Okara (Unohana)

When pureed soybeans are filtered in the production of soy milk, the resulting pulp is called okara. This side dish is also called “unohana” but “okara” is more common. The okara is great for your health, especially for women. Okara has lots of fiber, lecithin, saponins, and isoflavones, many of which are great anti-aging nutrients, and they make your skin look fresh and clean.

Yield: 4 servings

Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 3/4 lb Okara
• 2 dried shiitake mushrooms
• 1/3 cup chopped carrots
• 1/3 cup chopped konnyaku
• 1/4 cup green onion

Spices

• 2.5 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1.5 cup shitake water (rehydrate dried shitake in a bowl of water and retain)
• 2 tbsp sake
• 1 tbsp mirin
• dash salt

Preparation

1. Mix shitake water, soy sauce, sake, mirin, and sugar in a small bowl
2. Heat oil in a frying pan and stir-fry carrot, konnyaku and shitake mushroom for three minutes
3. Add okara and stir for 5 minutes
4. Add mixed spices and stir until water evaporates
5. Add salt
6. Add green onion, and serve
7. (Okara is delicious served warm or cold)