Editing 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          = 
| type             = [[Sweets]], [[Dumpling]] 
| served           = 
| main_ingredient  = [[Rice flour]]
| variations       = 
| calories         = 
| other            = Unicode Emoji 🍡
}}
[[Image:Preparing mitarashi dango Mino Gifu.JPG|thumb|right|''Yaki dango'' being prepared]]
{{nihongo|'''''Dango'''''|[[wikt:団子|団子]]|}} is a Japanese [[dumpling]] made with regular [[rice flour]] and [[glutinous rice]] flour.<ref>[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 大辞林 第三版「だんご〔団子〕」]- [[コトバンク]] 2020年4月3日閲覧</ref> They are usually made in round shapes, and three to five pieces are served on a [[skewer]], which is called {{nihongo|''kushi-dango''|串団子}}.  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]] (🍡).

==Types==
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2025}}
[[File:Mitarashi Dango at Kyoto.jpg|thumb|''[[Mitarashi dango]]'', covered with sugar and [[soy sauce]]]]
The many different varieties of ''dango'' are usually named after the various seasonings served on or with it.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===Popular dango===
[[File:Dango (15858819741).jpg|thumb|Various ''dango'' being sold at a store]]
*{{nihongo|''[[Red bean paste|Anko]] dango''|あんこ団子}} is commonly covered with sweetened [[red bean paste]]; ingredients other than ''[[azuki]]'' are used on rare occasions. Other toppings for anko include {{nihongo|''zunda''|[[:ja:ずんだ|ずんだ]]}} made from [[edamame]] paste and [[kurumi]] ([[walnut]]) paste.
*{{nihongo|''Cha dango''|茶団子}} is [[green tea]] (matcha) flavored ''dango''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wagashi: Chadango and Minazuki|url=http://kyotofoodie.com/wagashi-chadango-minazuki/|access-date=2009-03-28|date=June 29, 2008}}</ref>
*{{nihongo|''[[Soy sauce|Shoyu]] dango''|醤油だんご}} is a kind of baked dango ({{nihongo|''yaki dango''|焼き団子}}) and is seasoned with [[soy sauce]]. Furthermore, the one wrapped with [[nori]] is called {{nihongo|''isobe dango''|磯辺団子}}.
*{{nihongo|''Hanami dango''|花見だんご}} also known as {{nihongo|''sanshoku dango''|三色団子}} 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, 🍡
*{{nihongo|''[[kibi dango (millet dumpling)|Kibi dango]]''|[[:ja:吉備団子|きび団子]]}} is made with [[millet]] flour. This variety is prominently featured in the tale of [[Momotarō]], 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''|きなこ団子}} is made with toasted soy flour.
*{{nihongo|''Kusa dango'' or ''yomogi dango''|草団子 or よもぎ団子}} is mixed leaves of [[yomogi]], like [[kusa mochi]]. It is often covered with ''[[red bean paste|anko]]''.
*{{nihongo|''[[Mitarashi dango]]''|[[:ja:みたらし団子|みたらし団子]]}} is covered with a syrup made from ''[[soy sauce|shouyu]]'' (soy sauce), [[sugar]], and [[starch]].
*{{nihongo|''Sasa dango''|[[:ja:笹団子|笹団子]]}} 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 [[red bean paste|anko]], while the ''otoko dango'' (literally "male dango") is filled with ''[[kinpira]]''. The ''dango'' is wrapped in leaves of [[Sasa (plant)|sasa]] for the purpose of preservation.
*{{nihongo|''Shiratama dango''|[[:ja:白玉|白玉だんご]]}} is eaten in [[anmitsu]] or [[mitsumame]].
*{{nihongo|''Tsukimi dango''|月見だんご}} is a white dango eaten during [[Tsukimi]], related to the [[Mid-Autumn Festival|Mid-Autumn]] festival.

=== Various other dango===
*{{nihongo|''Botchan dango''|[[:ja:坊っちゃん団子|坊っちゃん団子]]}} 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 [[Ehime]]’s [[miyagegashi]], which was named after [[Natsume Sōseki]]’s novel ''[[Botchan]]''. 
*{{nihongo|''[[Chichi dango]]''|[[:ja:乳団子|乳団子]]}} is a slightly sweet, light treat usually eaten as a dessert.
*{{nihongo|''Denpun dango''|[[:ja:でんぷん団子|でんぷん団子]]}} from [[Hokkaido]] is made from [[flour#Other flours|potato flour]] and baked with sweet boiled beans.
*{{nihongo|''Kuri dango''|栗だんご}} is coated in chestnut paste.
*{{nihongo|''[[Meatball|Niku dango]]''|[[:ja:肉団子|肉団子]]}} is a type of Japanese [[meatball]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sumokitchen.com/JapaneseRecipes/niku-dango/|title=Niku Dango - Sumo Kitchen|website=Sumokitchen.com|access-date=21 December 2017}}</ref> Chicken ''niku dango'' is called ''[[tsukune]]'', served on a [[skewer]].

<gallery widths="150px" heights="150px" mode="packed">
File:Hanami_Dango.jpg|''[[Hanami]] dango''
File:Dango on plate with stick.jpg|''[[Artemisia princeps|Kusa]] dango''
File:Bean-jam-dumpling,dango,katori-city,japan.JPG|''[[Red bean paste|Anko]] dango''
File:Goma dango 001.jpg|''[[Sesame|Goma]] dango''
File:Chi chi dango.jpg|''[[Chichi dango]]''
File:Tsukimi dango.jpg|''[[Tsukimi]] dango''
File:Kinako dango in Isezakicho.jpg|''[[Kinako]] dango''
File:だんご3と魚 (34657200343).jpg|Roasted with fish 
</gallery>

==Derived terms==
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2025}} 
A common [[Japanese proverbs|Japanese proverb]] {{nihongo|"''hana yori dango''"|[[wikt:花より団子|花より団子]]|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 (hairstyle)|''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 ==
'''Bánh hòn''' 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 🍡 is used to resemble [[hanami]] dango. The character was introduced in October 2010.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Commons category|Dango}}
* ''[[Jian dui]]''
* ''[[Wagashi]]'', traditional Japanese confectionery

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Japanese food and drink}}
{{Dumplings}}

[[Category:Japanese dumplings]]
[[Category:Japanese rice dishes]]
[[Category:Skewered foods]]
[[Category:Wagashi]]
[[Category:Glutinous rice dishes]]
[[Category:Rice flour dishes]]