Vegan Mapo Tofu
This rich without meat!? The Perfect Fake Mapo Made with Soy Meat and Shiitake Dashi
Description
A healthy bowl showcasing Taiwan's Su Shi (vegetarian) techniques, using 'soy meat' (Su Rou) instead of minced pork and creating deep richness with dried shiitake broth.
Restaurants serving Vegan Mapo Tofu
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On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Firm tofu
- Soy meat
- Dried shiitake
- Vegetarian Doubanjiang
- Ginger
- Cashews
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- Rehydrate soy meat (minced type), squeeze firmly to remove odor. Rehydrate dried shiitake, chop finely, and keep the soaking liquid.
- Heat plenty of vegetable oil (blended with sesame oil) in a wok, slowly sauté chopped ginger (Su Shi avoids alliums like garlic/scallions) and shiitake for aroma.
- Add soy meat, doubanjiang (special Su Shi type without alliums), soy sauce, and sugar, sautéing fragrantly.
- Pour shiitake soaking liquid, add firm tofu, and simmer.
- To compensate for lacking animal fat, add a secret pinch of crushed cashews (or peanuts), and thicken with potato starch slurry. Scatter cilantro or celery leaves instead of scallions.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Shiitake aroma and Sesame oil
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Atsuage (finely chopped as meat sub)
Pairing
Vegetable soup or Rice porridge
Trivia
[Hardcore] A masterpiece of Taiwanese Buddhist cuisine that completely destroys the notion that 'vegetarian food is unsatisfying'. Mushroom guanylate and nut richness brilliantly fill the void left by pork.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] Since it has zero greasiness and doesn't sit heavy in the stomach, devour it healthily with a spoon just like a soup!
Allergen
Soy, Wheat, Sesame, Cashews