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  Kathy Manweiler  


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Peanut oil weighs down ginger dressing

Many Benihana fans have tried to crack the code behind the Japanese steakhouse's ginger dressing. Chef and copycat cookbook author Todd Wilbur claims that his version comes closer to the real thing than any other recipe out there. Crunching the numbers on Wilbur's recipe, I found that two tablespoons of Benihana's dressing contain about 84 calories and 7.7 grams of fat, and the restaurant's servings are probably more generous than that.

Most of the ingredients are diet-friendly -- it's the peanut oil that weighs down Wilbur's recipe. Just one-half cup of peanut oil has almost 1,000 calories and 108 fat grams.

To slim down this popular dressing, I cut the amount of peanut oil in half and mix in more rice vinegar, ketchup and some extra soy sauce. I also substitute Splenda for sugar.

My alterations trim the calories by 35 percent and the fat by 49 percent without sacrificing flavor. You can have two tablespoons of my ginger dressing for 55 calories and 3.9 fat grams.

KATHY'S GINGER DRESSING

½ cup minced onion

¼cup peanut oil

½cup rice vinegar

2 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger

2 tablespoons minced celery

3 tablespoons ketchup

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 teaspoons Splenda

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

½teaspoon minced garlic

½teaspoon salt

¼teaspoon pepper

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend on high speed for about 30 seconds or until all of the ginger is pureed. Chill for at least two hours before serving.

Makes 1 ¾ cups dressing, or 14 2-tablespoon servings.

Per 2-tablespoon serving: 55 calories, 5 carb grams, 335mg sodium, 3.9 fat grams

Adapted from a recipe in "Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2" by Todd Wilbur.

The Wichita Eagle

We'll slim it down for you

Do you have a favorite food or popular recipe that you'd like to see made more healthful? Send your ideas and recipes, along with a daytime phone number, to me at kmanweiler@wichitaeagle.com or:

Don't Say Diet

c/o The Wichita Eagle

P.O. Box 820

Wichita, KS 67201

Reach Kathy Manweiler at 316-268-6266 or kmanweiler@wichitaeagle.com. For more Don't Say Diet recipes, visit the Alive & Well Web site at www.wichitaaliveandwell