炙き豆腐 Aburi dōfu

Seared Tofu

#27 通品 Familiar

English Interpretation

Thread tofu onto skewers and grill over charcoal. The outside browns while the inside stays soft and warm. Eat it as it is.

原文 · Original (1782)

豆腐を串に刺して、炭火にて炙るべし。表は焦げ色となり、中はやはらかく温まるべし。そのままにて食すべし。

Transliteration

Tōfu wo kushi ni sashite, sumigashira nite aburu beshi. Omote wa kogire-iro to nari, naka wa yaharaka ku atamawaruru beshi. Sono mama nite shokusu beshi.

Notes & Annotations

Aburi (炙り) means 'to sear' or 'to toast over flame.' Yakidōfu (焼き豆腐) is widely used today in sukiyaki and other hot-pot dishes. The tsūhin ('familiar') grade indicates this was so well-known as to need no instruction.

English Recipe

Ingredients

  • firm tofu 豆腐 1 block (350 g)
    一丁 Pressed and cubed
  • salt to taste

Method

Serves 2

1. Press firm tofu and cut into chunks about 5 × 3 cm.
2. Thread onto wooden skewers, spacing evenly.
3. Grill over direct flame or charcoal until the surface is lightly charred and marked — about 3–4 minutes on each side.
4. Serve as is, with perhaps a light sprinkle of salt or dipping sauce of soy and wasabi.

This is yakidōfu — the grilled tofu that remains a standard in sukiyaki and nabemono (hot-pot) cooking. The name 'aburi' means the tofu is briefly seared, not fully cooked through.