Simple and cheap

Meal
Categories

Japanese Mapo Tofu

The Japanese Mapo Tofu is incredibly flavorful but less spicy than the Sichuan-style.

Japanese Mapo Tofu
Japanese Mapo Tofu
Japanese Mapo Tofu
Japanese Mapo Tofu

Ingredients

  • 1 soft tofu (cubed)
  • ½ lb ground pork
  • Dash of sesame oil
  • 1 tsp chili bean paste (Toban Djan)
Group A
  • 1 garlic clove (minced)
  • ½ thumb-sized ginger (minced)
  • 1 green onion (chopped)
Group B
  • 100mL chicken stock
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp saké (regular or cooking)
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp miso
Group C
  • 1 tsp potato starch
  • 1 tsp water
Japanese Mapo Tofu
Japanese Mapo Tofu
Japanese Mapo Tofu
Japanese Mapo Tofu

Instructions

Prep
  1. Combine Group A, Group B, Group C in separate bowls. Set aside half of the green onion.
  2. Drain the tofu and wrap in a sheet of paper towel. Microwave for 2 minutes then cube (small / medium).
Cook
  1. Sauté the chili bean paste with Group A in a dash of hot vegetable oil.
  2. Add the ground pork and sauté until pork is just cooked.
  3. Mix in Group B and wait just until the mixture simmers.
  4. Add the cubed tofu and cook for 3 another minutes.
  5. Mix in Group C and stir until the mixture slightly thickens.
  6. Gently fold in the remaining green onion and sesame oil (don't overdo this step).

Author

Ira Horecka

Ira Horecka

Ira is a first year PhD student studying computational biology at the University of Toronto. He likes to cook from time to time.