[Anime Culture Monday] Anime Recipes: Tofu Steak from Isekai Shokudou

11:00 AM August 28, 2017

It’s time again to set our sights on the delicious food that comes to us through our favorite medium: Anime! Isekai Shokudou is not going to take you on some harrowing journey; it is not going to shock you, nor is it going to make you cry, at least it should not, but rather, it is going to show you good food and in a way, act almost like Shokugeki no Souma where the characters break down everything in front of them that we are seeing. Yet again, this week we got another treat with the story of a classic Japanese food, Omelette Rice, and another newer type of food, tofu steak. It is not to say that tofu is not something new nor is tofu steak, but the Elf Fardania’s diet will not allow her to enjoy anything with milk, eggs, meat, or dairy products. A challenge indeed, but the master undertakes it without thinking twice. Of course, Fardania loved it and now she is coming back episode after episode to order it again and again!

What we are presented with this time is a delicious meal that works for someone who is a vegan. It is rather shocking since you don’t see much acknowledgement of people who do not regularly consume milk, meat, or animal products in anime. Once in awhile, we get a salaryman who does not drink or a person who is a vegetarian, but to go full vegan is something rarely seen. While we personally cannot give up cheese and ice cream, we respect those who do and we have to say, when we saw the tofu steak, we became very hungry. So today, we present to you tofu steak with oroshi daikon sauce and veggies. Enjoy!

Tofu Steak from Isekai Shokudou

Veganism and just regular healthy alternative choices are something that is in somewhat of a boom in Japan. Go to most restaurants and there will always be a vegetable or low calorie option. More recently though, you can even find vegan options popping up in bigger cities and even complete restaurants that are made to serve vegans. It’s just a matter of time until there is countrywide acceptance. Tofu is nothing new to us though and it is incredibly healthy even if you do not regularly consume it. Now, while this recipe is not something that is completely vegan, having the right ponzu sauce will set you free. If you are not careful though, you may accidentally consume some with Katsuobushi aka dried pieces of bonito, a fish. So watch out. However, vegan or not, you can total enjoy this when you want something that tastes like a full meal but is lighter and healthier for you.

What You Will Need:

tofu

1 block

Potato starch flour. Cornstarch will work too if you do not have any.

Green onions aka scallions.

Daikon

as much as necessary. You won’t need a lot

Ponzu

Spinach

Carrots

Salt and pepper to season

Optional Notes:

Ponzu usually comes in two varieties. Those based on Konbu and Katsuo, and those that are just Konbu flavored. Konbu means seaweed, so no problems there. You do not need a lot of Daikon as well so please don’t buy a massive root thinking you will use it all. Also, Daikon Oroshi, what you will be making, uses the bottom half of the daikon. So try to not use the top! Above all else, just enjoy it!

How to Cook It:

1
To start, slice your block of tofu into fourths.
2
Line a place with a few paper towels and place the four blocks on top of the paper towels. Microwave for about 2 minutes. Be careful not to overlap the blocks as well, as you are trying to draw out the moisture here.
3
Once done, sift your potato starch flour over the tofu and once one side is done, flip them and repeat.
4
Heat up a frying pan with some vegetable or olive oil in it. Once warm, place the tofu blocks into the frying pan.
5
Fry them for a few minutes on both side until they start to turn golden brown. Once done, season with salt and pepper.
6
Grate your daikon finely. It should be almost a pudding consistency. Place that aside.
7
Boil your carrots after slicing them and then in the last few minutes, add in your spinach. Three minutes max is all you need.
8
Drain them and then place them next to your tofu steak.
9
Top with the grated daikon, then the chopped scallions, and finally, a tablespoon of ponzu sauce. Add more to season.
10
Dig in!

(Note: Be careful not to burn yourself with the oven or the frying pan. Things will get hot. )

Yum!

Final Thought

Isekai Shokudou keeps cranking out the hits and we are here for it every single week. There are so many good dishes that it is hard to say which one we like the best. The season is not over yet so we cannot wait to see what else comes. With the rising influences of people who have allergies or are vegans, or even vegetarians, we will see more experiments with food to create suitable food for those individuals. But what do you think? Are you a vegan, vegetarian, or have a food allergy? If so, this might be the god send you needed as this recipe is not only in Isekai Shokudou, but people in Japan love to eat this when they want to lose a few extra pounds. Let us know what dish you have enjoyed the most thus far below! Till next time,

Editor/Translator

Author: Nagareboshi

American by birth; international by choice. I am trying to bring attention to one of my favorite causes; me. I translate by day and write by night. Aspiring polyglot. My dream would be to be the personal translator for Amuro Namie. Other than that, my hobbies include languages, weightlifting, sleeping, karaoke, GOOD coffee and music. When I’m not doing any of the above, I am most likely laughing hysterically at Willam Belli videos or EV farming. I ain’t gunna Rupologize for it neither. Waifu are Shirai Kuroko & Euaerin.

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