On Saturday, August 25 at 1 p.m., the Okinawa Association of America (OAA) in Gardena will host a special hands-on cooking workshop to make saataa andaagii (often referred to as Okinawan dango). RSVP is required due to limited space.

Saataa andaagii - which literally means sugar and deep fried in the Okinawan language - can be found at Nikkei events across Los Angeles, but the traditional methods of cooking these festival favorites (and its actual name) are not always used.

There are noticeable differences depending on how the saataa andaagii are prepared. The OAA invites interested persons to learn one of the old-fashioned Okinawan processes, which not only emphasizes flavor, shape, and density, but also how you mix the dry ingredients.

Other important factors include using your hands to scoop and drop the dough into the oil (instead of the more convenient ice cream scooper) and using a very precise temperature. There is also the symbolic smile down the middle of each treat, as saataa andaagii is meant to be eaten during celebrations.

The goal of this and subsequent workshops is to preserve the traditional recipes and cooking methods for future generations. The event will conclude with a short lecture and saataa andaagii tasting.

A limited number of participants can be accepted for the hands-on cooking portion due to limited space, so please purchase your ticket by August 20 (Monday). Register online (oaamensore.org/tickets.htm) or through the OAA office (oaamensore@gmail.com, 310-532-1929; weekdays, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.).

Admission is $7 for adult OAA members, $12 for the general public. To encourage families to attend, admission is free for children ages 10 and under and $5 for middle/high school students (parents must take proper safety precautions during the frying portion of the workshop).

The OAA Center is located at 16500 South Western Avenue in Gardena (the event will take place in the Yamauchi Building). The OAA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is dedicated to preserving and promoting Okinawan culture. They host numerous events throughout the year including cultural lectures,

performances, social gatherings, and senior-focused activities.
This workshop is being organized in coordination with the OAAs Okinawan Bazaar (October 7), which is the only annual festival in Los Angeles that focuses on Okinawan culture.