Dango
{{Short description|Japanese ricecake}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Italic title|reason=:Category:Japanese words and phrases}}
{{Infobox food
| name = Dango
| image = Mitarashi dango by denver935.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Mitarashi dango
| alternate_name =
| country = Japan
| region =
| creator =
| served =
| main_ingredient = Rice flour
| variations =
| calories =
| other = Unicode Emoji π‘
}}
Image:Preparing mitarashi dango Mino Gifu.JPG
{{nihongo|Dango|ε£ε|}} is a Japanese dumpling made with regular rice flour and glutinous rice flour.[https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%9B%A3%E5%AD%90-94993#E5.A4.A7.E8.BE.9E.E6.9E.97.20.E7.AC.AC.E4.B8.89.E7.89.88 倧θΎζ 第δΈηγγ γγγε£εγγ]- γ³γγγ³γ― 2020εΉ΄4ζ3ζ₯ι²θ¦§ They are usually made in round shapes, and three to five pieces are served on a skewer, which is called {{nihongo|kushi-dango|δΈ²ε£ε}}. The pieces are eaten with sugar, syrup, red bean paste, and other sweeteners. Generally, dango falls under the category of wagashi (Japanese confectionery), and is often served with green tea. It is eaten year-round, but the different varieties are traditionally eaten in given seasons. Dango is sometimes compared with mochi, but is different in that mochi is generally made only with glutinous rice.
A popular type of dango, the hanami dango, has been made into a Unicode emoji (π‘).
Types
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2025}}
File:Mitarashi Dango at Kyoto.jpg, covered with sugar and soy sauce]]
The many different varieties of dango are usually named after the various seasonings served on or with it.{{cite web |url=http://theanimeblog.com/japanese-recipes/dango-digest-a-thorough-look-at-japanese-dumplings-part-two/ |title=Dango Digest: A Thorough Look at Japanese Dumplings, Part Two |author=Rachel |date=April 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915030817/http://theanimeblog.com/japanese-recipes/dango-digest-a-thorough-look-at-japanese-dumplings-part-two/ |archive-date=2008-09-15 |website=theanimeblog.com}}
=Popular dango=
- {{nihongo|Anko dango|γγγε£ε}} is commonly covered with sweetened red bean paste; ingredients other than azuki are used on rare occasions. Other toppings for anko include {{nihongo|zunda|γγγ }} made from edamame paste and kurumi (walnut) paste.
- {{nihongo|Cha dango|θΆε£ε}} is green tea (matcha) flavored dango.{{cite web|title=Wagashi: Chadango and Minazuki|url=http://kyotofoodie.com/wagashi-chadango-minazuki/|access-date=2009-03-28|date=June 29, 2008}}
- {{nihongo|Shoyu dango|ι€ζ²Ήγ γγ}} is a kind of baked dango ({{nihongo|yaki dango|ηΌγε£ε}}) and is seasoned with soy sauce. Furthermore, the one wrapped with nori is called {{nihongo|isobe dango|η£―θΎΊε£ε}}.
- {{nihongo|Hanami dango|θ±θ¦γ γγ}} also known as {{nihongo|sanshoku dango|δΈθ²ε£ε}} is eaten during hanami. It has three colors (pink, white and green), and is traditionally made during sakura-viewing season, hence the name (hanami means "flower viewing"; hana meaning "flower", and mi meaning "to see"). The order of the three colored dumplings is said to represent the order in which cherry blossoms bloom. Pink represents cherry buds, white represents cherry blossoms in full bloom, and green represents leafy cherry blossoms after they have fallen. This one was chosen for the Dango Unicode emoji, π‘
- {{nihongo|Kibi dango|γγ³ε£ε}} is made with millet flour. This variety is prominently featured in the tale of MomotarΕ, a folkloric Japanese hero, who offers the rounded ball (not skewered) to three talking animals in exchange for their aid in fighting demons.
- {{nihongo|Kinako dango|γγͺγε£ε}} is made with toasted soy flour.
- {{nihongo|Kusa dango or yomogi dango|θε£ε or γγγε£ε}} is mixed leaves of yomogi, like kusa mochi. It is often covered with anko.
- {{nihongo|Mitarashi dango|γΏγγγε£ε}} is covered with a syrup made from shouyu (soy sauce), sugar, and starch.
- {{nihongo|Sasa dango|η¬Ήε£ε}} is produced and eaten primarily in Niigata Prefecture. Sasa dango has two varieties: onna dango and otoko dango. Onna dango (literally "female dango") is filled with anko, while the otoko dango (literally "male dango") is filled with kinpira. The dango is wrapped in leaves of sasa for the purpose of preservation.
- {{nihongo|Shiratama dango|η½ηγ γγ}} is eaten in anmitsu or mitsumame.
- {{nihongo|Tsukimi dango|ζθ¦γ γγ}} is a white dango eaten during Tsukimi, related to the Mid-Autumn festival.
= Various other dango=
- {{nihongo|Botchan dango|εγ£γ‘γγε£ε}} has three colors. One is colored by red beans, the second by eggs, and the third by green tea. Botchan dango is a product name of Ehimeβs miyagegashi, which was named after Natsume SΕsekiβs novel Botchan.
- {{nihongo|Chichi dango|δΉ³ε£ε}} is a slightly sweet, light treat usually eaten as a dessert.
- {{nihongo|Denpun dango|γ§γγ·γε£ε}} from Hokkaido is made from potato flour and baked with sweet boiled beans.
- {{nihongo|Kuri dango|ζ γ γγ}} is coated in chestnut paste.
- {{nihongo|Niku dango|θε£ε}} is a type of Japanese meatball.{{cite web|url=http://www.sumokitchen.com/JapaneseRecipes/niku-dango/|title=Niku Dango - Sumo Kitchen|website=Sumokitchen.com|access-date=21 December 2017}} Chicken niku dango is called tsukune, served on a skewer.
File:Hanami_Dango.jpg|Hanami dango
File:Dango on plate with stick.jpg|Kusa dango
File:Bean-jam-dumpling,dango,katori-city,japan.JPG|Anko dango
File:Goma dango 001.jpg|Goma dango
File:Chi chi dango.jpg|Chichi dango
File:Tsukimi dango.jpg|Tsukimi dango
File:Kinako dango in Isezakicho.jpg|Kinako dango
File:γ γγ3γ¨ι (34657200343).jpg|Roasted with fish
Derived terms
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A common Japanese proverb {{nihongo|"hana yori dango"|θ±γγε£ε|extra= literally, "dango rather than flowers"}} refers to a preference for practical things rather than aesthetics.
A hairstyle consisting of dango-like buns on either side of the head is sometimes known as odango.
Dorodango is a Japanese art form in which earth and water are molded to create a delicate, shiny sphere, resembling a billiard ball.
In Vietnam
BΓ‘nh hΓ²n is a specialty dessert of Phan Thiet. The cake is made from tapioca flour, coconut, roasted peanuts, salt and sugar. When finished, it is rolled over shredded coconut and skewered like Japanese dango.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}
Unicode character
The Unicode emoji character π‘ is used to resemble hanami dango. The character was introduced in October 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/1f361/index.htm|title=Unicode Character 'DANGO' (U+1F361)|website=Fileformat.info|access-date=2017-03-02}}