When you hear "I lost 12kg with okara!", Do you imagine eating that pure white okara in a heap? It seems to be effective, but it seems that the water in the mouth will be deprived. But don't worry. Marie Iemura, a model who succeeded in this Okara diet, wrote a delicious diet recipe book "I'm full but I can lose weight! Okara diet recipe"!

The En-eating editorial department covered the "Japan's first" "Okara" event held by the publisher Ascom. Events of the theme is "nutrition begin the ultimate eco-food" Okara "+ health + Yoshikatsu life", the National tofu Federation (Zenmameren) and, all Mameren is a model that was appointed to the "Okara ambassador" Mr. Iemura, Mr. Sakuma of Sangi , and Mr. Ishikawa of Tofu Kobo Ishikawa taught us all the charm of Okara.

A heap of moist and soft okara!
A heap of moist and soft okara!


■ First, learn Okara!

Many okara products are exhibited at the venue, and today's okara menu and okara tea are on the seats. And I was surprised at the slender style of Mr. Iemura who quickly entered the venue wrapped in okara and the whiteness of his skin! Is this the power of Okara?

Okara, which is separated when soymilk is squeezed from soybeans, is so-called tofu pomace. It is a historical ingredient that has existed since the Muromachi period, but it has the drawback of having a short best-by date, so it has long been regarded as an "industrial waste", so to speak, an ingredient that has been left behind in the times. However, with the development of modern technology, it has become possible to store it for a certain period of time without additives, and recently, a powder called okara powder has been developed. It contains insoluble dietary fiber and protein, which modern people tend to lack in a well-balanced manner, and is expected to be reviewed as the ultimate "eco-food".

Of course, the second person from the left is Mr. Iemura
Of course, the second person from the left is Mr. Iemura


■ Finally when tasting the Okara recipe

Now that I have learned a lot about okara, the question arises, "Is the okara diet menu really delicious?" When I asked the people around me in advance, it seems that many people who are not good at okara have a peculiar dryness and smell as a bottleneck. Expectations are rising as to whether it is a diet that anyone can continue to enjoy.

Today's main event "Okara Recipe Tasting Party" has finally started. There are a total of 7 types of menu this time, from main to dessert! Okara is well entwined with the menus that are familiar at the table such as stew, hamburger steak, and potato salad, and when you notice it, you are full. I wrote in detail about the tasting in the article that introduced Mr. Iemura's recipe book, so please have a look there.

Mr. Iemura's recommended "Mushroom-rich cream stew" (left) and "Okara burg" plate (right) where you can enjoy the taste and taste of meat
Mr. Iemura's recommended "Mushroom-rich cream stew" (left) and "Okara burg" plate (right) where you can enjoy the taste and taste of meat


■ Okara food that spreads

Okara foods are actually being commercialized considerably. Sangi is a company known for its toothpaste "Apaguard", but it seems that it sells okara tea mainly to the tofu shop route because soy protein is good for calcification of teeth. Roasted okara is fragrant and easy to drink! In addition, Tofu Kobo Ishikawa, which was the first to distribute okara as a product in Japan, develops a large number of okara sweets that are particular about domestic ingredients.

A wide variety of okara-related products
A wide variety of okara-related products


Finally, Mr. Iemura commented on his activities as an ambassador to Okara. "She said with a smile and joy.

In addition, it is currently developing a product of its own brand of raw okara in cooperation with a tofu company in Kumamoto prefecture, with the aim of launching it in June. Her house, which asserts that "there is nothing you can't make with okara," always has 1 kg of okara on hand. This kind of okara love creates a rich recipe repertoire.

At the venue where people smiled around delicious food, a mascot character from the tofu world, "Tofu Kozo," appeared. At this time, there are mascots in every industry ... It was so cute that my head was too balanced and I got caught in the door.

Mr. Iemura and, of course, the tofu kid on the right
Mr. Iemura and, of course, the tofu kid on the right


■ The venue is Japan's largest hands-on commercial kitchen showroom

Tokyo Gas's commercial kitchen showroom "Kitchen BO! SHIODOME", which was the venue for this event, is Japan's largest hands-on commercial kitchen showroom. It has been used in many industries since its opening for cooking and experiencing the latest kitchen utensils. Inside the building, there is also a gallery that displays the latest kitchen equipment for business use, which is hard to see, and a comparative experience lab for the kitchen equipment "Suzuchu" that does not heat up the room advocated by Tokyo Gas. In the experience room where the cool kitchen was actually introduced, all the visitors could not hide the surprise in the room where they did not feel the heat even though the boiling water was boiling.

Comparison experience lab of "Suzuchu"
Comparison experience lab of "Suzuchu"