Ground Pork and Tofu Stir-Fry with Pickled Mustard Tuber
This Stir Fry Tofu Recipe has the perfect balance of textures and flavours. Quick and easy to make, this is an ideal weeknight dinner for when you're short on time.
Equipment
Large skillet or wok (12-inch / 30cm)
Mixing bowl (medium)
Sharp knife and cutting board
Wooden spoon or spatula
Small bowl for cornstarch slurry
Ingredients
12 oz tofu - firm ; drained and sliced into ½-inch (1cm) cubes, about 340g
½ lb ground pork (minced pork) - minced pork, thawed, about 225g- 2½ oz pickled mustard tuber - Zha Cai, rinsed and roughly chopped — or substitute sliced shiitake mushrooms, about 70g
2 cloves garlic - minced
2 tsp soy sauce - divided — 1 teaspoon for marinade, 1 teaspoon for sauce
½ tsp salt
1 tbsp oyster sauce
½ cup water - lukewarm, about 120ml- ¼ tsp ground white pepper
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 tsp cornstarch - for marinade- 1 tsp cornstarch - mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water, for optional thickening slurry
1 tbsp vegetable oil - for cooking- 4 cups steamed white or brown rice - for serving
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the ground pork with 1 teaspoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, ¼ teaspoon white pepper, and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Mix well. Cover and marinate for at least 15 minutes (up to 12 hours in the fridge).½ lb ground pork (minced pork), 1 tsp cornstarch, 2 tsp soy sauce, ¼ tsp ground white pepper, 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- (Optional) Rinse the pickled mustard tuber and set it aside. Or you can substitute with sliced shiitake mushrooms.2½ oz pickled mustard tuber
- Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and swirl to coat.1 tbsp vegetable oil
- Add the minced garlic and stir-fry for 20–30 seconds until fragrant. Do not let it turn dark brown or it will taste bitter.2 cloves garlic
- Add the marinated ground pork, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Cook for 4–5 minutes until browned through with no pink remaining.½ lb ground pork (minced pork)
- Add in measured soy sauce, salt, oyster sauce, and water. Let it boil for about 5 minutes.2 tsp soy sauce, ½ tsp salt, 1 tbsp oyster sauce, ½ cup water
- Add in tofu and pickled mustard tuber or shiitake mushrooms. Let it cook for about 10 minutes, stirring very carefully and occasionally.12 oz tofu, 2½ oz pickled mustard tuber
- (Optional) To thicken the sauce, stir together 1 teaspoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon cold water in a small bowl until smooth. Pour the slurry into the skillet, stir gently, and cook for 1–2 minutes until the sauce thickens and turns glossy.1 tsp cornstarch
- Serve hot over steamed white or brown rice.4 cups steamed white or brown rice
Notes
Storage: Cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freeze portioned servings for up to 2 months — freeze the tofu-pork mixture separately from cooked rice for best texture.
Make-Ahead: Marinate the pork the night before (up to 12 hours in the fridge) for even deeper flavour and zero active prep at dinner time.
Substitutions: Swap ground pork for ground chicken or turkey — reduce cook time by 2 minutes since poultry browns faster. Replace Zha Cai with sliced shiitake mushrooms or finely diced kimchi for a Korean twist.
Reheating: Reheat in a skillet over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of water for 4–5 minutes. Microwave works too — cover loosely and heat in 90-second intervals, stirring between each.
Pro Tip: Press the firm tofu for 10 minutes under a heavy plate lined with paper towels before slicing. Removing excess moisture helps the tofu hold its shape during simmering and absorb more sauce.
Note: Marinade time of 15 minutes is included in total time but is passive — actual hands-on time is approximately 32 minutes. Nutrition values are calculated without rice.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 481kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 22gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 669mgPotassium: 384mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 38IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 145mgIron: 2mg
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