Image Credit to: Dana
Agedashi Tofu is a Japanese appetiser of deep-fried, crispy tofu served in a bed of sweet and savory tsuyu sauce. It is coated with potato starch and deep-fried, so it is crispy on the outside and soft in the inside.
History of Agedashi Tofu
Agedashi Tofu has an old and rich heritage. It is even included in a 1782 Japanese cookbook, Tofu Haykuchin with over 100 tofu recipes. The appetiser most popular at izakayas restaurant bars or pubs in Japan however; it can also be a good home cook dish to serve. It is best served hot, and it can warm you up during the winter season. Although it is deep-fried, it does not come out as too greasy as the recipes use only a light thin better served with light sauce.
How to make Agedashi Tofu
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Japanese
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 3
Agedashi Tofu is easily one of the simple dishes to make at home in less than thirty minutes. However, it completely depends on the type and quality of the ingredients and the methods you take to make the perfect one.
Ingredients:
- A block of Tofu
- Corn Starch
- Cooking Oil
(Tsuyu Sauce)
- ¾ cup of fish stock
- 2-3 tablespoons of soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons of sake
- 2tablesppon of mirin
- ¾ tablespoons of sugar
Before you serve, you can choose to put in some toppings. If you do not fancy some, then you can skip these options
(Toppings)
- 1 daikon radish
- 1 green onion
- Dried bonito flakes
Instructions:
- Cut the tofu blocks into small chunks. Bloat each one with paper towels to absorb any excess moisture before you coat it with corn starch. Set it aside.
- Mix all the of the ingredients for the tsuyu sauce into a small saucepan to a simmer.
- Heat up your cooking oil in a frying pan. Deep-fry your tofu chunks until it turns light crispy brown.
- Remove the tofu from the pan drain the excess oil on a plate lined with paper towels.
- To serve, plate the tofu in a small bowl and pour some tsuyu sauce on the tofu. Garnish it with grated daikon, green onions and dried bonito flakes. Serve it.
Notes: It is advisable that you use medium tofu for your first time as it can easily break. Once you get comfortable with the process, you can choose to change it to silky, soft tofu.
- Use fresh oil. If you choose old oil, it can end up oily and greasy.
- You can skip making the tsuyu sauce from scratch. Find a bottled version at your local Japanese market to save some time.
Nutritional Information for Agedashi Tofu
- Calories
It is about 180 calories.
- Protein
Tofu is a good substitute for protein, and it is vegetarian. It is made out of curds of soybeans. While the nutritional content of tofu can vary, fresh or packaged tofu. You can get about 8 grams of protein and contains all nine essential amino acid the body needs.
- Fat
Since the dish is deep-fried, the fat can be consumed from the frying process. To limit your fat intake, you are advised to not consume too many fat foods as it can increase your chances of heart diseases.
Where to find Agedashi Tofu in Malaysia
Agedashi tofu can be easily found at any Japanese restaurants in Malaysia. Here is a list of restaurants you can visit to get a taste.
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