Summer Taiwanese Tofu Dish

Meet your new warm-weather staple: Summer Taiwanese Tofu Dish. Cool, silky tofu gets a bright lift and a bit of crunch with green onions. It’s simple, balanced, and all about contrast, capturing the spirit of a breezy summer in Taiwan. It comes together in a pinch, involves little cooking, and works as a light lunch, side, or late-night snack. Refreshing, minimal, and quietly addictive.

Recipe:

Ingredients

• Tofu: 2 large blocks (about 14 oz each; approx. 1 lb 12 oz total)
• Ground pork: 150 g (≈ 5.3 oz)
• Finely chopped green onion: 1 Tbsp
• Minced garlic: 1 Tbsp
• Minced ginger: 1 Tbsp
• Red chili pepper: 1, seeded and sliced into 0.2 in (≈ 5 mm) rings
• Hot bean paste (doubanjiang): 2 Tbsp
• Salt: 1/4 tsp
• Oil: 1 Tbsp (plus 2–3 Tbsp for cooking)
• Cooking wine: 1 Tbsp
• Cornstarch: 1 Tbsp
• Oil: (additional, as needed for stir-fry)
• Combined seasoning mixture:
  • A: Broth (stock): 1/3 cup
  • B: Soy sauce: 2 Tbsp
  • C: Sugar: 2 Tbsp

Cooking Tips

1. Drain tofu naturally—do not press; let it sit to release moisture.
2. Use a low flame—tofu is delicate and can break apart easily; gentle heat helps maintain its shape.

Steps

1. Cut tofu into cubes about 0.6–0.8 in (1.5–2 cm). Place them in a flat dish propped on one side to naturally drain off water.
2. Remove seeds from the red chili, slice into 0.2 in (5 mm) rings.
3. Combine broth, soy sauce, sugar, doubanjiang, salt, and cooking wine—set aside.
4. Heat 2–3 Tbsp of oil in a wok; add chopped scallions, garlic, and ginger over high heat—watch carefully to avoid burning.
5. Once fragrant, add the ground pork and chili rings; stir-fry until meat is broken apart and browned.
6. Gently add the tofu cubes—avoid breaking them.
7. Pour in the seasoning mixture, carefully stir to combine. Cover with a lid, reduce to low heat, and occasionally shake the pan gently. Cook for 15 minutes.
8. When flavors have infused into the tofu, mix 1 Tbsp cornstarch + 2 Tbsp water, then pour in to thicken the sauce.

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Estimated Nutrition (per serving, based on similar dishes)

Using nutrition data from comparable tofu-and-pork stir-fry sources:

• One cup (≈238 g) of tofu with pork:
  • ~181 cal
  • 19 g protein
  • 11 g fat
  • 4.5 g carbs snapcalorie.com
• Another source:
  • ~294 cal
  • 23.5 g protein
  • 17.6 g fat
  • 10 g carbs snapcalorie.com

Nutrient	Approx per Serving (¼ recipe)
Calories	~240–260 kcal
Protein	~20–25 g
Fat	~12–15 g
Carbohydrates	~5–10 g