Welcome back friends. Get ready to take your taste buds on a Hawaiian adventure with this unique and delicious pupu recipe featuring aburage, a type of Japanese fried tofu.
Pupus, which means appetizer or snack in Hawaiian, are often served alongside tropical cocktails for a perfect pairing of flavors. This recipe puts a local spin on a Japanese staple, aburage, transforming it into crispy, seasoned tofu bites that will have your guests eager for the next course.
The combination of salty, savory aburage with sweet and spicy elements creates a burst of flavors in every bite. With just a few simple ingredients that can be found at any grocery store, you’ll be whipping up these moreish morsels in no time.
What is Aburage Pupu?
Aburage pupu is a traditional dish from Japan that has been eaten for centuries. It is made by boiling abura-age, which are sheets of deep fried tofu, then stuffing them with various ingredients and cooking them in a broth. They can be filled with vegetables, meat or fish and they can also be seasoned with sauces like teriyaki or shoyu.
The tradition comes from the Edo period (1603-1867) where there was an abundance of food such as vegetables and seafood so people turned to frying tofu to make it last longer.
The dish is a combination of fried tofu and vegetables, typically carrots, cabbage, and onion. It is served with a shoyu based sauce that can range from mild to spicy depending on the diner’s preference.
What sets this dish apart is that it has a very unique texture due to the softness of the fried tofu mixed in with the crunchiness of the vegetables. Aburage pupu is usually served as an appetizer or side dish for meat or seafood dishes.
Like many dishes in Japan, the flavor profile of aburage pupu changes depending on what area of the country you’re from.
Ingredients Needed for Aburage Pupu
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 3 tablespoons shoyu
- 1 1/2 tablespoons vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 6 aburage (deep fried tofu), thinly sliced
How to Make Aburage Pupu Step by Step
- Cut aburage into short strips and soak in boiling water. Squeeze out water.
- Mix all ingredients except aburage.
- Add aburage; mix well and chill overnight.
How to Make Aburage Pupu Recipe: Video
Aburage Pupu Endnote
When you think of Japanese cuisine, you probably think of sushi, tempura, teriyaki, and maybe even yakitori. But one Japanese dish you might have overlooked while exploring the food scene in Japan is aburage pupu (油豆ピーピー), or fried tofu with bean sprouts and pork broth—and that’s an error you don’t want to make again once you get the chance to try it out!
