Minced Meat Japanese Tofu

Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, minced meat with Japanese tofu is an absolute rice-killer dish made easily with egg tofu, cornstarch, and savory brown sauce.

Ingredients

• 2 rolls Japanese egg tofu
• 150 g minced pork
• 3 cloves garlic
• 3 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp cooking wine
• 2 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tsp dark soy sauce
• 1/4 tsp white pepper powder
• 1/2 tsp white sugar
• 1 cup clear water
• 2 tbsp cooking oil

Instructions

1. 1Slice the Tofu

   

   Place the Japanese egg tofu rolls onto a wooden cutting board and use a cleaver to slice them evenly into pieces about one centimeter thick.

   Tip: Keep the thickness even to ensure consistent cooking times during pan-frying.
2. 2Coat the tofu slices with cornstarch

   

   Prepare a plate with a sufficient amount of cornstarch and coat both sides of the sliced Japanese tofu evenly. This cornstarch layer prevents the delicate tofu from breaking apart during pan-frying while locking in its tender and smooth interior texture.

   Tip: Make sure to coat all surfaces evenly so the tofu doesnt stick to the pan and develops a nice light crust.
3. 3Pan-Fry the Tofu

   

   Heat oil in a wok over medium-low heat, then add the cornstarch-coated tofu slices one by one. Pan-fry them, flipping midway, until both sides turn a crisp golden yellow, then remove and set aside.

   Tip: Coating with cornstarch prevents the delicate tofu from breaking apart and helps lock in its smooth interior texture.
4. 4Sauté the aromatics and minced meat

   

   Keep a small amount of base oil in the wok without washing it, then add minced garlic and stir-fry over medium heat until aromatic. Immediately follow up with the minced meat, stirring continuously until the meat releases its natural oils and becomes fully browned.

   Tip: Stir continuously to prevent the minced garlic from burning while the meat renders its fat.
5. 5Season the Minced Meat

   

   Add a spoonful of cooking wine, light soy sauce, a drizzle of oyster sauce, dark soy sauce for color, white pepper powder, and a touch of white sugar to the stir-frying minced meat, mixing thoroughly to blend the flavors.

   Tip: Stir-fry the minced meat until it releases its oil before adding the seasonings to develop a richer flavor profile.
6. 6Add Water and Simmer

   

   Pour a bowl of clear water into the seasoned minced meat sauce, then gently slide the previously pan-fried tofu back into the wok. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes so the tofu absorbs the rich broth.

   Tip: If there is too much liquid remaining after 5 minutes, turn the heat to high to reduce and thicken the sauce.
7. 7Simmer the tofu with meat sauce

   

   Carefully slide the pre-fried golden tofu pieces from the plate into the simmering meat sauce in the wok. Cover the lid and let everything simmer for about 5 minutes so the soft tofu can fully absorb the rich savory flavors of the sauce.

   Tip: Add a splash of clear water before adding the tofu to create enough braising liquid for the simmer step.

Storage & Reheating

Burn It Off

Frequently Asked Questions