Why it works: Mushroom and pork are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 8% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 3,875 recipes. Both carry 2-methoxy-4-propylphenol, which smells allspice, anise. The science ↓
Pork and Tofu
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Dissolve cornstarch in water; set aside.
Cook the pork
Fry pork in covered, greased skillet until lightly browned.
Drain all except 1 tablespoon oil.
Make the sauce and simmer
Add tofu, mushrooms and onion chunks.
Combine soy sauce, mushroom juice, sugar and monosodium glutamate.
Pour over ingredients in skillet.
Bring to a boil.
Continue cooking until sauce is blended into tofu, about 5 minutes.
Stir in green onions.
Pour in cornstarch mixture.
Cook until sauce is thickened.
Serve
Serve with steamed rice.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 7 of 9 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 7 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Pork | 100g cooked | 242 |
| Tofu | 100g firm | 76 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Mushroom | 1/2 cup sliced (35g) | 15 |
| Soy Sauce | 1 tbsp (15ml) | 9 |
| Water | not in our table | 0 |
| Cake | not in our table | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Mushroom + porktop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,875 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-methoxy-4-propylphenol (allspice, anise).
-
Tofu + oniontop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together729 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Tofu + mushroomtop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together201 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-nonadienal (fatty, green).
-
Mushroom + oniontop 10% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together10,626 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Pork + oniontop 10% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together18,214 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Pork
- Provides the main protein and savory flavor when browned in the skillet.
- Tofu
- Soaks up the sauce and adds a soft, absorbent texture.
- Cornstarch
- Thickens the sauce as it heats, giving it a glossy, clinging consistency.
- Soy sauce
- Adds salty, savory depth that seasons the whole dish.
- Sugar
- Balances the salty soy sauce with a touch of sweetness.
- Mushrooms
- Add earthy flavor and texture, and their juice enriches the sauce.
The step that matters
Pour in cornstarch mixture. Cornstarch thickens only when the liquid reaches a boil and is stirred, so the sauce must be simmering before the slurry goes in. Adding it to a cool sauce can leave it thin or clumpy, while cooking too long afterward can break down the starch and thin it again.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (tofu, mushroom, sauce, pork, sugar):
- Capsicumfits better
- Welsh onionfits better
- Shallotfits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against tofu, mushroom, sauce, pork, sugar. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
You might also like
Pork Cake107 recipes
Roast Pork82 recipes
Mushroom Soup60 recipes
Tomato Soup526 recipesThe free Flavor Lab newsletter: one surprising pairing a week and the molecular reason it works, in 60 seconds. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer an account? Create a free account to save pairings and unlock the full chemistry.