[Iwate Prefecture] What is Walnut Tofu? A detailed introduction to why it's loved by locals and how to make it

Bread and sweets made with walnuts have a simple taste and are very delicious, but did you know that Iwate Prefecture also has a local dish called walnut tofu

This article will explain in detail what walnut tofu is

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walnut tofu ?

Walnut tofu is a traditional dish from the Esashi region of Iwate Prefecture. Made with walnuts and kuzu starch, it has a shape and texture similar to tofu, and has been eaten as a vegetarian dish served during Obon and at memorial services

Although it is called tofu, it does not contain soybeans and is commonly served in salads, or topped with a sauce and garnished with daikon radish, and presented like sashimi

As of January 2022, a search for recipes on Cookpad reveals 29 different walnut tofu recipes. What's notable about this dish is that it's enjoyed in a variety of ways, depending on the household, including recipes where it's eaten as is, recipes where it's served with a soy sauce-based sauce and garnished with wasabi and ginger, and recipes where it's served with brown sugar syrup to make it into a dessert-like dish

Reference: Cookpad "Walnut Tofu"

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Walnut Tofu is Loved in Iwate

Currently, most walnuts consumed in Japan are imported from California or China, but Japanese walnuts (Juglans japonica) are grown in Iwate Prefecture

Japanese walnuts have a hard shell, are smaller than imported walnuts, and only about 20% of the edible contents are available, so they have not been widely available on the market until now

However, compared to imported walnuts, they contain less tannins and oil, which are the source of bitterness, and are healthy and easy to eat, so they have long been eaten locally as is or used as an ingredient in walnut tofu

In the coastal areas of Iwate Prefecture, "tastes like walnuts" is sometimes used to describe how delicious it is.

For these reasons, it can be said that walnut tofu, made with Japanese walnuts produced in Iwate Prefecture, is a familiar dish for the people of the prefecture

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How to make walnut tofu

We will show you how to make walnut tofu using Japanese walnuts from Iwate Prefecture

Ingredients (for 1 person)

Walnut tofu

• Japanese stuffed toy (10g)
• Yoshino Kuzu (10g)
• Sugar (10g)
• Salt (1 pinch)
• Water (90ml in summer, 100ml in winter)
• Daikon radish (appropriate amount)

Thick sauce

• Miso (10g)
• Sugar (a little)
• Squeezed ginger juice (a little)
• Sake (a little)
• Water (appropriate amount)

How to make it

1. Grind the walnuts in a mortar until all the grains are gone
2. Add water and grind further, then strain
3. Return the remaining walnuts to the mortar and pestle and repeat the process until they are gone
4. Add the strained walnuts, Yoshino kuzu, and sugar to a pot, stir, and once the Yoshino kuzu has dissolved, heat over medium heat
5. Stir with a spatula over medium heat for about 10 minutes without resting, and when the mixture thickens and solidifies, reduce the heat
6. Stir and knead for about 20 minutes, making a mark on the bottom of the pot, then add salt just before turning off the heat.
7. Place in a container moistened with water and leave for 4-5 hours, then let cool at room temperature (avoid storing in the refrigerator as the texture will not be good)
8. Put the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl and mix well
9. Remove the walnut tofu from the container, cut it into sashimi shapes, and serve with daikon radish as a garnish
10. Pour the bean paste over the walnut tofu and it's done

It does take some effort, as you need to be careful with the walnuts and stir the bottom of the pot evenly once it's on the stove, but as long as you pay attention to the amount of water, which differs between summer and winter, it's not a particularly difficult recipe

If you have the opportunity to get your hands on a Japanese gurumi, be sure to try making one

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summary

Walnut tofu is made using walnuts and kuzu starch, giving it a shape and texture similar to tofu.It is a traditional dish from the Esashi region of Iwate Prefecture that is served during Obon and memorial services, and we learned that it has long been loved in Iwate Prefecture, where Japanese walnuts are available

If you want to enjoy the simple taste of walnuts, be sure to give this a try

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