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Tofu with saucy minced pork dish Chinese recipe
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Silken Tofu with Minced Pork — Easy Chinese Recipe Ready in 15 Minutes

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Servings: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 100 g minced pork 100克猪肉碎
  • 1 block silken/smooth tofu 1块滑豆腐
  • 3 cloves garlic minced 3瓣大蒜，切碎
  • 1 –2 tablespoons cooking oil 1-2汤匙食用油

Pork Marinade 猪肉腌料

  • ½ tablespoon light soy sauce 半汤匙生抽
  • ½ teaspoon cornstarch 半茶匙玉米淀粉
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil 一汤匙食用油

Seasoning 调料

  • ½ tablespoon light soy sauce 半汤匙生抽
  • ½ tablespoon abalone sauce ½汤匙鲍鱼酱
  • 125 ml water or chicken stock ½ cup 125毫升(½杯)水或鸡汤
  • 1.5 teaspoons cornstarch 1.5茶匙玉米淀粉

Garnish 装饰

  • 1 sprig spring onion diced 1根小葱，切丁

Instructions

Step 1 — Marinate the Minced Pork

  • Add the minced pork to a bowl along with the light soy sauce. Then mix well. Next, add cornstarch and mix well. Add cooking oil. Then gently mix in different directions.
  • Important tip: After adding the oil, don’t mix the meat in a circular motion. Instead, gently mix it in different directions. This prevents the pork from clumping together during cooking and keeps it tender.
  • Set aside to marinate while you prepare the tofu.

Step 2 — Prepare the Silken Tofu

  • Remove the top plastic sheet from the tofu packaging. Flip the package over onto a cutting board. Make a few small slits at the corners of the packaging — this makes it much easier to release the tofu without breaking it.
  • Gently press the top and sides of the packaging to release the tofu onto your cutting board. Then cut it into smaller bite-sized cubes.

Step 3 — Sauté the Garlic

  • Heat 1–2 tablespoons of oil in a pan or wok over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until the edges turn golden brown and fragrant.

Step 4 — Cook the Minced Pork

  • Add the marinated minced pork to the pan. Immediately mix it together with the garlic — this prevents the garlic from burning.
  • Stir-fry until the pork changes colour from pink to brown and is fully cooked through.

Step 5 — Add Tofu and Sauce

  • Gently add the tofu cubes into the pan. Then add:
  • Light soy sauce
  • Abalone sauce
  • Cornstarch mixture (stir the cornstarch water before adding — it settles at the bottom!)
  • Gently mix everything together, being careful not to break up the tofu too much.

Step 6 — Thicken the Sauce

  • Increase the heat and let everything cook until the sauce thickens to a glossy consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning with a little more salt or sugar if needed.

Step 7 — Serve

  • Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with freshly diced spring onions. Serve immediately over steamed white rice.

Notes

  • Always stir the cornstarch mixture before adding it to the pan — cornstarch settles quickly and you want it evenly distributed in the sauce.
  • Don’t over-stir the tofu — silken tofu is delicate. A few gentle folds are all you need.
  • Abalone sauce adds a rich, umami depth to this dish. You can find it at most Asian grocery stores. If you don’t have it, oyster sauce works as a substitute.
  • Chicken stock instead of water gives the sauce a richer, more flavourful base.