Sasa-dango 笹だんご

“Sasa-dango” is one of the typical traditional Japanese sweets in Niigata. A green dumpling filled with sweet red bean paste is rapped with “sasa” leaves (bamboo grass leaves). “Sasa-dango” is a popular souvenir representing Niigata, so I always buy it for friends or relatives living outside Niigata.

I had a chance to make “sasa-dango” by myself and learnt it needs lots of works! Dough is mixed with powder of rice, water and steamed “yomogi” leaves (mugworts). Red bean paste is simmered with sugar. Bamboo grass leaves for rapping are boiled. Dough is shaped into oval dumpling, rapped with bamboo grass leaves and tied with a mat rush string, which was the most difficult part for me. Finally, it steamed!