December 21, 2021

Abura-age, deep-fried, thinly sliced tofu

Abura-age, deep-fried, thinly sliced tofu. 油揚げ

Made by cutting tofu into thin slices and deep-frying them first at 110–120 °C, and then again at 180–200 °C.


[Abura-age]

An ingredient of udon dishes called kitsune (fox) udon, because legend tells that foxes are fond of deep fried tofu!  In small stripes, an ingredient of miso soup, and soups of mizuna, komatsuna etc. Also an ingredient in stir fries.

Can also be sliced open and used as a wrapper ("tofu pouch") and filled with vinegared rice to make inari-zushi - "Inari" is a name of the fox deity.


[Inari-zushi]

Remove excess oil before using tofu pouches.

Photos from Wikimedia Commons.


Japanese Food Dictionary