Tomato Tofu with Minced Pork

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!

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?

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!

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

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

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!

Recipe FAQs

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.

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!

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

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