精進の煮ぬき豆腐 Shōjin no ninuki dōfu

Vegetarian Simmered-Through Tofu

#87 妙品 Exquisite

English Interpretation

Make dashi from kombu and shiitake. Do not use katsuobushi. Combine this shōjin dashi with soy sauce and sake, add tofu, and simmer until the liquid is reduced. Suitable as an offering before the Buddha.

原文 · Original (1782)

昆布と椎茸にて出汁を取るべし。鰹節を用ゐるべからず。此の精進出汁に醤油、酒を合はせ、豆腐を入れて煮抜くべし。仏前に供するに宜し。

Transliteration

Kombu to shiitake nite dashi wo toru beshi. Katsuobushi wo mochiiru bekarazu. Kono shōjin dashi ni shōyu, sake wo awase, tōfu wo irete ninuku beshi. Butsuzen ni kyō suru ni yoroshi.

Notes & Annotations

The distinction between the regular and shōjin version likely lies in the simmering liquid: the regular may use katsuobushi (bonito) dashi, while this version uses konbu (kelp) or shiitake dashi only.

English Recipe

Ingredients

  • firm tofu 豆腐 1 block (350 g)
    一丁
  • dried kelp 昆布 10 cm piece
    For vegetarian dashi
  • dried shiitake 椎茸 3 pieces
    For vegetarian dashi
  • soy sauce 醤油 3 tablespoons
  • sake 2 tablespoons

Method

Serves 2

1. Make vegetarian dashi: soak a 10 cm piece of kombu and 3 dried shiitake in 300 ml cold water for at least 30 minutes (overnight is better). Gently heat to just below a simmer, then remove the kombu. Simmer the shiitake 5 minutes more, then strain. Reserve 200 ml.
2. Combine the shōjin dashi with 3 tablespoons soy sauce and 2 tablespoons sake.
3. Cut firm tofu into pieces and simmer in the broth over low heat, uncovered, until the liquid is almost entirely absorbed — 30–40 minutes.

Identical technique to No. 86, but strictly vegetarian (shōjin). No bonito, no animal products — only kombu and shiitake provide the umami. The original notes this is suitable for offering before a Buddhist altar.