[Iwate Prefecture] What is walnut tofu? Introducing in detail everything from why it is loved locally to 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 has a local dish called walnut tofu that uses walnuts?

In this article, we will explain in detail what kind of food walnut tofu is.

walnut tofu ?

Walnut tofu is a traditional dish that has been passed down in the Esashi region of Iwate Prefecture.It uses walnuts and arrowroot flour to give it a tofu-like shape and texture, and has been eaten as a vegetarian meal served at Obon festivals and memorial services.

Although it is called tofu, it does not contain soybeans, and is generally served with dressings, daikon tsuma, and bean paste, and served like sashimi.

When searching for recipes on Cookpad, 29 walnut tofu recipes come up as of January 2022, including recipes for eating as is, recipes for eating with soy sauce-based sauce and garnishing with wasabi and ginger, and recipes for eating sweets with brown sugar syrup. It can be said that it is characteristic that each family makes various arrangements to eat it, such as recipes for cooking.

Reference: Cookpad “Walnut Tofu”

walnut tofu is loved in Iwate

Most of the walnuts currently consumed in Japan are grown in California or China, but in Iwate Prefecture, Japanese walnuts (Japanese walnuts) are grown.

Wagurumi walnuts have hard shells, are smaller in size compared to foreign walnuts, and have only about 20% of the edible insides, so they have not been on the market much until now.

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

Additionally, in the coastal areas of Iwate Prefecture, the word ``walnut-flavored'' is sometimes used to describe the deliciousness.

For these reasons, it can be said that walnut tofu, which is made from Iwate Prefecture's Japanese gurumi, is a dish that is familiar to the people of the prefecture.

How to make walnut tofu

I'll show you how to make walnut tofu using Japanese walnuts from Iwate Prefecture.

Ingredients (for 1 person)

Walnut tofu

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

Ankake

• Miso (10g)
• sugar (a little)
• Squeezed ginger juice (a little)
• Alcohol (a little)
• Water (appropriate amount)

How to make

1. Grind the walnuts in a mortar until there are no more grains left.
2. Add water and strain again.
3. Return the remaining walnuts to the mortar and repeat until all are gone.
4. Add the pureed walnuts, Yoshino Kuzu, and sugar to a pot and stir. Once the Yoshino Kuzu has melted, heat over medium heat.
5. Stir with a spatula without resting for about 10 minutes on medium heat, then turn down the heat when it becomes thick and thick.
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 to 5 hours, then cool at room temperature (don't put it in the fridge as the texture won't be good)
8. Place the ingredients for the ankake in a bowl and mix well.
9. Remove the walnut tofu from the container, cut into sashimi shapes, make tsuma with daikon radish and serve on the garnish.
10. Finish by pouring the red bean paste over the walnut tofu.

It takes some work, as you have to carefully handle the walnuts and stir the bottom of the pot evenly once they are cooked, but if you are careful about the amount of water that differs in summer and winter, it is not a difficult technique. This is not a necessary recipe.

If you have a chance to get Japanese dolls, please give them a try.

summary

Walnut tofu has a tofu-like shape and texture by using walnuts and kuzu flour, and is a traditional dish from the Esashi region of Iwate Prefecture that is served at Obon festivals and memorial services. I understand that it has been done.

If you want to enjoy the simple taste of walnuts, please give it a try.