Sushi -Inside out roll

When I was at whole foods shopping, this Japanese lady at the sushi counter gave me a whole eel.  We see each other often and she knew that I was Japanese but it was really random and funny.  "Hey, have this eel.  It's good for you."
Anyway I decided to make some rolls with it but since it is kind of hard to get sushi grade fish you can substitute with any toppings you like.  EX) shrimp and avocado, crab meat and avocado etc...

Ingredients
Yield: 4 servings (makes 4 rolls)

1-1/2  cup          sushi rice (short grain white rice)
1/6     cup          rice vinegar
1/2     tsp          salt
1-1/2  tbsp        sugar
2                      nori (sea weed)
toppings of your choice

1) cook the rice using 2 cups of water.
2) put vinegar salt sugar into a bowl and mix together.
3) pour the vinegar mixture into cooked rice and mix well.  make sure not to squish the rice so much.

4)  cut nori into half, and place the sushi rice on it

 








5)  on the other side of nori, put little bit of rice and toppings of your choice.

6) with plastic wrap or sushi mat (I used both of them), roll the sushi very tightly and press.

7) cut the sushi roll into bite size pieces using very sharp knife.  make sure to wet the knife with water every time you cut so it doesn't stick together.

Gochisousama!

Saeko

Mu Shu Chicken and Marinated tofu on the side

This one's great for lunch.  Making tortillas from scratch sounds hard but it is actually very simple and easy.

*Chinese Tacos

Ingredients
Yield: 2 tacos
1           chicken thigh
2 tsp      soy sauce
1 tsp      sugar
1 tsp      mirin
handful   spinach
hot sauce to taste

for Chinese tortillas
25g        flour
25g        whole wheat bread flour
40ml      hot water
1 tsp      canola oil

1) preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2) in a large bowl, mix together flour, whole wheat bread flour, hot water, and canola oil.  Use hands to make the dough.  Make it into a big ball and let it sit for about 15 minutes.
3) in a bowl, mix together say sauce, sugar, mirin.  marinate chicken in the sauce for about 15 minutes, and bake it in the oven for about 20 minutes or until it is cooked.
4) separate the tortilla dough into half and flatten the dough with a rolling pin.
5) over medium heat, in a skillet, fry the tortillas (1 minute on each side)
6) put chicken, spinach, and hot sauce into tortillas and serve it with marinated tofu.


*Marinated Tofu

Ingredients
Yield: 2 servings

for the marinade
2 tbs       sesame oil
2.5 tbs     rice vinegar
0.5 tbs     sugar
1.5 tbs     soy sauce
2 cloves   garlic
pinch of salt
crushed red pepper to taste

1/2 block  tofu, diced
1/2          carrot, minced
optional:  finely shredded cabbage, 1 small minced bell pepper

1) make the marinade.
2) put all the ingredients into the marinade and let it sit about 2 hours.

Gochisousama!

Saeko

Dolma -Turkish stuffed pepper

Dolma is a Turkish traditional dish.  I used red peppers this time but you can use any kind of vegetables for this dish.  It is also a low calorie dish about 250 per serving.

Ingredients
Yield: 2 servings

2                 red pepper
50g              ground beef
50g              white rice
50g              onion, minced
handful         fresh parsley, minced
2 tsp            tomato paste
salt and pepper to taste

for the soup
1 tbsp          chicken bouillon
2 tsp            tomato paste
1/2              medium onion
1                 medium carrot

1) scoop the insides from peppers.
2) in a bowl, mix rice, beef, onion, parsely, tomato paste, salt and pepper together.
3) fill the each peppers about 2/3 full with mixture.
4) put peppers into a pot and fill it about half full with water.  And add rest of the ingredients for the soup.

5) bring the soup to boil over medium heat, and then add 1 tbsp of the soup into the each peppers.
6) cover the top and cook for about an hour over low heat.

Gochisousama!

Saeko

Stuffed Eggplant -Under 300 calories! (can be vegan)

This can be vegan if you use vegetable bouillon instead of chicken bouillon. I usually use cheese with this recipe, but I used minced tofu instead.  I would have also put minced mushroom in it but I forgot.  ops.

Ingregients
Yield: 2 servings

1                medium eggplants
1 tbsp         olive oil
1/2             medium onion, minced
2 tbsp         soy sauce (or more, to taste)
1 tsp           basil
2 cloves       garlic
3/4 cup       cooked brown rice
1/5 block     firm tofu
1/4 cup       parsley, freshly minced
2 tbsp         chicken or vegetable bouillon
sesame seeds
paprika
chili pepper and black pepper to taste

1) preheat oven to 375 degrees.
1) cut the eggplant into half, and scoop out the insides.
2) mince eggplant's insides and tofu into small pieces
3) heat the olive oil in a large skillet.  Add garlic, onion, parsley, basil, bouillon, soy sauce, chili and black pepper.  stir for about 5 minutes, then add rice, the minced eggplant and tofu.  Stir about 15 minutes until everything is cooked.
5) fill the eggplant shells with the mixture, and top with sesame seeds and paprika.  bake for 30 minutes or until the shells are soft.

Gochisousama!

Saeko

Low Calorie Alfredo -Under 200!

Ingredients
Yield: 2 servings (about 170 calories per serving)

1 pack    shirataki tofu noodles (fettucini)
handful   eringi mushroom (trumpet)
4 oz       shrimp and scallop or boneless skinless chicken breast
1/2        medium onion, sliced
1           green onion, chopped
1 tbsp    butter
1 clove   garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste

for the sauce
1 tbsp    flour
1 tbsp    half and half
5 tbsp    water

1) rinse the shirataki noodles in hot water.
2) on medium heat, melt butter, start cooking garlic, and then add meat in skillet.
3) when the meat is cooked half way, add rest of the ingredients.
4) to make the sauce, put flour, half and half, and water in a cup and mix well together.
5) when meat is cooked pour the sauce into the skillet and add salt and pepper to taste.
6) stir until onion is soft and it's done!

Gochisousama!

Saeko

Easy teriyaki tofu patties (vegan)

I apparently have too much tofu and spinach in my fridge...

I usually use 1/2 pound of ground turkey and 1/2 block of tofu with this recipe but just tofu works fine.

Ingredients
Yield: 3 servings (makes 9 mini patties)

1 block     firm tofu
1 cup       steamed spinach, cut into small pieces
1/2         medium onion, minced
4            shitake mushroom, sliced
1            umeboshi plum, minced
1 t          ginger, minced
1 clove    garlic, minced
1/3 cup   plain bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste

*teriyaki sauce
4 t         soy sauce
2 t         mirin
2 t         sugar
1 tsp      katakuriko

1) place tofu on a plate and put a weight and press for about an hour so the extra water in the tofu is out.
2) mash the tofu with fork or potato masher.
3) mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and make 9 mini patties with it.
4) fry in a pan with oil over medium heat.
5) place all the ingredients of teriyaki sauce in a cup and mix them well together.
6) when patties are cooked, pour the teriyaki mix and flip the patties in the sauce.
7) when teriyaki sauce become thick, it's done!  sprinkle some sesame seeds!

Gochisousama!

Saeko

Tofu and spinach sandwich (vegan)

I made this vegan dish that Dave really likes for dinner today.  It was very yummy!  If you want the easy way, you can use eggs instead of white beans.  I served it with shirataki noodles which is only 20 calories per serving..  You should really try this recipe! 

Ingredients
Yield: 4 servings

1 block     firm tofu
1 cup       steamed spinach (cut into small pieces)
1/2 tsp    dill weed
2 cups     plain bread crumbs
1/2 can   white beans (drained)
1 t          soy sauce
1 cup      flour
oil

*ginger miso sauce
2 tsp       rice vinegar
1/2 cup   honey
1 tsp       mustard powder
2 tbs       miso
2 tbs       soy sauce
1 tbs       brown sugar
1 tsp       grated ginger root
3            sliced green onions

1) Puree the white beans and mix water into it until it feels like beaten eggs.  Pour it into a small bowl
2) Mix dill weed and flour together.  place it in a small bowl.
3) Mix soy sauce into steamed spinach.
4) Cut tofu into 4 squares, and then slice them into half.

5) Make 4 sandwiches with the tofu and spinach.











6) Cover the sandwiches in flour and dill weed mixture.  Then dip them into white bean paste.
7) Cover the sandwiches in bread crumbs.  Then fry them in a pan with canola oil.  I used olive oil this time.











8) Make the ginger sauce (mix all the ingredients of ginger sauce in a blender)
9) When the sandwiches are golden colored, it's done!

Gochisousama!

Saeko