Yuzu daifuku / soft rice cake with sweetened bean paste and candied yuzu citrus peel

This sweet rice cake will send your senses into overdrive as you bite into the soft rice cake envelope that surrounds silky sweet bean paste and candied yuzu peel. The shiroan below straightforwardly delivers invigorating yuzu aroma. If you prefer a deeper taste, try pairing yuzu peel with azuki koshian, or strained tsubuan for a slightly more complex taste. All taste a bit different but are equally good. Great with unsweetened Japanese or Chinese tea.

One daifuku cake (1/4 of recipe; figures for granulated sugar for yuzu peel excluded):
104 calories; 2.1 g protein; 0.1 g fat; 26.1 g carbohydrate; 24.5 g net carbs; 0 mg sodium; 0 mg cholesterol; 1.6 g fiber

Yuzu miso / sweet miso with yuzu citrus

Yuzu, a winter citrus, instantly adds an intriguing aroma and transforms any miso paste into an amazing sauce.

Whole recipe:
216 calories; 7.2 g protein; 2.2 g fat; 36.5 g carbohydrate; 31.7 g net carbs; 1,369 mg sodium; 0 mg cholesterol; 4.8 g fiber

1 tablespoon (18 g):
34 calories; 1.1 g protein; 0.4 g fat; 5.8 g carbohydrate; 5.0 g net carbs; 218 mg sodium; 0 mg cholesterol; 0.8 g fiber

Sukuidofu to kumiage-yuba no miso guratan / extra soft tofu and fresh tofu skin gratin with red miso

This creation is inspired by a little savory gratin we shared at an upscale izakaya pub in Osaka last winter. Red miso's rich complexity binds and highlights all the mild key players -- extra soft tofu, fresh yuba, bechamel sauce and fontina cheese. A combination of lemon zest and yuzu citron juice offers a fresh note and lightens the overall taste. Below, bechamel or white sauce is made in the microwave for simplified preparation.

254 calories (1 ramekin); 15.7 g protein; 16.0 g fat; 10.3 g carbohydrate; 9.5 g net carbs; 181 mg sodium; 24 mg cholesterol; 0.8 g fiber

Ponzujoyu / citrus-flavored soy sauce (quick version)

Homemade ponzujoyu (ponzu shoyu) can be as simple as mixing soy sauce, rice vinegar and citrus juice. Using a few kinds of citrus juice significantly improves the flavor.

18 calories per 2 tbsp (1/6 of recipe); 1.3 g protein; 0 g fat; 2.8 g carbohydrate; 2.8 g net carbs; 461 mg sodium (with 50% reduced-sodium soy sauce; 917 mg with regular soy sauce); 0 mg cholesterol; 0 g fiber

Satoimo no misoni, yuzu-fumi / baby taro root simmered in miso and yuzu flavored broth

A tender satoimo dish with the taste of cold winter days -- slightly sweet miso and yuzu citrus.