Tofu Salad with Tahini Dressing

Wednesday Dinner

- Tofu Salad
- BBQ

I made Tofu salad to take to a BBQ last night.  The salad is made with leafy green salad mix, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, shredded carrot and Tofu.  Tofu and sesame seeds go well together so I made Tahini dressing by whisking together tahini, Mentsuyu, honey and vinegar.

Mentsuyu is a soy sauce based condiment with tons of umami and this flavour is what makes Japanese food.  It is very common in home cooking and can be used for a noodle soup base, a dipping sauce for tempura, braising fish, meat or veggies, salad dressings etc.  You can find Mentsuyu at any asian grocers or supermarket but I make it because it is so easy to make and tastes better.

Mentsuyu (Makes 650ml)

Ingredients

• 40g Dried Bonito flakes
• 15g Dried Shiitake mushrooms, torn to small pieces by hand
• 10cm square piece Kombu seaweed, torn to small pieces by hand
• 472g Soy sauce
• 400g White wine

Method

1. Add all the ingredients in a pot and stir 
2. Cover and leave for 12~24hrs
3. Simmer until the alcohol is burnt off for about 5mins
4. Strain with a mesh strainer
5. Strain again with a fine mesh tea strainer (optional)
6. Pour through a funnel into a sterilised bottle
7. Store in fridge