The wriggling loaches “struggling” in a pot of boiling water, desperately trying to burrow into a block of tofu to escape, is a controversial delicacy in Japan that leaves diners “screaming.”
Dojo Tofu – loach tofu is known as one of the famous dishes in Japan. It gets its name from the two main ingredients: loaches (dojo) and soft tofu (tofu).
At first glance, the dish may not seem particularly special when described as loaches cooked and nestled within a large piece of tofu. However, witnessing the preparation process of this tofu dish can be quite chilling for diners.
The controversial loach tofu delicacy in Japan.
The preparation of loach tofu is relatively simple. First, prepare a pot of cool water and toss in small loaches so they can swim freely. As the temperature rises and the water begins to heat up, a block of cold tofu is placed in the center of the pot.
Immediately, the loaches frantically dart towards the tofu to escape the heat, searching for a way out. The more they struggle, the more they become trapped deep within the tofu and end up being boiled alive.
The preparation of loach tofu that makes diners shudder. (Photo: Xiaowukeji).
Due to this seemingly cruel preparation method, the dish is also referred to as Tofu Hell. The group of loaches trying to burrow into the cold tofu for shelter ironically heads into what could be described as “a headlong plunge into death.”
Loaches attempting to dive into the tofu to escape the heat but getting trapped and boiled.
The dish is created by the small loaches. They must endure three layers of hell: being boiled alive in hot water, being trapped in the block of tofu, and being cooked while still gasping for breath.
One diner outright rejected the dish after observing the gruesome preparation process: “This dish is extremely cruel. At the moment the loaches think they have escaped death, they are actually plunging into a hellish world that is even more terrifying. In fact, everyone has different ways of eating it. Some enjoy it even while the loaches are still gasping within the tofu.”
This dish is also called Tofu Hell due to its cruel preparation method. (Photo: Xiaowukeji).
Previously, a Japanese television program attempted to film Tofu Hell and attracted a large audience. The chefs struggled to execute the dish correctly, failing to time the moment when the water was hot enough to add the tofu.
However, shortly after airing, the program had to be temporarily suspended due to viewers’ outrage at the sight of loaches writhing to death and being boiled alive.
