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: 4 · Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients: Ground chicken, soft tofu, egg, fresh ginger, panko, soy sauce, mirin, sugar.
Steps
Mix 1 lb ground chicken, 4 oz mashed soft tofu, 1 egg, 1 tsp grated ginger and 1/4 cup panko. The tofu keeps them tender.
Shape into small balls and simmer (not fry) in 1 cup water with 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp mirin and 1 tbsp sugar for 12 minutes, turning once.
Thicken the sauce lightly and coat the meatballs.
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.