🍱 Serino Yogoshi (Japanese Parsley Mashed Tofu Salad)

"Seri" (Japanese parsley) is a perennial herb of the parsley family that grows wild in the mountains and fields throughout Japan. Historical records such as the Kojiki and Manyoshu show that "seri" (Japanese parsley), a vegetable native to Japan, was eaten as food as far back as the Nara period. The vegetable grows well in moist soil and often grows along streams and rivers. It has also been cultivated since ancient times and is grown in rice paddies after rice is harvested. The name of the vegetable is said to come from the fact that they grow in competition ("seri-au" in Japanese) with each other. "Yogoshi" means "shira-ae" (mashed tofu salad) and the word "yogoshi" means dirty in Japanese. Since the mortar and pestle becomes dirty when grinding the ingredients, the word "yogoshi" is used to describe the dish. The "yogoshi/shira-ae" made with tofu, sesame seeds, and seasonal vegetables is highly nutritious and delicious. It has a light and simple taste and is often eaten as a side dish. This dish is an indispensable part of Buddhist vegetarian cuisine and is served at rituals.