犂やき
Suki yaki
Plow-Grilled Tofu
English Interpretation
Heat a plow over fire until very hot. Place sliced tofu on the plow, pour over a mixture of soy sauce and sake, scatter scallions, and grill. Eaten outdoors, the flavor is exceptional.
原文 · Original (1782)
鋤を火にかざして能く熱し、豆腐を切りて鋤の上に載せ、醤油と酒を合はせたるものを掛け、葱を散らして焼くべし。野にて食すれば格別なり。
Transliteration
Suki wo hi ni kazashite yoku neshi, tōfu wo kirite suki no ue ni nose, shōyu to sake wo awasetaru mono wo kake, negi wo chirashite yaku beshi. No nite shokusureba kakubetsu nari.
Notes & Annotations
Suki (犂/鋤) is a plow or spade. This recipe preserves one of the proposed etymologies of sukiyaki: food grilled on a plow blade in the field. Though modern sukiyaki is quite different, this recipe captures the original concept.
English Recipe
Ingredients
-
firm tofu 豆腐 1 block (350 g)一丁
-
soy sauce 醤油 2 tablespoons
-
sake 酒 1 tablespoon
-
spring onion 葱 2 stalks, sliced
Method
Serves 2
1. Heat a cast-iron skillet (or, traditionally, a metal plow blade) over high heat until very hot.
2. Cut firm tofu into thick slices, about 1.5 cm.
3. Place the tofu on the hot iron. Mix 2 tablespoons soy sauce with 1 tablespoon sake and drizzle over the tofu.
4. Scatter thinly sliced spring onion (negi) around and over the tofu.
5. Cook until the underside is deeply browned and caramelised, about 3–4 minutes. Flip once.
This is one of the proposed etymologies of sukiyaki — food grilled on a suki (plow). The original says it tastes best eaten outdoors in the fields. A well-seasoned cast-iron pan is the modern equivalent of the farmer's improvised grill.
1. Heat a cast-iron skillet (or, traditionally, a metal plow blade) over high heat until very hot.
2. Cut firm tofu into thick slices, about 1.5 cm.
3. Place the tofu on the hot iron. Mix 2 tablespoons soy sauce with 1 tablespoon sake and drizzle over the tofu.
4. Scatter thinly sliced spring onion (negi) around and over the tofu.
5. Cook until the underside is deeply browned and caramelised, about 3–4 minutes. Flip once.
This is one of the proposed etymologies of sukiyaki — food grilled on a suki (plow). The original says it tastes best eaten outdoors in the fields. A well-seasoned cast-iron pan is the modern equivalent of the farmer's improvised grill.