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    Home » Pork » Tomato Tofu with Minced Pork

    Published: Mar 31, 2022 · Last Modified: Mar 31, 2022 by Jeannette ·

    Tomato Tofu with Minced Pork

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    Tomato Tofu With Minced Pork in a bowl.
    Tomato Tofu With Minced Pork in a bowl with rice and a wooden spoon in it.
    Tomato Tofu With Minced Pork in a bowl with a wooden spoon in it.

    Grandma’s family-style Tomato Tofu With Minced Pork is the HOMIEST side dish you can make in just 15 minutes! Silken tofu is simmered in a light tomato broth that’ll keep you cozy every season. It’s also stir fried with juicy pork mince for that extra flavor and texture.

    If this style of comfort food is right up your alley, try my brother’s spicy Mapo Tofu!

    Tomato Tofu With Minced Pork in a bowl with a wooden spoon in it.

    Easy, simple and delicious comfort food

    At home, we’re no strangers to a good minced meat recipe. Whether it’s served with eggplants, lemongrass, in congee or in meatballs, they’re a budget-friendly way to feed the family. But if you haven’t tried Grandma’s Tomato Tofu with Minced Pork, then you’re in for a treat!

    I know that I can always count on this recipe whenever our fridge is close to empty. All you need is a grand total of 5 main ingredients and you’re set! Then spare yourself 15 minutes and you’ll end up with the silkiest CREAMIEST tofu infused in a tomato-rich sauce. 

    It’s not just about how that tofu simply melts in your mouth. It’s perfectly balanced by mince that has been stir fried until everything’s flavor bomb. Together, the tofu and pork make true harmony over your rice.

    Whether you’re looking to cook something delicious with just a few ingredients or wanting to enjoy a simple meal, Grandma’s recipe is the way to go!

    How does silken tofu differ from all the other types?

    An open and sealed tub of silken tofu.

    Much like its name, silken tofu is silky. It melts in your mouth and requires little to no chewing.

    This type of bean curd also has a much milder soy bean flavor than regular tofu as it has a higher water to soy protein ratio.

    The general rule of thumb is: the more pressed the bean curd, the firmer and richer in soy essence it is.

    We get our tofu from the fridge section of our local Asian supermarket. It’s widely available and it comes packaged in boxes or plastic tubes. The plastic tube version is great for when Dad cooks it with seafood.

    At the end of the day, whether you choose silken tofu over the other types or a mixture of both is entirely up to your personal preference. Grandma’s Tomato Tofu with Minced Pork will work with all of them!

    Tomato Tofu With Minced Pork in a bowl with rice and a wooden spoon in it.

    Why this recipe works

    • Using silken bean curd works as a wonderful balance for the springy pork mince texture.
    • Tomato paste is a great way to add a rich tangy and fruity tomato flavor with minimal prep.
    • Adding a liquid like water or a homemade stock means you’ll have a sauce ready to pour over rice.

    What you’ll need

    Three tubs of silken tofu along with a measuring jug of water, dishes of tomato paste, salt, sugar, chicken bouillon powder, chopped garlic and oil and a bowl of pork mince.

    About the ingredients

    When buying the tofu, make sure that it’s the silken one. Any type will work, but the soft texture in this version complements the mince best.

    Make sure that when you’re buying tomato paste, opt for the unsalted type so you can control the amount of sodium that goes into it.

    This recipe uses pork mince, but you can choose to use whichever you prefer.

    How to make this recipe

    Cubed tofu in a colander.

    Carefully cube the tofu into 2cm x 2cm (1/2″ x 1/2″) blocks and place them into a colander.

    Pro Tip: Be especially delicate to avoid breaking them.

    Sprinkle 1/4 tsp of salt on the cubes, shaking the colander to mix in the seasoning. Let it rest as you work on the other ingredients.

    Pork mince in a bowl with seasoning.

    Put the mince in a bowl and add the remaining salt, chicken bouillon powder and sugar. Combine the ingredients well.

    Tomato paste in a wok.

    Heat up your wok or pan on a high heat and add the oil in. Turn the heat to medium and add the garlic.

    Stir for 20 seconds or until fragrant, then add the tomato paste in and stir for another 20 seconds.

    Cooked mince with tomato paste in a wok.

    Increase the heat back up to high, then add the pork and mix it into the tomato paste. It’s best to separate the mince using a ‘poke and twist’ method with a flat cooking utensil like a heatproof spatula.

    Note: The ‘poke and twist’ method simply involves you poking the mince with a utensil, then twisting it to separate the meat.

    Repeat until all the mince is cooked and separated. This will take about 5 minutes, depending on your stove’s heat.

    Tofu cubes in cooked mince in a wok.

    When the meat is cooked, add the tofu and stir until each cube is coated in the red color.

    Pro Tip: Be gentle to avoid any unnecessary breaking.

    Cubed tofu and pork mince cooking in a wok.

    Gently stir fry the tofu and pork mince for 2 minutes to infuse flavor.

    Tomato Tofu With Minced Pork in a wok.

    Pour in the chicken and pork stock and carefully stir. Let the dish simmer on medium heat for 5 minutes.

    When ready, serve immediately with hot rice!

    Recipe FAQs

    Why does my tofu break?

    Silken tofu is very delicate. It’s likely to break at the corners simply by touching it with a little pressure. To keep this at a minimum, be gentle when stirring and use a wooden or rubber spatula. This will help to scoop rather than grab and will be softer than metal, which has the tendency to slice the bean curd.

    Can I use fresh tomatoes?

    Definitely! The flavor will be milder, but you can always adjust to preference using seasoning like salt and sugar. I would suggest dicing the tomatoes so they soften and cook faster.

    Why is the mince tough?

    If the ground pork is on the leaner side, it can toughen quickly under heat because there’s less fat to render. I would suggest going for a fattier mince.
    Also, if the meat has been cooked for too long, it will start to become rubbery. Make sure that you keep an eye on the pork until it’s just cooked before taking it out to serve.

    Tips for the best results

    • Be very gentle. Silken bean curd is extremely delicate and will break easily.
    • Use a homemade stock. The taste will be richer and you’ll get complete control over what ingredients are added into your dish.
    • Opt for a fattier mince. It’ll keep everything more flavorful and juicy.
    Tomato Tofu With Minced Pork in a bowl.

    What to serve it with

    At home, we love a good ground pork recipe. They’re super versatile and have just enough bite to complement any savory dish. But to make it part of a complete family meal, here’s how we like to enjoy Grandma’s Tomato Tofu with Minced Pork:

    • Start by serving a fresh Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad (拍黄瓜).
    • Grandma’s Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry, a side of fragrant Fish Floss and Stir Fried Water Spinach with Shrimp Paste make an incredible dinner spread.
    • Finish it off with a simple Chinese Sargassum Soup (海藻湯).
    • Kick things up a notch by drizzling Sichuan Garlic Chili Oil over everything.
    • Hashima Dessert Soup (雪蛤膏糖水) will cool everyone down when served cold or keep the bodies warm when served hot!

    Want more home cooked recipes?

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    Tomato Tofu With Minced Pork in a bowl with a wooden spoon in it.

    Tomato Tofu With Minced Pork

    Tomato Tofu With Minced Pork is a dish you can make in just 15 minutes. Silken tofu is simmered in a light broth that'll keep you cozy every season!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 2 minutes
    Cook Time: 13 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 344kcal
    Author: Jeannette

    Equipment

    • Colander
    • wooden or rubber spatula (to minimise the chance of tofu breaking)

    Ingredients

    • 400 g / 0.88 lb pork mince
    • 900 g / 2 lb silken tofu (this is about 3 boxes)
    • 3 1/2 tbsp tomato paste
    • 3 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
    • 1 tsp chicken bouillon powder
    • 3/4 tsp salt (or to taste)
    • 1 tsp sugar (or to taste)
    • 3 tbsp cooking oil
    • 180 mL / 0.8 US cup chicken and pork stock (or water)

    Instructions

    • Carefully cube the tofu into 2cm x 2cm (1/2″ x 1/2″) blocks and place them into a colander.
      Pro Tip: Be especially delicate to avoid breaking them.
    • Sprinkle 1/4 tsp of salt on the cubes, shaking the colander to mix in the seasoning. Let it rest as you work on the other ingredients.
    • Put the mince in a bowl and add the remaining salt, chicken bouillon powder and sugar. Combine the ingredients well.
    • Heat up your wok or pan on a high heat and add the oil in. Turn the heat to medium and add the garlic.
    • Stir for 20 seconds or until fragrant, then add the tomato paste in and stir for another 20 seconds.
    • Increase the heat back up to high, then add the pork and mix it into the tomato paste. It’s best to separate the mince using a ‘poke and twist’ method with a flat cooking utensil like a heatproof spatula.
      Note: The 'poke and twist' method simply involves you poking the mince with a utensil, then twisting it to separate the meat.
    • Repeat until all the mince is cooked and separated. This will take about 5 minutes, depending on your stove's heat.
    • When the meat is cooked, add the tofu and stir until each cube is coated in the red color.
      Pro Tip: Be gentle to avoid any unnecessary breaking.
    • Gently stir fry the tofu and pork mince for 2 minutes to infuse flavor.
    • Pour in the chicken and pork stock and carefully stir. Let the dish simmer on medium heat for 5 minutes.
    • When ready, serve immediately with hot rice!

    Notes

    • Be very gentle. Silken bean curd is extremely delicate and will break easily.
    • Use a homemade stock. The taste will be richer and you'll get complete control over what ingredients are added into your dish.
    • Opt for a fattier mince. It'll keep everything more flavorful and juicy.
    • When buying the tofu, make sure that it's the silken one. Any type will work, but the soft texture in this version complements the mince best.
    • Make sure that when you're buying tomato paste, go for the unsalted type so you can control the amount of sodium that goes into it.
    • This recipe uses pork mince, but you can choose to use whichever you prefer.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 344kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 532mg | Potassium: 595mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 148IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe? Tag me TODAY!If you recreated this authentic recipe, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @wokandkin.

    This post was originally published on 17/03/20 and updated with tips and FAQs in March 2022.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jill says

      March 17, 2020 at 8:42 pm

      5 stars
      This was such a delicious meal – filling and full of protein.

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        March 17, 2020 at 8:58 pm

        Thanks, Jill!

        Reply
    2. Emily Liao says

      March 17, 2020 at 8:59 pm

      5 stars
      This a staple recipe in my house! So easy to make and the flavors are delicious.

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        March 17, 2020 at 10:15 pm

        Same here! 😁

        Reply
    3. Anita says

      March 17, 2020 at 9:43 pm

      5 stars
      I love how easy and flavorful this recipe is. Definitely will need a big bowl of rice to go with it. 🙂

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        March 17, 2020 at 10:15 pm

        Thanks, Anita! It goes so well with rice!

        Reply
    4. Kari Hermann says

      March 17, 2020 at 9:57 pm

      5 stars
      You hardly ever find tofu and pork together – what a great combination and a great recipe!

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        March 17, 2020 at 10:16 pm

        Thanks, Kari! They work so well together!

        Reply
    5. Krissy Allori says

      March 17, 2020 at 10:23 pm

      5 stars
      Really good recipe. We have been trying to do more meatless dinners and this fits right in. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        March 17, 2020 at 10:32 pm

        That’s great to hear, Krissy! Enjoy!

        Reply

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