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Mapo Tofu

Silky cubes of soft tofu simmered in a savory, saucy mixture with finely minced pork — a quick weeknight classic that's naturally gentle on the mouth.

Time15 minutes
Serves4
EffortEasy
Cubes of soft tofu in a glossy red mapo sauce, scattered with chopped spring onion.
Texture level

5 · Minced & Moist

Soft, moist, and finely minced into very small pieces that mash easily with light pressure from a fork. Any sauce or gravy should cling rather than separate.

Suitable for anyone who finds food hard to chew or swallow. Graded IDDSI Level 5 (Minced & Moist) — soft, minced & easy to swallow — the texture standard used in dysphagia care and soft diets.

See all texture levels

Ingredients

  • 90 g Ground pork, minced
  • 2 tsp Garlic, minced
  • 1 packet Soft tofu Cut into small 1/2-inch cubes, or mash into the sauce for a softer texture
  • 1 packet Pre-made mapo tofu sauce
  • To taste Spring onions, thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. Heat up some oil in a wok and stir-fry the garlic until aromatic.

  2. Stir in the minced pork until almost cooked.

  3. Open up the mapo tofu sauce and stir it together with the minced pork until cooked through.

  4. Add the soft tofu and gently cook over low heat until the sauce thickens and the tofu is warmed through and fork-tender.

  5. Garnish with spring onions on top and serve with hot rice.

Serving Tips

Important Guidance

  • The minced pork and soft tofu are already naturally soft here — this is one of the gentler savory mains in this collection as written.
  • Cut the tofu into smaller cubes, or gently mash it into the sauce, to bring the texture down closer to Level 4.
  • Check the label on the pre-made sauce packet — these are often high in sodium, and some contain fermented broad bean paste that can be quite spicy.
  • Serve over plain, well-cooked rice, or over mashed potato instead of rice for anyone who needs an even softer base.

Nutrition Facts

Calories~150 kcal
Protein~11 g
Fat~9 g
Carbohydrates~5 g
Sodium~600 mg
Cholesterol~15 mg

Estimated across 4 servings, assuming a 300 g packet of soft tofu and a typical 60 g packet of mapo tofu sauce. Excludes the rice it's served with. The sauce packet is the biggest unknown here — check its label, since brands vary a lot.

Dietary Notes

Contains soy and pork. The nutrition figures above are estimated from the ingredients, since the source recipe didn't provide them — actual values will vary significantly by the pre-made sauce used.