Maitake to warabi no gorugonzoora pasta / pasta with hen of the woods mushrooms and bracken in gorgonzola sauce

Crunchy maitake is a nice addition to rich gorgonzola sauce for pasta. A vegetable in season -- warabi this time -- takes away the heavy note of the cheese sauce, which is also lightened by replacing the typical heavy cream with a combination of soy milk and sakekasu sake lees.
Since the sauce cooks fast once you add the soy milk and gorgonzola mixture, start cooking pasta before starting to saute maitake and warabi for the sauce.

548 calories (1/2 of recipe); 21.6 g protein; 24.2 g fat; 59.8 g carbohydrate; 54.2 g net carbs; 234 mg sodium; 30 mg cholesterol; 5.6 g fiber

Asari to asupara no pasuta / pasta with clams and asparagus

Pairing ingredients that are in season is always a great idea. Juicy sliced asparagus is added to pasta alle vongole for a superb marriage of flavors.

1/2 of recipe:
489 calories; 25.9 g protein; 9.1 g fat; 72.3 g carbohydrate; 67.9 g net crabs; 663 mg sodium; 24.0 mg cholesterol; 4.4 g fiber

Ebi to kobashira no gorugonzoora soosu guratan / shrimp and bay scallop gratin with gorgonzola cheese

One of my favorite mac & cheese – a great pairing of gorgonzola cheese and shrimp and scallops. The taste can run from rich to light depending on whether you use heavy cream, milk or soy milk, or a combination. Below is an indulgent dairy version for me, featuring heavy cream and milk, yet the green vegetable (yu choy sum) lightens up the aftertaste for a pleasant flavor overall. Great with wine!

1/2 of recipe:
548 calories; 29.4 g protein; 28.5 g fat; 38.6 g carbohydrate; 34.8 g net carbs; 408 mg sodium; 191 mg cholesterol; 3.8 g fiber

Asupara no penne, gorugonzoora soosu / penne pasta with asparagus, gorgonzola sauce

A great pasta dish to finish up the tough lower part of asparagus spears. Have a nice crusty bread ready to finish up the sauce! Adapted from Pasta Vegetale by Hiroyuki Isaki.

With 80 g penne per serving:
569 calories (1/2 of recipe); 17.0 g protein; 25.2 g fat; 62.2 g carbohydrate; 58.5 g net carbs; 353 mg sodium; 77 mg cholesterol; 3.7 g fiber

Aatichooku to ika no ringuiini / linguine with artichoke and calamari

Starchy artichoke with its mild tangy taste is the perfect partner for calamari. Fresh tomatoes are reduced almost to paste, fully infused with calamari for a deep taste, then loosened with pasta cooking water to blend flavors with pasta in the final dish. Grate some parmesan cheese or throw in several olives if you want slightly more punch or saltiness.

1/2 of recipe:
528 calories; 27.4 g protein; 12.1 g fat; 71.6 g carbohydrate; 63.1 g net carbs; 240 mg sodium; 93 mg cholesterol; 8.5 g fiber

Kani to horenso no tomato kuriimu pasuta / pasta with crab and spinach tomato cream sauce

Vodka and lemon zest and juice really perk up this quick tomato cream sauce! Adapted from Pike Place Market Cookbook, it tastes especially good with flat pasta.

1/2 of recipe:
481 calories; 24.0 g protein; 14.0 g fat; 61.2 g carbohydrate; 56.8 g net carbs; 361 mg sodium (approx. 100 mg less if pasta is boiled without salt); 61 mg cholesterol; 4.6 g fiber

Fettuccine with smoked salmon and arugula

A tasty quick pasta for lunch, this aglio olio e peperoncino gets a boost from smoked salmon. Fresh arugula adds a pleasant, nutty flavor.

Kani to horenso no kaneroni / cannelloni with crabmeat and spinach

A tasty combination of crab and spinach, wrapped in thin fresh pasta and topped with tomato sauce with a little bit of cream.

Ebi to shantoreru no rabiori / ravioli with prawns and chanterelle mushrooms

Ravioli filled with mildly sweet prawns paired with chanterelle mushrooms, in a simple butter & parmesan cheese sauce.

Fresh pasta (wet dough for ravioli and canneloni)