Okara is the soy bean residue from making tofu (bean cake). It is usually available at tofu shops. Okara itself is an excellent ingredient used as an extender for making meat loves or hamburger patties. Highly nutritious and uses what might ordinarily be wasted.

2 cups okara (soy bean residue)
⅓ cup boneless chicken meat, chopped
2 dried mushrooms (shiitake, stems removed, soaked in ½ cup warm water for 15 minutes, squeezed dry and chopped
¼ cup fresh string beans, diced
1 medium size carrot, cut short like matchsticks
1 Tablespoon soy sauce (Japanese shoyu)
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
dashes MSG (optional)
1 Tablespoon oil for frying
2 green onions, chopped

Save mushrooms soaking water and add it to saucepans along with ingredients. Cook over low heat for 8 minutes. Stir occasionally so contents will not scorch. Set aside. Heat a frying pan and add oil. Add okara. Stir so it will not burn. Add cooked mixture. Cook about 4 minutes more on low heat until well heated throughout. Stir constantly to prevent bringing. Taste and adjust seasonings, if desired. Add chopped green onions just before removing from heat. Mix together.

Serves 6

©️ Shufunotomo Co., Ltd. Japan 1974