Vegan Mapo Tofu

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 5 min
Servings: 4
Yield: 4 servings

Description

Ready in minutes, this vegan mapo tofu relies on a show-stopping sauce of fermented black beans, chili bean paste, and Sichuan peppercorns.

Ingredients

1/2 cup vegetable broth
1 tablespoon maple syrup
2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced
3 tablespoons fermented black beans, roughly chopped
2 green onions, white parts only, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns
2 tablespoons chili bean paste (doubanjiang)
1 (14 ounce) container silken tofu, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 tablespoon chile oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil
3 tablespoons peanuts, chopped

Directions

1 Mix vegetable broth, maple syrup, soy sauce, and cornstarch in a bowl.
2 Heat peanut oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, black beans, green onions, garlic, ginger, and Sichuan peppercorns. Saute until aromatic, about 1 minute. Add chili bean paste and the soy sauce mixture. Cook and stir until thick, 3 to 5 minutes. Add tofu; cook until heated through, about 1 minute more.
3 Transfer cooked tofu to a serving dish; drizzle chile oil and sesame oil on top. Top with chopped peanuts.