Japanese Chilled Tofu Food

JAPANESE CHILLED TOFU

Steps:

• Put onion in a small bowl; add water to cover. Let soak for 10 minutes. Drain well; pat dry with a paper towel.
• Prepare tofu: Open tofu and invert onto a plate. Use paper towel to blot away excess liquid. If using medium tofu, drain on lint-free towel or 2 stacked sheets of paper towel on a plate.
• Cut medium or block tofu into 1-inch cubes or 1-inch-thick dominoes; arrange in a shallow bowl or individual dishes. (If using tofu pudding, scoop up large shards with a metal spoon, putting into shallow bowl or individual serving dishes.) Before serving, pour off any whey.
• Drizzle with soy sauce. Top with green onion, ginger, and optional garnishes (or leave tofu naked and let diners choose their own toppings).

CHILLED TOFU, JAPANESE-STYLE

Steps:

• Cut tofu in half widthwise. Keep the pieces stacked and cut lengthwise into thirds (creates 6 rectangles), and then cut the tofu horizontally (slicing parallel to work surface) into quarters to create 24 cubes, each about 1 inch. Repeat with second package of tofu for a total of 48 pieces. Place tofu in a serving bowl and nestle the bowl in a larger bowl filled with crushed ice. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, place dipping sauce ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until well blended; set aside.
• Prepare 5 or more condiments and place each in a separate bowl or dish. Serve tofu family style in its chilled bowl with condiments, dipping sauce, and individual serving dishes.