agedashi tofu

Agedashi tofu is a Japanese dish of fried tofu served in a warm, seasoned broth. Soft or medium-firm tofu is drained, cut into pieces and dusted with starch before frying. Potato starch is a common coating. It forms a delicate crust around the tofu, whose center remains soft. The fried pieces are placed in a bowl and served with tsuyu made from dashi, soy sauce and mirin.^[1]

Grated daikon, ginger, sliced green onions and dried bonito flakes are common garnishes. The sauce is added shortly before serving, so the coating gradually softens while the tofu stays hot. Agedashi tofu appears as an appetizer in izakaya and other Japanese restaurants. Both the dashi and the toppings vary; some preparations use kombu stock and omit the bonito flakes.^[1]