Mild Miso Mapo Tofu Rice Bowl
Mild Miso Mapo Tofu Rice Bowl
How to Make a Gentle Miso Mapo Tofu Rice Bowl
A mild mapo tofu that everyone, young and old, can enjoy with the addition of miso paste.
Ingredients- 1/2 block Tofu (approx. 150g)
- 100g Ground Pork
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 tsp Grated Ginger
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 150ml Water
- 1 Tbsp Cooking Oil
- 1 Tbsp Cornstarch (or Potato Starch)
- 2 bowls Cooked Rice
Seasoning- 1 Tbsp Miso Paste
- 1 Tbsp Sake (or Mirin)
- 1 tsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Miso Paste
- 1 Tbsp Sake (or Mirin)
- 1 tsp Soy Sauce
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Start by heating a pan over medium heat and adding 1 Tbsp of cooking oil. Add 1 Tbsp of minced garlic and 1 tsp of grated ginger, then sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Sautéing the aromatics first helps to remove any gamey odors and enhance the overall flavor.
Step 2
Once the fragrant garlic and ginger aroma is released, add the 100g of ground pork. Break up the meat with chopsticks or a spatula to prevent clumping, and stir-fry until the pork is no longer pink and has turned brown. Ensure the pork is cooked through.
Step 3
When the pork is about half cooked, add 1 Tbsp of sake (or mirin if sake is unavailable) and 1 tsp of soy sauce for seasoning. Then, stir in 1 Tbsp of miso paste (using Japanese-style miso will result in a smoother, more delicate flavor). Sauté everything together until well combined. Stir-frying the miso paste deepens its savory and umami notes.
Step 4
After the ingredients are well sautéed, pour in 150ml of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer briefly to allow the flavors to meld together.
Step 5
While the sauce is simmering, cut the 1/2 block of tofu (about 150g) into cubes of approximately 1.5 cm. Cutting them too small might cause them to break apart during cooking, so aim for a consistent, medium size. Gently pat the tofu cubes dry with paper towels, then toss them with 1 Tbsp of cornstarch (or potato starch) until evenly coated. This coating helps the tofu hold its shape and absorb the sauce better.
Step 6
When the pork sauce has reduced slightly, carefully add the cornstarch-coated tofu cubes. After adding the tofu, avoid stirring too vigorously. Instead, gently shake the pan or use a spatula to lift and fold the tofu from the bottom upwards. This ensures the tofu is evenly coated with the sauce without breaking.
Step 7
Once the mapo tofu sauce has thickened and coats the tofu nicely, turn off the heat. Finish by drizzling in 1 Tbsp of sesame oil for a glossy sheen and added aroma. Adding sesame oil at the end preserves its delicate nutty fragrance.
Step 8
Spoon a generous portion of the finished mapo tofu over 2 bowls of warm cooked rice. Enjoy your delicious, savory, and mild mapo tofu rice bowl!
