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

Fu to kobashira no guratan / wheat gluten cake gratin with bay scallops (bechamel sauce version)

A light gratin featuring fluffy fu gluten cakes.

1/2 of recipe (with bechamel sauce made with milk; no additional salt)
326 calories; 20.3 g protein; 15.5 g fat; 26.1 g carbohydrate; 22.9 g net carbs; 286 mg sodium (251 mg sodium when rehydrating fu with soy milk); 62.2 mg cholesterol (52.2 mg sodium when rehydrating fu with soy milk); 3.2 g fiber

1/2 of recipe (with bechamel sauce made with tonyu soy milk, no additional salt)
312 calories; 21.2g  protein; 14.0 g fat; 24.9 g carbohydrate; 20.7 g net carbs; 246 mg sodium (211 mg sodium when rehydrating fu with soy milk); 49.2 mg cholesterol (39.2 mg sodium when rehydrating fu with soy milk); 4.2 g fiber

Hanaho to kobashira no kakiage / mixed tempura with perilla flower spikes and bay scallops

Shiso flower spikes are pretty and tasty! Paired with mildly sweet bay scallops for a delicious duo.

1/2 of recipe:
603 calories; 12.0 g protein; 50.4 g fat; 19.8 g carbohydrate; 18.9 g net carbs; 228 mg sodium (when using tentsuyu made with 50% reduced-sodium soy sauce; 375-411 mg with tentsuyu with regular soy sauce); 35 mg cholesterol; 0.9 g fiber

Kobashira-iri omuraisu / tomato rice with bay scallops in egg crepe

Omuraisu, or "omelet rice," has been my favorite food since childhood. It was symbolic of Westernized food and found at a modern restaurant on the top floor of a department store in a large city where my family went on weekend outings. In college, I frequently went to eat omuraisu for lunch at a cafe near campus. The combination of ketchup-flavored chicken pilaf and fluffy crepe-like omelet tasted heavenly. I also enjoyed omuraisu at more upscale restaurants later, but my preference has always been for the simple kind, meaning no demiglace or cream sauce. At restaurants, it is often more of an omelet using multiple eggs per portion. Since one egg per day is my preference, our omuraisu is wrapped with egg crepe. Fresh ripe tomatoes for the rice and the addition of dashi and rice vinegar to the ketchup topping sauce—added to reduce the amount of sodium-loaded ketchup--bring a nice, refined touch.

1/2 of recipe:
445 calories; 19.5 g protein; 11.4 g fat; 63.0 g carbohydrate; 59.4 g net carbs; 340 mg sodium; 234 mg cholesterol; 3.6 g fiber

Nasu to kobashira no XO-jan itame / eggplant and bay scallops in XO sauce

This popular combination of eggplant and scallops with XO sauce is always a taste treat. Oil-loving eggplant is deep-fried for a pretty dark purple skin color and creamy texture -- but you will be surprised at how “ungreasy” this dish is. Great with drinks, plain steamed rice or Chinese rice porridge.