Opening the fridge, I found some leftover yukjeon (Korean beef pancakes) from last night. Instead of making another meat dish, I thought of something that would pair well with it—Mapo Tofu. Luckily, I had ground pork and tofu on hand, so I had everything I needed.
Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor
Chopped green onions, diced onions and tofu, and a bit of ground pork. These basic ingredients come together to create a flavorful dish. It is both tasty and satisfying.
- Prepare the Ingredients
- Season the ground pork with salt and pepper.
- Slice green onions and mince garlic, then saute them in oil until fragrant.
- Cook the Base
- Add diced onions and stir-fry briefly before adding the ground pork.
- Season with red pepper powder, sugar, salt, soy sauce, and oyster sauce.
- Stir-fry everything together, then pour in a cup of broth.
- Simmer & Finish
- Once it starts boiling, dissolve a spoonful of soybean paste for depth of flavor.
- Gently add cubed tofu and let it simmer.
- For a thicker consistency, stir in a bit of cornstarch slurry.
And just like that, Mapo Tofu is ready! I served it over black rice for a hearty meal.
At first, I hesitated to try making this dish, thinking it would be too complicated. But in reality, it’s simple, requires only a few ingredients, and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. The spicy kick makes it enjoyable for my daughter, too.
Pairing it with a light egg soup would be ideal. However, today I had it with refreshing dongchimi (radish water kimchi). There’s something incredibly heartwarming about sharing a homemade meal with family on a chilly winter day. Next on my list? Spicy seafood jjambbong—time to take on a more challenging Chinese dish!
Mom's Easy Korean Recipes 
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