful not to break it. Allow the Tofu to warm through. '

6. Stir the potato starch slurry to ensure it's well-mixed, then pour it into the pan. Stir gently until the sauce thickens and coats the tofu and meat evenly. Drizzle in the remaining sesame oil and mix lightly. 

7. Divide the cooked rice into serving bowls. Ladle the Map Tofu mixture generously over the rice. Drizzle with garlic chili oil for extra heat and flavor. 

RECIPE by Azusa