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Goma dofu
Sesame tofu
Goma dōfu (胡麻豆腐): silky sesame "tofu" set with kudzu, as served at Mount Kōya
Despite its name, goma dofu contains no soybeans: it is a pale, wobbly block of ground sesame and water, set with kudzu starch, and it is the signature dish of the temple lodgings on Mount Kōya in Wakayama, served at breakfast and at the start of shojin ryori meals. It has a bouncy, almost mochi-like texture and a deep, toasty sesame flavour, eaten with a dab of wasabi and soy. The common mistake is stopping the stirring too soon: it must be beaten hard over the heat for a full 15 minutes, or it sets soft and pasty instead of springy. Chef's tip: use pure white sesame paste (neri goma) rather than tahini if you can; it is more roasted and gives a richer, creamier flavour.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅜ oz kudzu starchor potato starch
- 2 cups water
- 1 pinch salt
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Rinse a small square container (about 12 cm) with water and leave it wet.
Step 2: In a pan, crush 1 ⅜ oz kudzu starch into a fine powder with the back of a spoon, then whisk in 2 cups water a little at a time until smooth. Whisk in 2 ⅛ oz white sesame paste (neri goma or tahini) and 1 pinch salt until there are no lumps; sieve the mixture back into the pan for the smoothest result.
Step 3: Set the pan over a medium heat and stir constantly with a wooden spatula. After 4–5 minutes it will suddenly thicken and turn lumpy; keep going.
5 minStep 4: Turn the heat to low and beat hard for 12–15 minutes more, until the mixture is glossy, very thick and pulls away from the sides of the pan in one mass.
15 minStep 5: Scrape into the wet container, smooth the top with a wet spatula and press cling film onto the surface.
Step 6: Cool for 30 minutes, then chill for at least 1 hour, until firm enough to cut. Don't chill overnight: it hardens and loses its spring.
60 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 150 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 11 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
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Good to know
- How long does goma dofu take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
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