霰豆腐
Arare dōfu
Hailstone Tofu
English Interpretation
Cut tofu into small cubes like hailstones and warm in dashi. The tiny pieces are beautiful in the broth, presenting a scene as though hail has fallen.
原文 · Original (1782)
豆腐を小さく霰のごとく角に切りて、出汁にて温むべし。小さき粒々、汁の中にて美しく、雹の降りたるごとの情景を呈するなり。
Transliteration
Tōfu wo chiīsaku arare no gotoku kaku ni kirite, dashi nite atamuму beshi. Chiīsaki tsubutubu, shiru no naka nite utsukushiku, hyō no furitaru gotoku no jōkei wo teisuru nari.
Notes & Annotations
Arare (霰) means hailstones. The name describes the small, irregular cube cut. Arare cutting is a standard Japanese knife technique (arare-giri).
English Recipe
Ingredients
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firm tofu 豆腐 1 block (350 g)一丁 Cut into small cubes
-
dashi stock 出汁 300 ml
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soy sauce 醤油 1 tablespoon
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mirin 味醂 ½ teaspoon
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salt 塩 a pinch
Method
Serves 2–3
1. Press firm tofu and cut into small, irregular cubes about ½ × ½ × ½ cm — like tiny hailstones.
2. Bring 300 ml dashi to a gentle simmer in a pot.
3. Add the tofu cubes carefully and simmer for 2–3 minutes until heated through.
4. Season the broth with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, ½ teaspoon mirin, and a pinch of salt.
5. Transfer to shallow bowls. The tiny cubes should float in the warm broth like hailstones suspended in sky.
6. Garnish with a single thread of yuzu zest or a small pinch of grated daikon.
Arare means hailstones. The countless small cubes floating in broth evoke a specific image from nature — a poetic approach to an everyday ingredient.
1. Press firm tofu and cut into small, irregular cubes about ½ × ½ × ½ cm — like tiny hailstones.
2. Bring 300 ml dashi to a gentle simmer in a pot.
3. Add the tofu cubes carefully and simmer for 2–3 minutes until heated through.
4. Season the broth with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, ½ teaspoon mirin, and a pinch of salt.
5. Transfer to shallow bowls. The tiny cubes should float in the warm broth like hailstones suspended in sky.
6. Garnish with a single thread of yuzu zest or a small pinch of grated daikon.
Arare means hailstones. The countless small cubes floating in broth evoke a specific image from nature — a poetic approach to an everyday ingredient.