Tofu with minced pork combines the rich, savory taste of ground pork with the soft, delicate texture of tofu, creating a flavorful, comforting meal. It’s a great dish to try if you love mapo tofu but don’t want all the fiery spice.
Tofu with minced pork is a beloved homestyle dish in China. It’s comforting, full of umami, and incredibly easy to prepare. This recipe uses basic ingredients that pack a punch, combining the creamy, tender tofu with savory ground pork, all in a deliciously aromatic brown sauce. The tofu is lightly simmered to soak up all the flavor, while the ground pork adds a satisfying bite. A few everyday ingredients like garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and hoisin sauce, along with a touch of Shaoxing wine, bring out the deep, comforting flavors. This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and delivers authentic flavors with minimal effort.
Tofu with minced pork ingredients
What type of tofu to use
I used firm tofu in this recipe, but you can use any type of tofu you like. Extra firm, medium and soft tofu all work really well. If you use soft tofu, you should add the liquid ingredients after cooking the aromatics, and directly add the tofu into the broth. This way you can prevent the tofu from falling apart during the stirring.
Can I use other ground meat instead of pork?
Yes! Any ground meat will work very well in this dish. For example, ground chicken, beef (one of my favorites) and turkey all work great.
Mise en place
When you’re ready to cook, your table should have:
- Marinated pork
- Chopped aromatics (ginger, garlic, green onion)
- Cornstarch slurry
- Chicken broth
- Tofu, sliced
- Soy sauce and hoisin sauce (I like to use one bowl for them because you will add them at the same time)
It’s important to marinate the pork, so it stays juicy and tender once it’s cooked.
Prefer a spicy taste?
Add a spoonful of chili crisp oil and this dish will taste quite similar to mapo tofu! If you prefer an authentic tasting mapo tofu, check out my mapo tofu recipe here.
How to make tofu with minced pork
To cook tofu with minced pork, first brown the pork, then gently saute the aromatics.
Gently saute the tofu, then add the broth and season to simmer.
Lastly, pour in the cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce, then finish up with the green part of the green onion.
Once it’s done, the tender tofu and pork will be coated with a glossy brown sauce that is savory and fragrant. It is such a comforting dish that is sure to become a family favorite.
How to serve tofu with minced pork
You can serve tofu with minced pork by itself as a main dish, or over steamed rice. It’s also a great dish for dinner served along with soup and other side dishes. Consider serving it with the dishes below for an easy, healthy dinner:
- Chinese Egg Drop Soup
- Easy Soy Sauce Noodles (阳春面)
- Easy Egg Fried Rice (蛋炒饭)
- Bok Choy and Mushroom Stir Fry
Other delicious tofu recipes
- Egg and Tofu Stir Fry (15-Minute)
- General Tso’s Tofu
- Pan Fried Tofu (脆皮豆腐)
- Napa Cabbage Tofu Soup (白菜豆腐汤)
- Authentic Mapo Tofu (麻婆豆腐)
Tofu With Minced Pork
Ingredients
Marinating
- 4 oz (120 g) ground pork
- 2 teaspoons Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
For braising
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
- 1 green onion , sliced, white and green parts separated
- 1 teaspoon ginger , minced
- 1 clove garlic , minced
- 1 block (400-g / 14-oz) firm tofu
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce (or oyster sauce)
Instructions
- Combine the ground pork, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce and soy sauce and cornstarch in a small bowl. Mix well with your hand.
- Combine cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water in a small bowl. Mix well and set aside.
- Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the ground pork. Spread it out and cook until the bottom is browned. Chop the pork into smaller pieces and stir, until the surface has turned golden.
- Add the green onion white part, ginger, and garlic. Stir fry to release fragrance, 1 minute or so.
- Add the tofu. Stir everything together, 1 minute or so.
- Pour in the broth, add the soy sauce and hoisin sauce. Stir to mix well. Cook until brought to a simmer. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until the sauce has slightly reduced.
- Mix cornstarch water again until fully dissolved and swirl it into the skillet. Gently stir a few times with a spatula, until sauce thickens. Taste the tofu (be careful, it will be very hot!). Adjust seasoning by adding salt if needed. Add the green onion green part and give it a final mix. Turn off heat and transfer everything to a bowl. Serve hot over steamed rice or by itself as a main dish.
Notes
- If you like a spicy taste, add 1 tablespoon of chili oil and this dish will taste quite like mapo tofu!
I love a good mapo tofu but this is really good, too. It helps that I love the flavor of Hoisin sauce.
Glad to hear you like this one! I usually don’t use hoisin sauce in tofu dish, but my Cantonese friend taught me the method and I ended up liking it 🙂
Simple and delicious! Thanks Maggie 😊