Hi everyone how have you been? I’d like to talk about one of Japanese representative “Cool Japan” food “Tōfu (soy beancurd)” today.
The word of Tōfu has been well known all over the world as it has a nutricious food and considered one of Japanese healty food.
“Tōfu”, it is one of the best favorite dish along with “Natto”.
As they are made from beans, both of them are very nutritiouns, protein in paticular because I’m a vegetarian, so I love it. So I take either Tōfu or Nattō for meal every day.
What’s Tōfu (soy beancurd)?
When it comes to a side dish served to accompany Sake (Japanese alcohol), it is absolutely No.1 as a relish for lovers of sake.
We can say it contains a lot of nutrition, to put it in other words, it’s a liver-friendly accompaniment for any alcohols.
Only a few decades ago, its sellers were often seen going around town, blowing a small horn to let everyone know that they were there.
Buying it on the street was very common. Today, most people buy it at supermarkets, but the significance in the Japanese diet has not changed a bit.
Tofu vendor
It is made from soybeans. It’s nutritious and has long been an important source of protein for the Japanese.
One popular summertime when it’s hot days in particular, its dish is hiyayakko. Chilled one is served with various condiments on top, and soy sauce is poured over it.
Whereas, during the cold winter months, yudōfu makes frequent appearances. It is warmed in a pot and eaten with a soy sauce-based dip.
How is Tōfu made ?
It spoils quickly, so a new batch is made at local tōfu shops every morning.
First, soybeans that have been soaked in water overnight are mechanically mashed. Then they’re cooked in a boiler. The liquid extracted when boiled soybeans are squeezed is soy milk-a highly nutritious beverage in itself.
Nigari (the liquid residue from the process of removing salt from seawater), is then added as a coagulant. The soy milk solidifies and becomes tōfu.
How come tofu becomes so popular?
It came to Japan from China in the 8th century. Later, in the 13th century, the Buddhist prohibition on meat-eating gave rise to vegetarian cooking, and it became an essential ingredient. Monks considered it as their primary source of protein and invented many tōfu dishes.
Let’s enjoy various kinds of dishes based on Tofu!
★ Bean-curds boiled with arrowroot starch
★ Tofu steak
★ Tofu somen
And last but not least, “Nattō” which is made from the same gredient beans and full of nutrition, to be well worth browsing, thanks
