Made with sesame and kudzu, gomadofu (sesame tofu) is one of the most important shojin ryori (plant-based traditional Buddhist vegan cuisine) dishes. Unlike other kinds of gomadofu, gomadofu by Houmoto Sesame Tofu, a Nagasaki-style gomadofu specialty manufacturer, is uniquely crafted by dark-roasting sesame and then grinding it into paste with stone mortars in-house, which results in an exquisitely nutty aroma, rich flavor, and smooth texture.

The roasting and grinding steps are considered so important that the third president of the company conducts the processes personally to maintain the authentic Nagasaki-style gomadofu flavor. They also use both shelled and unshelled sesame and carefully mix them with quality hon-kudzu. This produces a perfect balance of nuttiness and sweetness and a silky smooth texture with a pleasant chewiness, reminiscent of jelly or panna cotta. A little bit of sugar is added, so it’s slightly sweet yet not overpoweringly so. It can be enjoyed as either a savory or sweet dish.

The Japanese traditionally serve it with soy sauce, miso-based sauces, sesame sauce, or dashi along with condiments like wasabi or ginger. However, you can also enjoy it with maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar syrup. Moreover, Sesame Tofu is full of vitamins E and D, sesamin, unsaturated fatty acids, fiber, calcium, and protein, so you can benefit from all of sesame’s goodness while enjoying the taste.

• 3.52 oz