Vegan mapo tofu

Author: Sam Campbell - Chef

Photographer: Melanie Jenkins

This is a healthy vegan version of the popular Chinese mapo tofu dish that's high in fibre, iron and protein. Delish!

Serves: 4

Time to make: 30 mins

Ingredients

More weights & measures

400g fresh tofu, drained and broken into 2cm chunks
1 ½ cups diced button mushrooms
1 teaspoon sesame oil
3 tablespoons black bean chilli paste or XO mushroom sauce
1 ½ teaspoons Sichuan pepper (see tip)
3 cups diced portobello mushrooms
25g dry black wood ear mushrooms, soaked in boiling water, drained, sliced
1 eggplantaubergineX, diced
4 spring onions, sliced
4 cups cooked black rice

Instructions

Stay Awake

1 Drain tofu, and gently break up into 2cm chunks.

2 In a food processor, chop button mushrooms until fine but not puréed.

3 In wok or large non-stick pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add chilli paste, Sichuan pepper and cook for 2 minutes. Turn heat up to high, add all mushrooms and eggplant and cook quickly until softened. Turn out into a bowl.

4 Add tofu to the pan, stir-fry over medium heat for 8 minutes. Add spring onions and cook for 2 minutes. Return mushrooms and eggplant to the pan, mix well.

5 Serve with the black rice in large bowls. Garnish with coriander, if desired.

Variations

If you can’t find wood ear mushrooms, just use more portobellos.

HFG tip

Mapo tofu, also known as mapo doufu, is a dish from Sichuan province in southwest China, and is tofu in a spicy sauce.
Sichuan pepper is sometimes called Sichuan powder.
Black bean chilli paste, XO mushroom sauce, wood ear mushrooms and Sichuan pepper are available from Asian grocery stores.

Nutrition Info (per serve)

Calories 449 cal

Kilojoules 1880 kJ

Protein 22 g

Total fat 12 g

Saturated fat 2 g

Carbohydrates 60 g

Sugar 9 g

Dietary fibre 8 g

Sodium 120 mg

Calcium 260 mg

Iron 7 mg

Note: This nutrition analysis is a guide only. Nutrition composition will vary depending on the exact ingredients used. See our guides on your optimal daily nutrition intake, and supermarket shopping.