冬至夜豆腐
Tōjiya dōfu
Winter-Solstice-Eve Tofu
English Interpretation
Use one whole block of tofu. Shave off the rough cloth-marked surface thinly, cut off the four corners, then cut the corners again to make an octagon. Warm in hot water, and serve with soy sauce and yuzu. To be eaten on the night of the winter solstice.
原文 · Original (1782)
豆腐一丁をそのまま用ゐるべし。布目の荒き表面を薄く削り取り、四隅を切り落とし、さらに角を切りて八角に作るべし。湯にて温め、醤油と柚子を添へて供す。冬至の夜に食すべし。
Transliteration
Tōfu itchō wo sono mama mochiiru beshi. Nunome no araki hyōmen wo usuku sogi-tori, yosumi wo kiri-otoshi, sara ni kado wo kirite hakkaku ni tsukuru beshi. Yu nite atatame, shōyu to yuzu wo soete kyō su. Tōji no yoru ni shokusu beshi.
Notes & Annotations
Tōji (冬至) is the winter solstice. Eating specific foods on the solstice is a long-standing Japanese custom (e.g., kabocha squash, yuzu baths). The octagonal cutting creates an elegant geometric shape.
English Recipe
Ingredients
-
firm tofu 豆腐 1 block (350 g)一丁 Carved into an octagon
-
soy sauce 醤油 to taste
-
yuzu citrus 柚子 a squeezeSeasonal — yuzu is also used in winter-solstice baths
Method
Serves 2
1. Start with a whole block of firm tofu. Carefully shave off the coarse cloth-textured surface on all sides — about 2 mm.
2. Cut off the four corners to make it roughly octagonal.
3. Trim the new corners again to refine the octagonal shape.
4. Warm gently in hot water.
5. Serve with soy sauce and a squeeze of yuzu citrus.
An elegant geometric exercise for the longest night of the year. The octagon is a symbol of completeness in East Asian aesthetics. Eating this on the winter solstice eve — the turning point toward longer days — makes it a seasonal ritual as much as a recipe.
1. Start with a whole block of firm tofu. Carefully shave off the coarse cloth-textured surface on all sides — about 2 mm.
2. Cut off the four corners to make it roughly octagonal.
3. Trim the new corners again to refine the octagonal shape.
4. Warm gently in hot water.
5. Serve with soy sauce and a squeeze of yuzu citrus.
An elegant geometric exercise for the longest night of the year. The octagon is a symbol of completeness in East Asian aesthetics. Eating this on the winter solstice eve — the turning point toward longer days — makes it a seasonal ritual as much as a recipe.