Level 7 · Easy to Chew: everyday food that is soft and tender, in any size. It is for people who can chew and swallow safely but find hard or tough food tiring. If choking is a concern, ask your speech-language pathologist before using this level. What do the levels mean?
Serves: 3 · Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients: Japanese or Chinese eggplant, soft tofu, lean ground pork (optional), low-sodium soy sauce, broth, fresh ginger.
Steps
Peel 2 eggplants fully and cut into 3 cm pieces.
Cook 4 oz ground pork with 1 tsp grated ginger if using. Add the eggplant and 1 cup broth with 1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce.
Cover and simmer 15 minutes until the eggplant is very soft.
Add 7 oz cubed soft tofu, warm through for 3 minutes and thicken the sauce lightly.
Check the texture: a piece squashes under the side of a fork and does not spring back. Leave out anything hard, crunchy, chewy, stringy or with skins, seeds or bones.
Use the food level recommended by your speech-language pathologist or doctor. Textures change with cooking time, cooling and reheating, so check the food each time before serving, using the simple fork and spoon tests in our swallowing guide. Sit upright to eat, take small bites, and stay upright for 30 minutes after.