EAT IN ASIA / Destinations / Japan

How to make Goma Dofu?

As you already know how a traditional shoujin ryouri meal looks like, do you want to try to make a part of it at home? Let's start with Goma Dofa, as that might be the strangest part of it. It is not so difficult to make a delicious Goma Dofu! To prepare it you need only a couple of ingredients. Mainly it is just tahini, kudzu flour and water, if you choose the easier version, or instead of tahini paste use sesame seeds. Sesame tofu is super tasty when chilled and served with soy sauce and a dab of wasabi.

Goma Dofu on greens.

If you decide to use tahini paste you will need no more than half an hour for preparing Goma Dofu, but if you choose to grind sesame seeds by yourself, add extra time for grinding.

So, let's start!

White sesame seeds.

Ingredients:


Version 1:

  • 3 cups white sesame seeds
  • 2 cups water
  • ½ cup kudzu flour

Or:

Version 2:

  • 140 g (5 oz) tahini paste
  • 2 cups water
  • ½ cup kudzu flour

 

Topping:

  • soy sauce
  • wasabi
  • grated ginger
  • stripes of dried seaweeds

 

Version 1:

1.     Blend sesame seeds with water in the blender until you get a smooth, liquid mixture.

2.     Use a fine sieve to strain it through.

3.     Pour sesame milk into the blender.

4.     Add kudzu flower.

5.     Blend till it is completely smooth.

 

Version 2:

1.     Blend tahini paste with water to obtain a mixture without lumps.

2.     Go to step 6.

 

Version 1 and 2:

6.     Pour into a pan.

7.     Heat on a medium high heat and keep on stirring until it thickens.

8.     When it starts bubbling, remove the pan from the fire.

9.     Stir it for a couple of minutes more. At that step you should get a pudding like mixture.

10.  Take a square form and wet it inside.

11.  Pour the hot mixture into the form.

12.  Smooth the top.

13.  Hit the form slightly on the cutting board to remove inside bubbles.

14.  Let it cool and solidify.

15.  Put it to the fridge for further 2 to 3 hours for chilling.

 

Before serving cut Goma Dofu into small squares (1.5 – 2 inch x 1.5 - 2 inch). Serve chilled.

Serve on separate plates or small bowls. Add some soy sauce and wasabi. Top with grated ginger or small stripes of dried seaweeds.

Goma Dofu.

You can store the sesame seeds tofu in the fridge for about one week. Keep it soaked in water. 

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