Kaisen chukadon / Chinese-style seafood saute over steamed rice

A tasty Japanese donburi of a classic Chinese dish. This is a reduced-sodium version of a previously posted chukadon recipe. It uses more vinegar than the original recipe and much less soy sauce and oyster sauce, but the sourness is milder... Why? Vinegar is boiled (in microwave) to get rid of excess sourness, leaving just enough sour taste and a sensation that mimics saltiness. This recipe also uses Shaoxing wine instead of sake to ensure a flavorful outcome. All in all, this is a very satisfying dish that sticks to your ribs.

1/2 of recipe (when served with 150 g steamed rice):
401 calories; 15.8 g protein; 2.8 g fat; 74.9 g carbohydrate; 71.4 g net carbs; 521 mg sodium (with 50% reduced-sodium soy sauce; 673 mg with regular soy sauce); 37 mg cholesterol; 3.5 g fiber

Warabi to ebi no kakiage / mixed tempura with bracken and shrimp

As with any ingredient in season, bracken makes great tempura. Here is a wonderful combination with shrimp.

2 kakiage + tentsuyu*: 
218 calories; 4.8 g protein; 17.4 g fat; 9.2 g carbohydrate; 8.2 g net carbs; 108 mg sodium (tentsuyu made with 50% reduced-sodium soy sauce; 184mg with regular soy sauce); 341 mg cholesterol; 1.0 g fiber
*When 1 tbsp is consumed.

Ebi to harusame no itamemono / stir-fried prawns and mung bean vermicelli

A tasty and filling stir fry for a hungry stomach. The flavor is light yet satisfying, making this a great companion for plain rice or drinks. The amount below is a bit too much for two, so there is plenty left over for a perfect bento item the next day.

1/3 of recipe:
193 calories; 11.1 g protein; 17.3 g fat; 18.7 g carbohydrate; 17.8 g net carbs; 280 mg sodium (with 50% reduced-sodium soy sauce; 331 mg with regular soy sauce); 131 mg cholesterol; 0.9 g fiber

Satsumaimo no tenpura, shungiku to gobo, ebi no kakiage / deep-fried Japanese sweet potato & mixed tempura with garland chrysanthemum, burdock root and prawns

The sweetness of satsumaimo sweet potato is striking, making it a good companion to the distinctive flavor of shungiku garland chrysanthemum and deep flavor of gobo burdock root. Prawns added to kakiage also have a sweet note, linking everything together. In the recipe below, tempura pieces are served over rice, a dish known as tendon.

For tendon with 150 g steamed rice, 1 satsumaimo tempura & 1 kakiage mixed tempura, and 2 1/2 tbsp tentsuyu dipping sauce per serving:
510 calories; 11.3 g protein; 12.8 g fat; 82.6 g carbohydrate; 80.8 g net carbs; 252mg sodium (tentsuyu made with 50% reduced-sodium soy sauce; 442 mg with regular soy sauce); 51 mg cholesterol; 1.8 g fiber

Ebi-shinjo to yasai ribon no nabe / hot pot with prawn-fish dumplings and vegetable ribbons

Vegetable ribbons and fluffy prawn-fish dumplings turn regular nabe hot pot into something special. Put prawn-fish dumplings in the nabe first, as they taste richer as they cook with other ingredients.

1/2 of recipe:
525 calories; 32.5 g protein; 14.8 g fat; 61.5 g carbohydrate; 59.9 g net carbs; 502 mg sodium (with 50% reduced-sodium soy sauce for both broth and ponzujoyu; 743 mg with regular soy sauce); 179 mg cholesterol; 7.6 g fiber

Ebi to ika no diabura-fu / camarones y calamar a la diabla / prawns and calamari in spicy chili pepper sauce

Prawns and calamari in spicy, smoky chili pepper sauce with a hint of chocolate flavor. While chipotle in adobo sauce can pretty much take care of the flavor, let's try different dried chili peppers to find your favorite spiciness and taste. This diabla sauce tastes young and edgy immediately after it is prepared, but it becomes amazingly deep and aromatic if you let it sit for hours, ideally overnight. Great with rice and tortillas.

Nasu to ebi no karashi-gomaae / eggplant and prawns in Japanese mustard sesame dressing

A great combination of eggplant and prawns for a neat little side dish. Karashi mustard adds just enough bite to spice up rich sesame dressing.

Kabu no ebi-ankake / Japanese turnips with thickened prawn sauce

A very soothing dish. Soft, juicy kabu turnips and naturally sweet prawns make a tender twosome, and the distinctive taste and aroma of mitsuba add just the right accent. Ginger gives a refreshing note.

Ebi to soramame no shiraae / prawns and fava beans in tofu dressing

A golden combination of sweet prawns and softly bitter fava beans dressed with tofu dressing and a hint of sesame for a delightful aroma. 

Ebi no paeriya / paella with prawns

A party paella with botan-ebi spot shrimp at the height of their season! The broth is also made with spot shrimp, infusing the rice with the yummy flavor of shrimp at their best.

Soramame to ebi no kakiage / mixed tempura with fava beans and prawns

Tempura tastes best when made with in-season ingredients. Here is a great example of mixed tempura using fava beans and spot shrimp, both of which have a short season in our area. Bitter, starchy fava beans are a great companion for sweet prawns.

Tofu to soramame, ebi no yuzukosho-itame / stir-fried tofu, fava beans and prawns with yuzukosho

A gentle, mildly sweet yet slightly bitter combination of tofu, prawns and fava beans. The fruity spiciness of yuzukosho works the magic.

Deveining prawns without cutting

Deveining prawns does not necessarily require cutting open their back. In many dishes prawns are not cut, while in others some prawns are in their shells and some are shelled in the final dish. It takes an extra step, but proper preparation is the key to best results. Here is how to devein prawns in their shells. Deveining shelled prawns follows the same process. Now get a toothpick or skewer, and remember to be gentle. 

Shiifuudo no kisshu / seafood quiche

My favorite quiche for cold seasons. Great for parties and potlucks, too.

Chukadon / Chinese-style saute with sauce over steamed rice

Another standard Japanese Chinese dish. Assorted ingredients are sauteed and flavored in Chinese style -- often meaning a combination of ginger, garlic, chicken stock, and oyster sauce. Here is one example with prawns and scallops.

When served with 150 g steamed rice:
428 calories per serving (1/2 of recipe); 17.1 g protein; 3.0 g fat; 79.0 g carbohydrate; 75.9 g net carbs; 1077 mg sodium (with 50% reduced-sodium soy sauce; 1419 mg with regular soy sauce); 53 mg cholesterol; 3.1 g fiber

Nagaimo no ebi-iri kinchuakuni / Chinese yam with prawns in thin deep-fried tofu packets, simmered in broth

The soft texture and taste of nagaimo, enhanced with prawns and a fall harvest of gingko nuts and mushrooms.

Jagaimo to ebi no remon haabu sarada / potato and prawn salad with herbs

This has been my top potluck and party dish for years. Lemon juice and fresh herbs turn this starchy salad into a light dish. No matter how many times I make it, I never get tired of eating it.

Ebi to ginnan-iri mushi-renkon manju / steamed lotus root dumplings with prawns and gingko nuts

Grated lotus root is transformed into soft dumplings by steaming. Prawns add a mild sweet flavor while gingko nuts provide the nutty tang of autumn.

Fuwafuwa tamago no osuimono, ebi to shantoreru iri / clear soup with fluffy eggs, prawns and chanterelle mushrooms

This dish tastes like chawanmushi savory custard but is much soupier. Prawns and mushrooms add variety to the flavor and texture.

Soramame to ebi no marine sarada / marinated fava bean and prawn salad

The sharp taste of lemon softens after several hours. Finely chop onion for a chunky texture with a straightforward flavor, or grate it for a juicy dressing with a milder taste.