Uguisumochi / warbler cake with sweet azuki paste

As plum blossom season approaches, this chubby oblong cake coated with green soybean flour starts to appear at sweets shops. The cake form symbolizes the spring songbird, uguisu, or Japanese warbler -- I wouldn't blame you if you don't see the resemblance in appearance, but once you put it in your mouth, the combination of soft outer cake and silky azuki bean paste inside reminds you of the tenderness of spring.

One cake (1/4 of recipe): 
110 calories; 2.5 g protein; 0.6 g fat; 24.0 g carbohydrate; 22.4 g net carbs; 0 mg sodium; 0 mg cholesterol; 1.5 g fiber


<Ingredients>

(Makes 4 uguisumochi cakes)
35 g shiratamako sweet rice powder
20 g sugar
5 g mizuame starch syrup
70 cc water

80 g koshian silky azuki bean paste
2 tsp water

10-15 g aodaizu kinako roasted green soybean flour

<Directions>
1.

Mix koshian and water to soften the paste. 

Divide into 4 balls, and set aside. 

2.

Put aodaizu kinako on a tray.

3.

In a microwaveable bowl, put shiratamako and a few tablespoons of the 70cc water, and mix well.
Shiratamako has small lumps, so try to mash them, and blend with water.

Add sugar and mizuame, and mix well.

Add remaining water, and mix well. 

4.

Loosely cover bowl, and microwave for 30-40 seconds.

Remove, and mix well with moistened spatula.

Cover and microwave again for 30-40 seconds.
Remove, and mix well with moistened spatula.

Repeat one more time, microwaving for a shorter time (20-30 seconds).  

The outer mochi (gyuuhi) is basically ready.

5.

Empty mochi over aodaizu kinako.
Lightly sprinkle aodaizu kinako on top of mochi for easy handling.

While mochi is still warm, divide into four.  
Mochi can easily be separated by twisting with hands.

Flatten each mochi piece into a round shape, and wrap one koshian ball.

Pinch both ends to form a chubby oblong shape.

With tea strainer, dust aodaizu kinako over cakes.

Ready to serve.

<Notes>

• My microwave's power output is 1,100 watts. If your wattage is lower, increase microwaving time as necessary.
• Mizuame starch syrup is mainly added to prevent mochi from hardening. If not available, use more sugar.
• Aodaizu kinako [roasted green soybean flour] is sometimes called uguisu kinako [lit. warbler roasted soybean flour] or uguisuko [lit. warbler flour]. Despite the actual warbler's plumage being a dull, grayish green color, the bird is often depicted in chartreuse green in illustrations and other visual images. 
• Uguisumochi is often coated or dusted with regular kinako colored green (by adding food color, yomogi mugwort powder or matcha green tea powder) due to the above association. The outer mochi itself is sometimes colored too.

(Last updated: April 6, 2016)