Tofu has an unfortunate image as a bland and unappetizing dish in the West. In Asia, however, the culinary practice surrounding tofu is old and rich enough to have been honed as a cultural art. Japan produces all sorts of tofu dishes, sure to appeal to even the strictest carnivore. If you yourself have never looked at a tofu cube without wrinkling your nose, our Bothell Japanese restaurant invites you to give agedashi tofu a try.
Agedashi is nothing new. It’s a well-known preparation of tofu dating back hundreds of years. A tofu cookbook gives us an account of agedashi from as early as 1782. The recipe calls for tofu to be dusted in potato or corn starch and deep fried to a golden-brown color. This is then topped with chopped onions and served in a hot sauce made from soup stock, rice wine, and soy sauce. The end result is so hearty and flavorful, you’ll forget that you’re not eating meat!