Main Dishes Recipes - Chinese-Style Braised Tofu and Minced Pork Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp sunflower oil

• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

• 1cm/1/2in ginger, finely chopped

• 1 leek

• 250g/9oz minced pork

• 500g/1lb 2oz firm tofu

For the Sauce:

• 1 Tbsp shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry

• 1 tsp chili bean sauce

• 1 Tbsp yellow bean sauce

• 1 Tbsp Chinese light soy sauce

• 2 Tbsp tomato ketchup

• 1 1/2 Tbsp corn flour

• 1/2 cup/125ml/4fl oz water

Serves 4

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Method:

1. Heat the oil in a wok or frying pan. Add the garlic, ginger and leek and stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes.

2. Add the minced pork and stir-fry for 5 to 6 minutes. Then add the tofu, rice wine chili bean sauce, yellow sauce, soy sauce and ketchup. Bring to a boil, and simmer for about 3 minutes.

3. Dissolve the corn flour in the water, stirring constantly to make the sauce thicken without lumps. Simmer for 2 more minutes.

4. Serve hot accompanied by a steaming bowl of rice.

Note: This is classic basic Chinese dish, called Ma Po's Tofu, that has been around for hundred of years. Ma Po may be gone but she's definitely not forgotten. If you prefer a hotter taste, add an extra teaspoon of chili bean sauce. Chili bean sauce is made from a mixture of chili peppers and soy beans.