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Tsukimi Dango (Moon Gazing Dumplings)

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Tsukimi dango is a chewy rice dumpling displayed and eaten during the Japanese mid-autumn festival when the moon is at its most beautiful. Learn the easy way to make this festive sweet with just 3 ingredients!

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time25 minutes

Course Snacks, Sweets and Desserts
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 15 dumplings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Course: Snacks, Sweets and Desserts
Cuisine: Japanese
Servings: 15 dumplings

Ingredients 
 

Tsukimi Dango

  • 100 g glutinous rice flour shiratamako or mochiko
  • 125 g silken tofu + 5g if the mixture is too dry
  • 1 pinch turmeric or yellow food colouring
  • mitarashi sauce recipe below or smooth red bean paste (optional)

Mitarashi sauce (optional)

  • 1 tbsp caster sugar
  • ½ tbsp mirin
  • ½ tbsp soy sauce
  • ½ tsp cornstarch
  • 1 ½ tbsp cold water

Instructions 

  • Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil over medium heat. While you wait, whisk the 100 g glutinous rice flour in a bowl. (If you use mochiko you can sift it instead.)
    shiratamako whisked in a glass bowl
  • Add 125 g silken tofu to the bowl and knead it with your hands.
    shiratamako and silken tofu in a glass mixing bowl
  • Knead until it reaches a play dough texture. It should be smooth with no cracks. If it feels a little dry, add more silken tofu 1 tsp at a time. (If you don't have any more tofu then add 1/2 tsp water at a time instead.)
    shiratamako and tofu kneaded together to form a dough in a glass bowl
  • Measure out 14 balls, approx 14-15g each.
    one dango in a small glass bowl measured on a digital scale (15g)
  • Optional step: Add 1 pinch turmeric or yellow food colouring to the last piece of dough and knead until the color is even. 
    dango dough coloured with turmeric
  • You should have 15 balls in total.
    15 rolled dango on a plastic tray
  • Gently add the dango to the pot of boiling water and stir from time to time to stop them from sticking to the bottom.
    dango boiling in a pot
  • Once they start to float (approx 5-7 minutes later) set a timer for 2 minutes. During these two minutes, prepare a bowl of ice cold water.
    floating dango boiling in a pot
  • After 2 minutes of floating, transfer the dango to a bowl of ice cold water and leave to cool for 5 minutes.
    cooked dango chilling in a bowl of ice cold water
  • Line a plate with kitchen paper and place the dango on the paper, leave them to air dry for about 30 minutes.
    chilled dango drying on a sheet of kitchen paper
  • Make the base of the pyramid by lining up 9 balls in a 3x3 formation.
    9 dango in a 3x3 formation
  • For the next layer, add 4 balls in a 2x2 formation.
    2nd layer of tsukimi dango, 4 in a 2x2 formation
  • The top layer has two. If you make a yellow one, it should be on the top at the front of the display.
    top of tsukimi dango pyramid, 1 white dango and 1 yellow dango

Mitarashi sauce (optional)

  • Mix the 1 tbsp caster sugar, ½ tbsp mirin, ½ tbsp soy sauce, ½ tsp cornstarch and 1 ½ tbsp cold water in a small saucepan. Place the saucepan on the stove and heat on low. Stir continuously until thick and glossy.
    mitarashi sauce thickened in a saucepan
  • Serve and enjoy!
    yellow dango rice dumpling dipped in mitarashi sauce

Notes

Best eaten on the day.
If you're making them in advance, freeze them on a tray spaced apart for about 1 hour and then transfer to an airtight container or ziplock bag. Defrost at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour before eating.