Agedashi Tofu (揚げ出し豆腐): What Is It & What Does It Taste Like?
Agedashi tofu (or agedashi dofu, 揚げ出し豆腐 Agedashi dōfu – see rendaku – often shortened to age tofu or age dofu) is a Japanese way to serve hot tofu.
Silken (kinugoshi) firm tofu, cut into cubes, is lightly dusted with potato starch or cornstarch and then deep fried until golden brown.
It is then served in a hot tentsuyu broth made of dashi, mirin, and shō-yu (Japanese soy sauce), and topped with finely chopped negi (a type of spring onion), grated daikon or katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) sprinkled on top.
It is type of Japanese tofu that is deep fried and served in a dashi-based broth. It is a popular dish that can be found in many restaurants. The dish gets its name from the word “agedashi”, which means “to fry”.
The tofu used for this dish is usually soft or silken tofu. The tofu is cut into small blocks and then dusted with cornstarch before being deep-fried. The fried tofu is then simmered in a broth made with dashi, soy sauce, and mirin.
This dish is often served with grated daikon radish and green onions. It can also be garnished with other ingredients such as bonito flakes or sesame seeds.
Agedashi tofu is a delicious and easy way to enjoy tofu. It can be a light meal on its own or a tasty side dish.
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What does agedashi tofu taste like?
Agedashi tofu has a crispy exterior and a soft, custard-like interior. The tofu is infused with the flavors of the broth, which gives it a slightly sweet, savory, and umami taste.
What’s the origin of agedashi tofu?
This dish is thought to have originated in the Edo period in Japan. It was a popular street food that was sold by vendors who carried small wooden buckets filled with the fried tofu and broth.
Nowadays, agedashi tofu is a common dish that can be found in many Japanese restaurants. It is often served as an appetizer or side dish.
Agedashi tofu etiquette
When eating agedashi tofu, it is considered polite to use chopsticks to pick up the tofu and then put it in your mouth. Some versions have the sauce poured over the tofu, but oftentimes the sauce comes as a dipping sauce.
Is agedashi tofu healthy?
Agedashi tofu is a relatively healthy dish. The tofu is high in protein and the broth is low in calories. However, the deep-fried tofu does add some extra calories and fat to the dish.
If you are looking for a healthier option, you can try making baked agedashi tofu. This version uses baked tofu that is then simmered in the broth.
Conclusion
Agedashi tofu is a delicious Japanese dish that is made by deep frying tofu and then simmering it in a broth. It is a popular appetizer or side dish that can be found in many restaurants so hopefully you’ll get the chance to try it!
Also read: this is how you make agedashi tofu yourself
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Joost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.
