Sichuan Tofu with Minced Pork

This is a super easy Sichuan tofu with minced pork dish.  Serve with warm rice. This is even better than restaurants’ takeouts!

If you like Sichuan food, you definitely must try this one! I used to order this in the Sichuan restaurant I frequently visited. When I don’t feel like going, I just called and ordered takeouts from the restaurant.

Spicy Sichuan tofu with minced pork meals are very tempting! They are full of flavors and healthy, too.  I especially like the tofus. They are silky and also very satisfying. Eat it with some warm rice and drink Oolong Tea right after that.

Important Ingredients

Tofu

Choose silky tofu. The texture makes the tofu melts in the mouth. If you can’t find silky tofu you can just use Chinese tofu that is usually covered with cloth. Cut them in small slices and deep-fry.

Mushroom

Shitake mushrooms and shimeji mushrooms are the perfect combination for Szechuan dish. If you want to use other types of mushrooms, you may do so.

Seasoning

The authentic Szechuan dish will always have chilis, chili oil, bean curd sauce. You can also use dried chilis, they are also very spicy.

Fried Sichuan Tofu With Ground Pork Recipe

• 6-8 pcs silken tofu
• 200 gr ground pork
• 2 pcs dried shitake mushrooms
• 1 pack shimeji mushrooms
• 1 stalk minced leeks
• 2-3 garlic
• 2-3 pcs chilis or dried chilis

Seasonings

• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 1 tsp bean curd sauce
• ½ tsp mushroom powder
• 1 tsp chili oil
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp shaoxing wine
• 1 tsp sichuan peppercorn (optional)

Instructions

1. Deep fry the tofu until the color turns golden. Set aside for later.
2. Cut the shitake mushrooms to small slices.
3. Cut some chilis.
4. Prepare the seasonings, mix all the seasonings except Shaoxing wine in a bowl. Stir evenly.
5. Crush the garlic.
6. Heat some cooking oil or flavored oil. If you use flavored oil, you don’t have to put in garlic.
7. Put in the garlic. Stir fry until golden brown. Discard the garlic.
8. Now put in ground pork. Stir fry until the color changes a little.
9. Throw in shitake mushrooms and shimeji mushrooms. Pour in the seasonings. Stir fry evenly.
10. You can now pour the Shaoxing wine. Pour in some 150 ml water.
11. Put in some slurry to make the broth thicken. Slurry is 1 tbsp cornstarch and 1 tbsp water.
12. Throw in some chilis.
13. Stir fry evenly and it’s ready.
14. Set the fried tofu in a plate. Pour in the ground pork on top of the tofu. Garnish with minced leeks.
15. Serve with warm rice. Enjoy!

Storage

If you can’t finish the dish because you eat alone or there are not many people in your house, keep the leftover in a food container. You can keep it in the chiller for up to 3 days. Warm it in the microwave or stir fy in a pan for 3-5 minutes.

Serving

Serve with warm rice or shirataki rice or noodles. Get a cup of Oolong milk Tea ready just in case the spicy dish bites you.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: Can I use ground chicken or turkey instead of pork?

A: Absolutely! While ground pork is traditional for this recipe, ground chicken or turkey can be great substitutes. They will give the dish a slightly different flavor and texture but can still be delicious.

Q: Can I add Sichuan peppercorns to this recipe?

A: Yes, you can. I don’t add Sichuan peppercorns in this recipe because I already put chili oil which as Sichuan peppercorns in it. If you want to add more Sichuan peppercorns to make it more spicy, you may add it according to your liking.

Q: Is this dish very spicy? How can I reduce the heat?

A: The spiciness of this dish largely comes from the bean curd sauce and chili oil. To reduce the heat, simply use less of the paste and the oil or look for a milder version. Remember, you can always add more spice later, but it’s harder to reduce once added.

Q: How can I make this dish vegetarian or vegan?

A: To make this dish vegetarian, you can omit the pork and increase the amount of tofu or add a mix of vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini. For a vegan version, also ensure that your soy sauce, black vinegar, and other ingredients are vegan friendly.

Conclusion

This Fried Sichuan tofu ground pork is a perfect combination the represents Sichuan dish. Chinese people love tofu and ground pork. That’s why there are so many menu consisting these two ingredients.

I really suggest you try this if you like Chinese Sichuan food. It is worth trying and the methods are quite simple.

Happy cooking!