鹿子豆腐
Kanoko dōfu
Fawn-Dappled Tofu
English Interpretation
Pass tofu through a sieve, scatter in black sesame seeds, and steam. Black sesame on white tofu — beautiful like kanoko fawn spots. Serve with a thin sauce.
原文 · Original (1782)
豆腐を裏漉しにし、黒胡麻を散らし入れて蒸すべし。白き豆腐に黒き胡麻、鹿子の斑の如くなりて美し。薄き餡を掛けて供す。
Transliteration
Tōfu wo uragoshi ni shi, kuro-goma wo chirashi-irete musu beshi. Shiroki tōfu ni kuroki goma, kanoko no madara no gotoku narite utsukushi. Usuki an wo kakete kyō su.
Notes & Annotations
Kanoko (鹿子) means 'fawn' and refers to the distinctive white spots on a young deer's coat. Kanoko-shibori is a tie-dye technique producing similar spots in textiles.
English Recipe
Ingredients
-
silken tofu 豆腐 1 block (350 g)一丁 Sieved smooth
-
black sesame seeds 黒胡麻 2 tablespoonsWhole, not ground — the dots are the point
-
dashi 出汁 150 mlFor sauce
Method
Serves 3–4
1. Press silken tofu and push through a fine sieve.
2. Stir in 2 tablespoons whole black sesame seeds — distribute evenly but don't crush them.
3. Pour into a mold and steam for 20 minutes until set.
4. Cool, unmold, and cut into pieces.
5. Serve with a light, warm sauce (150 ml dashi + ½ tbsp light soy + ½ tsp kuzu) poured over.
Kanoko means 'fawn' — the black sesame dots in white tofu mimic the dappled coat of a young deer. The same pattern appears in kanoko-shibori tie-dye textiles.
1. Press silken tofu and push through a fine sieve.
2. Stir in 2 tablespoons whole black sesame seeds — distribute evenly but don't crush them.
3. Pour into a mold and steam for 20 minutes until set.
4. Cool, unmold, and cut into pieces.
5. Serve with a light, warm sauce (150 ml dashi + ½ tbsp light soy + ½ tsp kuzu) poured over.
Kanoko means 'fawn' — the black sesame dots in white tofu mimic the dappled coat of a young deer. The same pattern appears in kanoko-shibori tie-dye textiles.