Natsu Furutsu Dango Recipes

NATSU FURUTSU DANGO

Steps:

• Place a small amount of water in a pot and keep on low.
• Mix the mochiko and warm water together.
• Blend it together well using your hands.
• Treat the mochiko mix as if it were were dough by kneading it and make sure all the flour is well blended.
• Spray your steam basket or colander lightly with the non-stick cooking spray.
• Roll the dough into dumplings, none bigger than a 25 cent piece.
• Place the balls at least an inch and a half away from each other. This stuff expands and sticks together in a bad way if you're not careful.
• Place the steamer basket or colander in the pot and steam it on high for 10 minutes.
• Remember to add small amounts of water as you go along, but not to much so that it ruins the dumplings.
• If you're making two batches of dumplings because you only have one basket, generously dust a cutting board with the katakuriko. Cool the dumplings enough to handle and place them on the floured cutting board. Repeat steps 2 - 4 until dough is gone.
• Make syrups.
• To make the Strawberry syrup, Mix the strawberries, 1/2 cup water, and 1/4 cup sugar together in a small saucepan.
• Mash the berries and stir.
• In a separate bowl, add one tablespoon katakuriko or cornstarch to 1/4 cup water.
• Stir the mashed fruit mix quickly while pouring in the katakuriko mix.
• This last step gives the berries a thicker texture. Omit if you like the thinner syrups. Set aside. Rinse saucepan.
• For the Peach syrup, Preheat stovetop to high.
• In a small saucepan mix peaches, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water. Simmer on low, stirring constantly for five minutes.
• Add more water if you like a thinner syrup.
• Mash peaches and set aside in a separate bowl. Rinse saucepan.
• Once syrups are done, skewer the cooled dango about 4 per bamboo skewer.
• Place on a wire rack and grill in oven for about one minute per side. The should be lightly toasted. You can use a grill pan or an actual grill to do this also just remember they are only to be cooked until golden brown. You don't want to burn these.
• Brush each skewer with your choice of the syrups, covering them completely. Serve immediately.

FURUTSU SANDO (FRUIT SANDWICHES)

Steps:

• Beat cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla together in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Spread 1 side of each bread slice with whipped cream. Arrange fruit pieces in a diagonal row on 2 of the bread slices, working from 1 corner to the opposite corner. Fill in the areas on both sides of the row with remaining fruit pieces, cutting to fit as necessary. Top with remaining bread slices, cream-sides down. Tightly wrap sandwiches in plastic wrap. Chill at least 1 hour, or up to 24 hours.
• Remove plastic wrap. With a serrated knife, carefully cut sandwich in half diagonally, slicing through the diagonal fruit row.