Sesame Tofu (Gomadofu), 3.52 oz
Made with sesame and kudzu, gomadofu (sesame tofu) is one of the most important shojin ryori (plant-based traditional Buddhist vegan cuisine) dishes. Unlike other kinds of gomadofu, gomadofu by Houmoto Sesame Tofu, a Nagasaki-style gomadofu specialty manufacturer, is uniquely crafted by dark-roasting sesame and then grinding it into paste with stone mortars in-house, which results in an exquisitely nutty aroma, rich flavor, and smooth texture. The roasting and grinding steps are considered so important that the third president of the company conducts the processes personally to maintain the authentic Nagasaki-style gomadofu flavor. They also use both shelled and unshelled sesame and carefully mix them with quality hon-kudzu. This produces a perfect balance of nuttiness and sweetness and a silky smooth texture with a pleasant chewiness, reminiscent of jelly or panna cotta. A little bit of sugar is added, so it’s slightly sweet yet not overpoweringly so. It can be enjoyed as either a savory or sweet dish. The Japanese traditionally serve it with soy sauce, miso-based sauces, sesame sauce, or dashi along with condiments like wasabi or ginger. However, you can also enjoy it with maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar syrup. Moreover, Sesame Tofu is full of vitamins E and D, sesamin, unsaturated fatty acids, fiber, calcium, and protein, so you can benefit from all of sesame’s goodness while enjoying the taste.
Common ways to enjoy gomadofu in Japan is to serve as-is and also with savory sauces, such as soy sauce, miso-based sauces, sesame sauce, or dashi along with condiments like wasabi or ginger. It is usually eaten chilled, but it can also be heated briefly to soften its texture a little more. Dust it with katakuriko (potato starch) and saute both sides slightly to enjoy a contrasting texture, crunchy outside and soft inside, but be careful not to heat it too much, otherwise it will melt and become runny. Its mild sweetness and fluffy yet chewy texture make it a perfect dessert as well. You can eat it just like panna cotta by drizzling your favorite fruit sauce, maple syrup, honey, or kuromitsu (brown sugar syrup) on top. In Houmoto Sesame Tofu’s self-managed cafe, they serve cream puffs stuffed with custard cream and gomadofu. You can even use it for sundae toppings! It has a rich, creamy flavor but with no cream or dairy, you can enjoy these desserts completely guilt-free!
Sesame, Starch, Sugar, Salt.