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白和え (しらあえ, Shira-ae) is Shira-ae — a Japanese food (snacks, tofu dishes, vegetable dishes).
What is Shira-ae?
Shiraae ("white mixture") could be described as mashed tofu salad. It's a type of aemono , small, simple salad-like dishes. It stems from the Zen Buddhist vegetarian cuisine called shōjin-ryōri. It has a thick, rich texture and is usually mixed with various shredded vegetables. The rich taste comes from ground sesame seeds and a touch of miso, and the texture is thick because the tofu is well drained. Vegetables commonly used in shira-ae include sliced carrots, spinach, konnyaku (a firm jelly-like food made from konnyaku root), green beans, and sometimes persimmons. Vegetables are cooked and seasoned before mixing with tofu. This way the dish has a stronger flavor.