🍱 Tsuyu-ni-shime

"Tsuyu-ni-shime" is a dish made by simmering vegetables, herring, tofu, and other ingredients in broth, seasoned with soy sauce and sugar. This dish is also known as “tsuyuji” or “kotoji” in some regions, and is considered one of the local delicacies of the Minamiaizu area. One of the unique characteristics of this dish is the use of a particular type of tofu called "tsuto tofu". "Tsuto tofu" is wrapped in straw and was originally designed to preserve it for an extended period in the past when there were no refrigerators. The word “tsuto” means “wrapped in straw”, and it is said that people used to carry their tofu wrapped in straw, and one day, the tofu was stewed while still wrapped in the straw, giving rise to tsuto tofu. In Minamiaizu, "tsuto tofu" is still available for purchase.