Soft Cuisine: Easy-to-Eat Dishes | 1. Salted Kelp Tofu Rice

There are many times when you might crave a gentle meal, whether it's because you're feeling under the weather, have a toothache, or just feel a bit tired. It's reassuring to have a few ideas for dishes that are soft in texture and satisfying, which you can eat gently and enjoy at any time.

Today, I'm making a rice bowl using tofu, which is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of soft ingredients. 'Tomeshi'—a dish where tofu simmered in oden broth is served over rice—is a famous specialty at oden shops. In this recipe, however, we'll start by simmering the tofu from scratch without needing any oden, creating a flavorful rice bowl.

Please enjoy this rice bowl featuring exquisite, amber-colored tofu that has soaked up a rich, savory flavor in your daily meals.

Savory Salted Kelp Tofu Rice [Serves 1-2]

✓ Flavor Tip
While tofu is gentle and healthy, it can sometimes feel a bit bland. That's why the key to this recipe is the abundance of 'umami' provided by the salted kelp.

In addition to the glutamic acid naturally found in kelp, salted kelp is seasoned so it can be eaten as is, making it a very useful ingredient for flavoring dishes. We will add this salted kelp to the simmering liquid, allowing the tofu to absorb its distinct, intense umami.

1. Simmer the tofu
Place the tofu and all the ingredients for the 〈Simmered Tofu〉 into a frying pan and set to medium-low heat. Once it starts to simmer gently after 4-5 minutes, lower the heat so the surface of the liquid is just barely moving, and simmer quietly for about 20 minutes, occasionally spooning the liquid over the tofu.

Once the simmering time is up, turn off the heat and let it sit for a while to allow the flavors to meld (at least 15 minutes). Spooning the liquid over the tofu occasionally as it cools will help the flavor penetrate further and improve both the appearance and taste.

Although it takes a little time, simmering slowly for about 20 minutes allows the excess moisture to escape from the tofu, helping it absorb the color and flavor better, while also reducing the liquid slightly to perfect the rice bowl.

2. Cook the seasoned rice
While the tofu is simmering, cook the seasoned rice. Place the ingredients for the 〈Seasoned Rice〉 (except for the deep-fried tofu) into the rice cooker inner pot (or a pot suitable for cooking rice), mix lightly, then add the deep-fried tofu on top of the rice and cook as usual without mixing further.

Seasoned rice flavored with soy sauce and oden is a classic, perfect pairing that has been around for a long time. By adding the richness of deep-fried tofu to the rice, the deliciousness is further enhanced when combined with the tofu-only simmer.

3. It's ready
As the rice finishes cooking, start warming the tofu pot on low heat again. Serve the rice in a bowl, carefully place the piping hot tofu on top, and drizzle with an appropriate amount of the simmering liquid to finish.

Adding thinly sliced green onions makes the aftertaste refreshing and encourages the appetite. You can adjust the intensity of the flavor to your liking by the amount of liquid you add.

Enjoy the tofu, which has soaked up the umami and color of the salted kelp, together with the seasoned rice.

The outside of the tofu is deeply flavored, making it perfect with rice, while the white interior retains the delicate nature of the tofu, creating a delicious contrast in flavor. The smoothness of the tofu and the moisture from the liquid make the rice feel very easy to eat.

Also, if you have time, letting the tofu sit in the refrigerator overnight after simmering allows the flavor and color to penetrate all the way to the center, offering a different kind of deliciousness compared to when it's freshly made.

It may look voluminous, but since it's tofu, it feels very light after eating. In my case, I can easily eat one whole block of tofu by myself, but some people might find half a block sufficient. Since it's a dish that can be easily made with familiar ingredients, please try various amounts and flavors to suit your needs at the time.

I will be delivering 'Soft Cuisine' as a series.

That's all for today.
Thank you for reading until the end.