Mabo Harusame Recipe

Mabo Harusame is a Japanese home-style dish inspired by the Chinese Mapo Tofu. Cooked harusame, clear glass noodles, are served in a mildly spicy Japanese Mabo-style sauce. It’s a Japanese fusion dish and, many of the elements that define traditional Mapo Tofu are not present except Doubanjiang (spicy bean paste). Nonetheless, the spicy and savory flavor of Mabo Harusame complements steamed white rice and has become a beloved everyday dinner dish in Japan.

The origin of Mabo Harusame traces back to a Japanese food company that created and developed an instant version of the dish. This version required no raw ingredients; the sauce and dried noodles all came in a single package. Its ease of cooking and alignment with Japanese palates helped popularize and commercialize Mabo Harusame, leading many other companies to follow suit. Initially more of a home-cooked (instant) dish, its growing popularity eventually led to its inclusion on restaurant menus.

When making Mabo Harusame from scratch, you can add more vegetables, such as bamboo shoots and bean sprouts. You can also adjust the spiciness by adding more chili sauce, as the basic version is minimally spicy. Mabo Harusame is a delicious and satisfying dinner entrée, and it’s definitely a must-try dish. Hope you give it a try soon!