Ma Po Tofu is thought to have existed as early as 1254, with one account indicating it existed in a suburb of Chengdu, the captial city of Sichuan province.
Ma Po Tofu is traditionally served with meat, such as minced pork or beef, but this recipe can be easily adapted for vegetarians by swapping out the meat for Quorn or sweetcorn and the Oyster Sauce for Vegetarian Stir-fry Sauce.