Fast Slow Food Japanese Style Salad

This salad, offers the nutrition of home cooking with the taste and convenience of fast food. I think it's Japanese because my friend who taught it to me immigrated to Canada from Japan. The flavors are clean and balanced and can make a tofu lover out of anyone. In Canada, you can find the Bonito flakes and black sesame seeds at Asian grocers, and the rest of the ingredients almost anywhere.

If you want the recipe to be vegan, you can omit the Bonito flakes, which are like the bacon bits of Japanese cuisine.

Regarding my post this week about talking to strangers in the grocery store, another step beyond is talking to strangers in a grocery store that is not of your ethnicity… why not go on a culinary adventure to a little local store where you don't usually shop?... And talk to strangers!

Ingredients

Main Components

* 454 grams (approx. 1 block) silken tofu

* 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

* 2 green onions, thinly sliced

* 2 grams dried bonito flakes (Katsuobushi)

* 1 tablespoon black roasted sesame seeds

Simple Sesame Soya Dressing

* ½ cup sesame oil

* ½ cup soya sauce

Method

* Prepare the Base: Gently place the drained silken tofu onto your chosen serving plate.

* Layer the Toppings: Distribute the halved cherry tomatoes and sliced green onions over the tofu.

* Whip up the "Fast" Dressing: In a separate small dish, combine equal measures of sesame oil and soy sauce, then drizzle this mixture over the salad. Keep drizzling as you eat.

* The Finishes: Sprinkle the black roasted sesame seeds evenly across the dish.

* Add the Umami Factor: Finish by scattering the dried Bonio flakes (Katsuobushi) over the top just before serving. These flakes are the smoky, savory "bacon bits" that add depth and visual appeal.