✨ NewDinner
Sichuan Mapo Tofu
Sichuan's iconic silky tofu in a numbing-hot sauce of doubanjiang, fermented black beans, and ground pork.
⏱ 25 min🔥 340 kcalEasy
🇨🇳
Chinese Tofu Recipes
5 recipes using tofu — Dim sum, Peking duck, kung pao chicken and the world's richest culinary heritage.
These 5 chinese tofu recipes are ready in about 37 minutes on average, with 180–360 kcal per serving, and 40% are rated easy enough for a weeknight. Every recipe includes exact ingredient quantities, step-by-step instructions and full nutrition per serving.
5
recipes
37 min
average time
308 kcal
avg per serving
40%
easy recipes
How Chinese cuisine cooks with tofu
Chinese cooking balances texture, heat and the harmony of flavours — fast wok work and slow braises drawn from a vast regional repertoire. When Chinese cooks work with tofu, they reach for soy sauce, ginger, garlic, spring onion, Shaoxing wine and sesame oil, and the techniques that come up most across these recipes are simmering, frying, steaming and stir-frying.
A protein-rich soybean curd that acts as a flavour sponge — neutral on its own, irresistible once marinated and seared. In this collection it's most often cooked with ground pork, neutral oil, soy sauce, cornstarch, scallions and pixian doubanjiang. The dishes here span chinese classics ready in as little as 25 minutes to slower, more involved cooking that rewards a relaxed afternoon.
5 Chinese Tofu Recipes
✨ NewDinner
Mapo Tofu (Classic Sichuan)
Silken tofu in a fierce red sauce of doubanjiang, fermented black beans, ground beef and Sichuan peppercorns — numbing, spicy, savoury heaven over rice.
⏱ 30 min🔥 360 kcalMedium
✨ NewSoup
Suan La Tang (Chinese Hot and Sour Soup)
A tangy, peppery Chinese soup with tofu, mushrooms and egg ribbons, thickened lightly and finished with black vinegar and white pepper.
⏱ 40 min🔥 180 kcalEasy
✨ NewDinner
Niang Doufu (Chinese Stuffed Tofu with Pork)
Firm tofu cubes hollowed and stuffed with seasoned ground pork, pan-fried and braised in a light savory sauce, a Hakka Chinese classic.
⏱ 55 min🔥 320 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner
Mapo Doufu (Sichuan Spicy Tofu Stew)
Silky tofu and ground pork simmered in a fiery, numbing Sichuan sauce of doubanjiang and Sichuan peppercorn, a beloved regional classic.
⏱ 35 min🔥 340 kcalMedium
Choosing & preparing tofu
How to choose
Firm and extra-firm tofu hold their shape for frying and grilling; silken tofu is for soups, sauces and blending. Check the date and that it's stored in clean water.
Prep & storage
Press firm tofu to expel water so it crisps and absorbs marinade. A cornflour coating gives shallow-fried cubes a golden crust; freezing then thawing makes it chewier.
Nutrition
A complete plant protein that's low in saturated fat and a useful source of iron and calcium.
Classic flavour partners: soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sesame, chilli, spring onion
Chinese Tofu Recipes — FAQ
How long do Chinese tofu recipes take to make?
Most of these 5 Chinese tofu recipes are ready in around 37 minutes from start to finish. The quickest, Sichuan Mapo Tofu, takes about 25 minutes, while the slower-cooked dishes run up to 55 minutes.
How many calories are in Chinese tofu dishes?
Across this collection they range from about 180 to 360 kcal per serving, averaging 308 kcal — Suan La Tang (Chinese Hot and Sour Soup) is the lightest option at 180 kcal.
What is the easiest Chinese tofu recipe for beginners?
Sichuan Mapo Tofu is a great place to start — it's rated easy and comes together in about 25 minutes. 40% of the recipes here are beginner-friendly.
What goes well with tofu in Chinese cooking?
In these recipes, tofu is most often paired with ground pork, neutral oil, soy sauce, cornstarch, scallions and pixian doubanjiang. Chinese kitchens also lean on soy sauce, ginger, garlic, spring onion, Shaoxing wine and sesame oil.
More Chinese Recipes by Ingredient
Tofu Recipes from Other Cuisines
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