One-Pot Spicy Mapo Tofu with Ground Pork

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A classic Sichuan dish featuring silky tofu and ground pork simmered in a spicy, fragrant chili bean sauce. This Chinese-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs soft tofu, ground pork, Sichuan chili bean paste (doubanjiang) for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 3, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 3 Chinese cuisine 320 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp minced ginger, and 2 tbsp Sichuan chili bean paste, stirring for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and the oil turns red.
  2. Step 2: Add 200 g ground pork and cook, breaking it apart, until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes.
  3. Step 3: Pour in 1 cup chicken broth and 1 tbsp soy sauce, bring to a simmer.
  4. Step 4: Gently add 400 g soft tofu cut into 1-inch cubes, simmer uncovered for 5 minutes to absorb flavors.
  5. Step 5: Mix 1 tsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp water, then stir into the skillet to thicken the sauce, cooking for 2 minutes until the sauce coats the tofu.
  6. Step 6: Remove from heat and drizzle 1 tsp sesame oil, sprinkle 1 tsp toasted ground Sichuan peppercorns and 2 chopped scallions evenly over the dish before serving.

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