Kurumafu no katsu / gluten cake cutlets

Tasty, filling yet light cutlets made with gluten cakes. Compared to more commonly known tonkatsu pork cutlets, this dish is much lower in calories and gentler on your stomach. Gluten cakes are first flavored with dashi stock, shoyukoji soy sauce rice malt and vinegar to get a meaty taste, followed by usual preparation of cutlets, but in a leaner way (below). No shoyukoji available? Balsamic vinegar does a great job in that case.

1/2 of recipe (katsu only; sauce & vegetables not included):
222 calories; 7.9 g protein; 13.0 g fat; 17.3 g carbohydrate; 11.8 g net carbs; 67 mg sodium (with shoyukoji made with 50% reduced-sodium soy sauce); 53 mg cholesterol; 5.5 g fiber; 288 mg potassium

1/2 of recipe (katsu & sauce; vegetables not included):
228 calories; 7.9 g protein; 13.1 g fat; 18.7 g carbohydrate; 13.2 g net carbs; 163 mg sodium (with shoyukoji made with 50% reduced-sodium soy sauce); 53 mg cholesterol; 5.5 g fiber; 298 mg potassium

Tanpopo no shiraae / dandelions with tofu dressing

The bitter greens of dandelions paired with the faint sweetness of tofu dressing. Tanpopo dandelions may be your enemy when it comes to lawns, but could become an endless supply of leafy greens ... well, maybe not. Still, let's enjoy the stimulating bitterness of spring and get our share of burgeoning energy.

As the leaves are quite bitter, they are soaked in water for 1-2 hours after boiling for 1-2 minutes, and then coated with oil before mixing with the tofu dressing below.

1/2 of recipe:
84 calories; 4.3 g protein; 5.1 g fat; 6.2 g carbohydrate; 3.7 g net carbs; 90 mg sodium; 53 mg cholesterol; 2.5 g fiber; 183 mg potassium

Koyadofu-iri seri to koebi no chijimi / jijigmae Korean savory pancake with freeze-dried tofu, water dropwort and bay shrimp

An easy fix when feeling like eating lots of vegetables, especially strong-tasting greens. For the batter below, koyadofu freeze-dried tofu along with ground okara soybean pulp are added to partially replace wheat flour and lower net carbs. Koyadofu's fat content contributes to a rich taste, while at the same time grating the freeze-dried tofu makes the batter light and airy. It also makes pancake surfaces toastier. But be patient when cooking -- wait to flip pancakes until their bottom surface has turned opaque and shows some golden color at edges, otherwise they tend to crumble in the air.

1/2 recipe (pancake only; dipping sauce not included)
496 calories per serving; 32.2 g protein; 22.4 g fat; 40.5 g carbohydrate; 33.6 g net carbs; 198 mg sodium; 307 mg cholesterol; 6.9 g fiber; 962 mg potassium

Okara-konnyaku no nikumiso-fu soboro to iritamago no gohan / steamed rice topped with sweet & salty fried soybean pulp yam cakes and scrambled egg

Here is an example of how to use my meaty meatless okara-konnyaku bits. Just like other strong flavored items, these bits cooked with dried shiitake and gobo burdock root make a great topping for steamed rice. Oil-free scrambled egg with dashi offers a mild balance, with green onion slices accentuating the dish with a softly spicy note.

1/2 recipe without rice:
60 calories; 4.0 g protein; 3.5 g fat; 3.2 g carbohydrate; 1.6 g net carbs; 104 mg sodium; 105 mg cholesterol; 1.6 g fiber

1/2 recipe with 110 g steamed rice (approx. 1/3 of steamed rice made with 180 cc/150 g dry rice):
239 calories; 7.0 g protein; 3.9 g fat; 42.0 g carbohydrate; 40.1 g net carbs; 104 mg sodium; 105 mg cholesterol; 1.9 g fiber

1/2 recipe with 165 g steamed rice (approx. 1/2 of steamed rice made with 180 cc/150 g dry rice):
328 calories; 8.5 g protein; 4.1 g fat; 61.4 g carbohydrate; 59.4 g net carbs; 104 mg sodium; 105 mg cholesterol; 2.0 g fiber

Okara-konnyaku / soybean pulp yam cakes

Okara-konnyaku is a hybrid of okara soybean pulp (rich in soluble fiber) and konnyaku yam cake (rich in non-soluble fiber), and has been around for more than a decade in Japan. It is mainly used as a meat substitute for health, weight loss and diet preference reasons. As with konnyaku, okara-konnyaku becomes very chewy after being frozen and defrosted. While konnyaku simply become fibrous after the same process or tofu becomes spongy (like koyadofu freeze-dried tofu after rehydration), okara-konnyaku takes on a meaty texture. Among dishes I have tried, it seems to work best when used like ground meat, especially poultry and pork. Because it is basically fiber, it is very filling by itself. Moreover, it does not cause any heartburn or upset stomach in people who are not accustomed to eating meat, such as myself. This would be a great option for those who routinely eat meat and want to cut back to reduce fat or calories or for other health reasons. You would not notice that your hamburger patties or meat loaf contains okara-konnyaku if the proportion is moderate.

You can find a number of preparation methods and ingredient proportions. Below is my current standard way of making okara-konnyaku at home.

100 g okara-konnyaku, boiled:
52 calories; 2.6 g protein; 1.4 g fat; 8.5 g carbohydrate; 2.0 g net carbs; 3 mg sodium; 0 mg cholesterol; 6.5 g fiber

100 g okara-konnyaku, defrosted:
63 calories; 3.1 g protein; 1.7 g fat; 10.4 g carbohydrate; 2.5 g net carbs; 3 mg sodium; 0 mg cholesterol; 7.9 g fiber

100 g okara-konnyaku, excess water removed:
86 calories; 4.3 g protein; 2.3 g fat; 14.0 g carbohydrate; 3.3 g net carbs; 4 mg sodium; 0 mg cholesterol; 10.7 g fiber

Pootabera no piza pan / portabella pizza pastry

A spin-off from a piroshki-style savory pastry creation. Replacement of all whole wheat flour with oat flour and butter with olive oil for the dough results in a lighter and crispier crust, which can be half-baked and frozen for later use. Below, umami-packed tomato paste is used as an instant sauce, providing a tasty base for sauteed portabellas complimented by aromatic Gorgonzola and crunchy walnuts. Great for a lunch or snack.

1 pastry (1/10 pizza pastry dough recipe and 1/4 of topping recipe):
254 calories; 10.3 g protein; 13.0 g fat; 25.4 g carbohydrate; 21.0 g net carbs; 69 mg sodium; 6 mg cholesterol; 4.4 g fiber

1 pizza crust (1/10 dough recipe):
186 calories; 7.3 g protein; 7.7 g fat; 21.6 g carbohydrate; 18.1 g net carbs; 23 mg sodium; 2 mg cholesterol; 3.5 g fiber

Okara tamago karee-aji to horenso, komatsuna no bataa-joyu itame / stir-fried spinach, komatsuna and egg with soybean pulp and curry, soy sauce butter flavor

A variation of leafy greens stir-fry with egg and soybean pulp. Flavoring with a small amount of soy sauce alone is not strong enough for some people, including Tom. While adding shiokoji salted rice malt or salt usually takes care of the issue, curry powder, a versatile spice, gives an instant appetizing boost without adding sodium. The spice also results in a meaty taste with the egg + soybean pulp mixture. 

1/2 of recipe:
97 calories; 5.8 g protein; 6.3 g fat; 4.4 g carbohydrate; 0.9 g net carbs; 102 mg sodium (with 50% reduced-sodium soy sauce); 120 mg cholesterol; 3.5 g fiber

Piroshiki-fu pan no kiji / piroshki-style pastry dough

Okazu pan, osozai pan or sozai pan -- savory bread or pastry -- are common bakery or home-baked goods in Japan. Savory sounds good, but may raise concern if you watch your sodium intake, as bread is a top source of sodium in Western diets (in the US at least). So why not make your own? When you do, you can lower sodium, cholesterol and net-carbs of the dough itself, giving you more options for toppings or fillings, accompanying items, and dishes to enjoy the rest of the day. Below you'll find a leaner, lighter dough. Using ingredients closer to the regular version makes the dough fluffier and richer.

Whole recipe:
1800 calories; 73.3 g protein; 72.3 g fat; 214.5 g carbohydrate; 178.8 g net carbs; 199 mg sodium; 42 mg cholesterol; 35.7 g fiber

Dough for 1 pastry (1/9 of recipe):
200 calories; 8.1 g protein; 8.0 g fat; 23.8 g carbohydrate; 19.8 g net carbs; 22 mg sodium; 5 mg cholesterol; 4.0 g fiber

Okara-iritamago no okaka mazegohan / steamed rice with scrambled soybean pulp, egg and bonito flakes

An easy makeover of plain steamed rice into a tasty comfort meal. Scrambled eggs fluffed up with fiber-rich okara increase the overall volume of rice, so even one-third of the entire recipe is quite filling. Mild okara-egg is balanced with the strong taste and aroma of okaka or katsuobushi bonito flakes. Although forms are totally different, onigiri rice balls came to mind when I first tasted this rice. Yummy!

1/3 of recipe:
229 calories; 6.6 g protein; 3.5 g fat; 40.4 g carbohydrate; 38.9 g net carbs; 41 mg sodium; 72 mg cholesterol; 1.5 g fiber

1/2 of recipe:
343 calories; 9.9 g protein; 5.2 g fat; 60.6 g carbohydrate; 58.4 g net carbs; 61 mg sodium; 108 mg cholesterol; 2.2 g fiber

Hakkuruberii no taruto / huckleberry tart

Here is another delicious tart packed with little huckleberries! Paired with the ubiquitous crème d'amonde or almond cream, it's a foolproof recipe featuring an easy okara soybean pulp & almond flour crust. The tart tastes somewhat fluffy on Day 1, and becomes subtly moist on Day 2 forward.

Whole tart:
1,072 calories; 20.6 g protein; 82.1 g fat; 68.7 g carbohydrate; 52.3 g net carbs; 78 mg sodium; 260 mg cholesterol; 10.9 g fiber

1/8 slice:
134 calories; 2.6 g protein; 10.3 g fat; 8.6 g carbohydrate; 6.5 g net carbs; 10 mg sodium; 32.5 mg cholesterol; 1.4 g fiber

Hakkuruberii no makaron taruto / huckleberry macaron tart

A light tart filled with in-season huckleberries and topped with macaron -- meringue with almond flour. The macaron is crunchy on the surface on Day 1, and turns to the texture of sponge cake from the next day.

Whole tart:
850 calories; 24.2 g protein; 52.2 g fat; 79.8 g carbohydrate; 61.6 g net carbs; 121 mg sodium; 19 mg cholesterol; 12.7 g fiber

1/8 slice:
106 calories; 3.0 g protein; 6.5 g fat; 10.0 g carbohydrate; 7.7 g net carbs; 15 mg sodium; 2 mg cholesterol; 1.6 g fiber

Okara no taruto kurasuto / tart crust with soybean pulp

A super easy tart crust that you would never know is made of okara soybean pulp! This requires no flour sifting or dusting of your pastry board to roll out dough. Lining tart molds with dough is the trickiest part, as the dough easily crumbles -- molds with fluted edges, instead of the tart rings below, should make the process easier.

One 12cm/5" tart:
230 calories; 6.5 g protein; 18.2 g fat; 11.5 g carbohydrate; 3.0 g net carbs; 62 mg sodium; 28 mg cholesterol; 8.4 g fiber

Whole recipe:
501 calories; 16.7 g protein; 46.8 g fat; 29.5 g carbohydrate; 7.8 g net carbs; 164 mg sodium; 73 mg cholesterol; 21.6 g fiber

Sakekasu okara pan / sake lees soy rolls

Small rolls featuring double soy -- okara soybean pulp and soy flour. These sake lees rolls taste great with savory dishes. Sakekasu's aroma works as a great accent to meals. Low in net carbs and sodium, these are a great option to balance your overall diet on routine basis. And thanks to the high fiber content, one roll can be quite filling.

Whole recipe (6 rolls):
983 calories; 81.5 g protein; 47.9 g fat; 62.9 g carbohydrate; 28.6 g net carbs; 395 mg sodium; 47 mg cholesterol; 28.1 g fiber

1 roll:
164 calories; 13.6 g protein; 8.0 g fat; 10.5 g carbohydrate; 4.8 g net carbs; 66 mg sodium; 8 mg cholesterol; 4.7 g fiber

Okara maccha keeki / soy matcha cake

A matcha cake made in the microwave. Taking full advantage of fiber-rich okara soybean pulp as well as calorie- and carb-free erythritol and stevia, it is a friendly companion for those who are watching their net carbs count, glucose level, or simply want something filling for a quick energy boost between meals. The cake tends to be dry on Day 1, so wrap it while still warm and keep in the fridge overnight for best results.

Whole recipe (approx. 230 g):
374 calories; 25.1 g protein; 20.7 g fat; 21.2 g carbohydrate; 8.5 g net carbs; 153 mg sodium; 428 mg cholesterol; 12.6 g fiber

2.5 cm/1" cube (approx. 25 g):
41 calories; 2.8 g protein; 2.3 g fat; 2.3 g carbohydrate; 0.9 g net carbs; 17 mg sodium; 47 mg cholesterol; 1.4 g fiber

Kanso okara / dried soybean pulp

When having more okara soybean pulp than you can eat in a few days, dry it in the microwave, a frying pan or oven, and freeze for later use. When you sift the dried okara, you get a nice, low-fat, fiber-rich flour-like ingredient for baking and more. Although not as fine as packaged okara powder from store shelves, sifted okara works great in a number of recipes.

Okara to kinoko-iri kabocha no korokke / pumpkin croquettes with soybean pulp and mushrooms

Savory and sweet pumpkin croquettes. Sauteed enoki and eringi mushrooms are added for a slightly earthy, deep taste and aroma, which nicely disguises the low sodium content of the dish. The deep-fried version with crispy panko bread crumbs is quite satisfying even when eating only one or two pieces. The baked version tastes light and significantly cuts down the amount of oil and calories. The baked version involves a bit of a process to prepare panko, but it can be done ahead of time.

Deep-fried version (1/2 of recipe):
391 calories; 6.5 g protein; 26.4 g fat; 32.9 g carbohydrate;  25.0 g net carbs; 90 mg sodium (with shoyukoji made with 50% reduced-sodium soy sauce); 27 mg cholesterol; 7.9 g fiber

Baked version (1/2 of recipe):
202 calories; 6.5 g protein; 6.0 g fat; 32.9 g carbohydrate; 25.0 g net carbs; 90 mg sodium (with shoyukoji made with 50% reduced-sodium soy sauce); 27 mg cholesterol; 7.9 g fiber

Ika-iri unohana / saute-simmered soybean pulp with calamari

A gentle and comforting okara dish with the added touch of calamari.

1/4 of recipe:
57 calories; 3.9 g protein; 1.6 g fat; 5.7 g carbohydrate; 2.4 g net carbs; 97 mg sodium (with 50% reduced-sodium soy sauce; 152 mg with regular soy sauce); 32 mg cholesterol; 3.3 g fiber

Tonyu, okara / soy milk and soybean pulp

Making both soy milk and soybean pulp is as easy as soaking beans overnight, grinding and cooking them, and squeezing to separate the liquid (soy milk) and solids (soybean pulp). When only needing a small amount or when wanting rich taste or coarse bean pulp, a pot and blender work fine -- often better than pricey soy milk makers.

Buta no kakuni / stewed pork

Among the wide range of variations -- from somewhat firm to heavenly soft, as well as light to heavy -- this kakuni is at the soft, light and non-greasy end. While extra fatty pork belly is the cut of choice for a supremely soft texture, country-style rib, which is more commonly available in the US, is used here.  Okara soybean pulp is the secret to removing extra fat and tenderizing pork at the same time in prep-cooking.

Tatsai to ninjin no okarani / ta cai, carrot and soybean pulp simmered in broth

A humble okara and vegetable dish enriched by sakura ebi dried shrimp and ta cai, a leafy Chinese green.