Authentic Nutrient-Rich 20-Minute Vegan Mapo Tofu Recipe with Lan's Szechuan Chili Oil and Sauce
Share
Course: Main or Entree
Category: Asian
Prep Time: 10 minute
Cook Time: 20 minute
Total Time: 25 minute
Serving: 2-3
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients:
- 1 block (14 oz) Sunrise silken or soft tofu, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons rapeseed oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-inch piece of ginger, minced
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons of Lan's Herbal Chilli Oil
- 2 tablespoon Lan's Chilli Sauce
- 3 tablespoons of hot water
- Cooked white rice, for serving
Key ingredients for Mapo Tofu
Lan's Herbal Sauce
Doubanjiang and Douchi are used in most traditional Mapo Tofu recipes, known for its strong fermented savory taste. But in this recipe, we've replaced it with Lan's Herbal Chili Sauce, a delicious alternative that brings a unique, tantalizing, herbal, spicy flavour to this recipe. This Asian Canadian women-owned, vegan chilli sauce is made with quality ingredients that'll satisfy anyone's spice levels.
Sunrise Soft Tofu
Sunrise soft tofu, a popular brand of tofu, offers numerous health benefits due to its high nutritional content. As an excellent source of plant-based protein, tofu is essential for muscle repair and growth, making it a great choice for vegetarians and vegans. It is rich in essential amino acids and provides a good amount of iron, calcium, and magnesium, which are vital for maintaining healthy bones and preventing osteoporosis. Known for its low calories in-take and low cholesterol, making it heart-friendly and beneficial for weight management. Because of it's versatile and can easily be incorporated into various dishes, making it a convenient and nutritious addition to a balanced diet.
Rapeseed Oil
Rapeseed oil, is lauded for its numerous health benefits and versatility in cooking. It is rich in monounsaturated fats, which are known to help reduce bad cholesterol levels, thus promoting heart health and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, rapeseed oil contains significant amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, essential for brain function and cellular health. This oil is also a good source of vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage and supports skin health. Its high smoke point makes it suitable for various cooking methods, including frying, baking, and roasting, without breaking down into harmful compounds.
Instructions:
Prepare the tofu
Gently boil the tofu cubes in lightly salted water for 2-3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Add aromatics
Add the minced garlic and ginger stir-fry for about 1 minute until fragrant and golden-brown
Add the sauces:
Stir in Lan's Vegan Chilli Sauce and Lan's Chili oil. Cook for another minute, mixing well to combine the flavors.
Simmer:
Pour in 3 tablespoons of hot water. Bring to a simmer.
Thicken the sauce:
Add the cornstarch mixture to the pan and stir until the sauce thickens.
Add tofu:
Gently add the tofu cubes to the pan, carefully mixing to coat the tofu with the sauce. Simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes to heat the tofu through.
Finish:
Sprinkle with chopped green onions.
Serve:
Serve hot over cooked white rice.