蓑田楽 Mino dengaku

Straw-Raincoat Dengaku

#61 奇品 Curious

English Interpretation

Cut tofu into dengaku pieces, thread onto skewers, and grill. After coating with miso, press on finely shredded yuba or shaved katsuobushi to resemble a straw raincoat. Toast once more lightly.

原文 · Original (1782)

豆腐を田楽に切りて串に刺し、焼くべし。味噌を塗りたる上に、湯葉を細く裂きたるもの、あるいは鰹節の削りたるものを押し付け、蓑の如くにすべし。もう一度軽く炙るべし。

Transliteration

Tōfu wo dengaku ni kirite kushi ni sashi, yaku beshi. Miso wo nuritaru ue ni, yuba wo hosoku sakitaru mono, arui wa katsuobushi no kezuritaru mono wo oshitsuke, mino no gotoku ni su beshi. Mō ichido karuku aburu beshi.

Notes & Annotations

Mino (蓑) is the traditional Japanese straw raincoat worn by farmers and travelers. The layered, fringed texture of the mino is the visual reference.

English Recipe

Ingredients

  • firm tofu 豆腐 1 block (350 g)
    一丁
  • white miso 味噌 2 tablespoons
  • tofu skin, shredded 湯葉 a handful
    Or use fine bonito shavings

Method

Serves 2–4

1. Cut firm tofu into dengaku pieces and skewer.
2. Grill until lightly browned.
3. Spread dengaku miso (2 tbsp white miso + 1 tsp mirin + ½ tsp sugar) on one face.
4. Press thin shreds of yuba (tofu skin) or fine bonito shavings into the miso surface, arranging them to hang down like the layered fringe of a straw raincoat.
5. Return to the grill briefly to set.

The mino (straw raincoat) was standard outdoor gear for Edo-period travellers and farmers. The shaggy, fringed topping transforms ordinary dengaku into something visually playful.