Dango1

My daughter requested me a recipe of ‘Dango’, Japanese dumplings made from Japanese Glutinous Rice Flour. There are so many different types of Dango in different regions in Japan. Here is the most popular ‘Mitarashi Dango’ recipe. ‘Mitarashi Dango’ are plain dumplings covered with sauce made with soy sauce and sugar. If you can find Japanese Dango Flour such as ‘Shiratamako’, you are lucky to use it. I often use these Glutinous Rice Flour and Plain Rice Flour which are commonly available from most supermarket stores and Asian grocers in Australia.


Makes

12 Skewers (4 Dumplings per skewer)

Ingredients

2 cups Glutinous Rice Flour
1 cup Rice Flour

1 & 1/2 cups (*approximately) Warm Water

Mitarashi Sauce
3 tablespoons Soy Sauce
3 tablespoons Sugar
1 tablespoon Mirin
1 tablespoon Potato Starch
1/2 cup Water

Method
  1. Add warm water to the flour GRADUALLY, mix and knead to achieve the firmness of dough same as firmness of your earlobe. (*This is traditionally taught.) The dough should be a bit dry to the touch and firm enough to roll into balls. *Note: Stop adding water when the desired firmness is achieved. You don’t need to add all water.
  2. Make about 2cm balls. Cook the dumplings in rapidly boiling water. When the dumplings are floating, cook 1-2 more minutes, then drain and place them in icy cold water to cool.
  3. Place all ‘Mitarashi Sauce’ ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium heat constantly stirring until thick.
  4. Put the dumplings on skewers, 4 per skewer. Then you may wish to grill them on a grill pan to burn the dumplings slightly, but it is optional.
  5. Pour plenty of the sauce over the dumplings.