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mapo tofu
A popular Chinese-origin dish of soft tofu in a spicy sauce made with minced meat, chili bean paste, and Sichuan peppercorns. Widely eaten in Japan.
今日の昼ご飯は麻婆豆腐にした。
I had mapo tofu for lunch today.
この店の麻婆豆腐は辛くて美味しい。
This restaurant's mapo tofu is spicy and delicious.
麻婆豆腐の素を使えば、家でも簡単に本格的な味が楽しめる。
If you use a mapo tofu sauce mix, you can easily enjoy an authentic flavor at home.
Originally a Sichuan dish from China, 麻婆豆腐 became one of the most popular Chinese dishes in Japan. The name comes from Chinese: 麻 (numbing, from Sichuan pepper) + 婆 (old woman, referring to the dish's legendary creator) + 豆腐 (tofu).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 麻婆豆腐を作る: to make mapo tofu
- 麻婆豆腐の素: mapo tofu sauce mix
- 麻婆豆腐丼: mapo tofu rice bowl
- 辛口麻婆豆腐: spicy mapo tofu
- 本格麻婆豆腐: authentic mapo tofu
CULTURAL NOTE:
In Japan, 麻婆豆腐 is a staple of 中華料理 (Chinese cuisine) and a common home-cooked meal. Instant sauce packets (麻婆豆腐の素) are sold in every supermarket. The Japanese version tends to be milder than the Sichuan original.
RELATED DISHES:
- 麻婆なす: mapo eggplant — same sauce with eggplant instead of tofu
- 回鍋肉: twice-cooked pork — another popular Chinese dish in Japan
- 青椒肉絲: pepper steak — stir-fried beef with green peppers