🍲 Yamato-mana to Usuage no Nimono (Simmered Yamato-mana and fried thin tofu)

"Yamato-mana to usuage no nimono" (simmered yamato-mana and fried thin tofu) is a home-style dish using yamato-mana, a traditional vegetable of Yamato (Nara Prefecture). Yamato-mana is a cruciferous vegetable, a type of "tsukena" that has been eaten since ancient times. It has its roots in "suzuna" leaves, which are mentioned in the Kojiki (records of ancient matters). It has a mild flavor and crunchiness, and is used in a variety of dishes. In particular, this home-style simmered dish with deep fried tofu has been loved among local people. It was rarely available in supermarkets, but in 2005, the Nara Prefectural Government's Regional Rally R&D Program improved the variety. In October 2009, new varieties of "Natsu-nara-na" and "Fuyu-nara-na" were announced, which are now widely distributed.