Okonomiyaki(Japanese pancake/Japanese pizza)

Okonomiyaki

 

 

What is "Okonomiyaki(Japanese pancake/Japanese pizza)"?
Okonomiyaki is a popular Japanese dish that literally means "cook what you like, the way you like it." It is a type of teppanyaki-style dish made with flour, eggs, cabbage, sauce, and other ingredients. The batter, made by mixing water and flour, is combined with preferred ingredients such as eggs, vegetables, meat, seafood, or noodles, and cooked on a hotplate. It is then served with toppings like sauce, mayonnaise, and seaweed flakes.

 

In foreign countries, it is sometimes referred to as "Japanese pancake (though it is savory)" or "Japanese pizza," but both descriptions fail to capture its true taste.

 

Okonomiyaki is a healthy dish as it utilizes nutritious ingredients like cabbage and vegetables abundantly. It is also versatile in terms of controlling the amount of fat and sugar, making it suitable for those on a diet or with a focus on health.

 

One of the appealing aspects of okonomiyaki is its delicious taste. It surprises with its rich and savory flavor, which contradicts its healthy ingredients. The combination of "intensely flavored sauce" and "junky taste" is sure to satisfy your palate. Toppings like okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, and seaweed flakes add unique and delicious accents.

 

With these elements combined, okonomiyaki becomes an enticing dish. By selecting your favorite ingredients and cooking it together with family and friends, you can fully enjoy the taste and cultural experience of Japan. I encourage you to give okonomiyaki a try!

 

set meal with grilled meat

 

 

Benefits of ”Okonomiyaki”
Okonomiyaki is often thought to be high in calories because eating just one piece can make you feel quite full and can even be a substitute for a staple food. Additionally, because it is cooked using oil, many people think it is high in fat and may lead to weight gain. However, that is not the case at all.

 

The calorie content of one piece of okonomiyaki is approximately 570 kcal.

 

Various ingredients are used in one piece of okonomiyaki. Vegetables such as cabbage, meat or seafood, and even eggs can be added for a delicious and nutritious meal.

 

What is worth noting is that even people who dislike vegetables can enjoy okonomiyaki. It is very common to hear people say, "I don't like vegetables, but I love okonomiyaki."

 

Cabbage, which is abundantly used in okonomiyaki, may not be appealing when eaten raw, like in a salad. However, when it is cooked in okonomiyaki, it shrinks in size, allowing you to eat a large quantity of cabbage.

 

Yes, okonomiyaki is popular among those who enjoy richly flavored and junk food-like dishes. It fills you up with cabbage and is low in calories.

 

cabbage

Cabbage contains high-quality proteins, calcium, and various vitamins compared to other vegetables. In particular, Vitamin U is known to strengthen the mucous membrane of the stomach, aid in the recovery of damaged stomach walls, and suppress ulcers. Its power has even been proven by its use in stomach medicines, such as "Cabbage Extract" in Japan.
(It is a gastrointestinal drug sold in Japan under the trade name CABEZIN.)

 
mitsuhiro eguchi

 

This time, we will introduce the "Kansai-style" okonomiyaki, where all the ingredients are mixed together before cooking.


 

Hiroshima-style and Kansai-style (Osaka)

There are various regional variations of okonomiyaki throughout Japan, but they can be broadly categorized into two main styles: Kansai-style (Osaka) and Hiroshima-style.

 

Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is prepared by first cooking the batter into a thin crepe-like base. Then, cabbage, bean sprouts, pork belly, and other ingredients are layered on top and cooked. The defining feature of Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is the inclusion of noodles among the ingredients.

 

Kansai-style okonomiyaki, on the other hand, involves mixing all the ingredients together before cooking them.

 

 

Gas stove cooking

Okonomiyaki (Kansai-style)

 

Material/ Serves 2

 

☆batter------------------------------------------

80g

Cake flour

8g

Hondashi

1

Egg

100ml

Water

 

☆Other Ingredients-------------------------------

250～300g

Cabbage

100g

Thinly sliced pork

15g

Tenkasu
(crunchy bits of deep-fried dough produced as a byproduct of cooking tempura)

 

☆sauce etc.---------------------------------------

as needed

Okonomiyaki sauce

as needed

Mayonnaise

as needed

Aonori　(dried green seaweed)

as needed

Vegetable Oil

 

 

If you can't get tempura crumbs (Tenkasu)
It's not a problem if you don't use them.

 

Tenkasu Recipes.
Mix the flour with water until it becomes a smooth and thin batter.
Heat the oil to 180 degrees Celsius and slowly sprinkle the batter over the hot oil. It's important to find the right consistency for the batter - if it's too thin, it will disperse too much, and if it's too thick, it will become heavy. Start by sprinkling a small amount to test the consistency.
Watch closely as it turns a golden brown color.
Once it reaches the desired color, remove the tempura from the oil using a strainer and place it on a tempura paper to drain off excess oil.

 

Yamaimo (Dioscorea japonica)
It is also common to grate yam into the batter.
This is done to make the batter fluffy and delicious by incorporating air. However,it is not necessary to add yam;
you can still make it without it.

 

Katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes)
It is common to sprinkle very thinly sliced dried bonito flakes as a topping. This enhances the aroma and flavor, making it even more delicious. It is not necessary to have them, though.

 

If you have a cat
please be extremely cautious with dried bonito flakes! Cats love them and may eat them all up.
Well, if the cat eats it, it may be rather healthy because it is a natural and healthy food made from smoked and sliced natural fish.

 

recommend

 

Swans Down Regular Cake Flour, 32-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 8)

 

Ajinomoto HONDASHI Bonito Soup Stock 4.23oz, 4.23 Ounce

 

Otafuku Okonomi Sauce, Vegan Japanese Topping for Okonomiyaki Pancakes (17.6 Ounces)

 

Kewpie Squeeze Tube Mayonnaise - 12 Oz, ivory

 

Sea Lettuce Japanese Aosa for Okonomi Takoyaki Yakisoba Seasoning 0.46 oz(13 g)

 

Yamaki Bonito Flakes "Hana-Katsuo" 2.82 oz.

 

Okonomiyaki

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step1.Prepare the batter.

Okonomiyaki

Put the ingredients for the batter into a bowl.
(Cake flour・Hondashi・Egg・Water)

 

Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki

Mix it well.

 

set meal with grilled meat

Cut the cabbage into rough 5mm squares. It doesn't have to be precise.

 

When you grind it too finely with a mixer or similar device, the texture is not very good.

 

set meal with grilled meat

Put the cabbage into a bowl with the batter.

 

Okonomiyaki

Mix it well.

 

At this point, you can further add your favorite ingredients to customize it.
In Kansai region, when a dish includes pork, it's called "Buta-dama" (literally "pork ball"). If it contains squid, it's called "Ika-dama" (literally "squid ball"), and if it has shrimp, it's called "Ebi-dama" (literally "shrimp ball"). Additionally, when various ingredients are mixed together, it's referred to as "Mikkusu" (literally "mix"), but the specific ingredients included in the mix can vary from one okonomiyaki restaurant to another.

 

Step2.Grill Okonomiyaki.

Okonomiyaki

Coat the frying pan with vegetable oil and arrange thinly sliced pork belly on it.

 

Okonomiyaki

It doesn't have to be precise.

 

Okonomiyaki

Place the batter on top of the pork in the frying pan.

 

Okonomiyaki

Please shape it into a round, flat shape as best as possible. It doesn't have to be precise.

 

 

Okonomiyaki

Cover and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes. If it starts to burn, reduce heat.

 

set meal with grilled meat

Once it has developed a brown crust, flip it over using a spatula and cook it slowly over low heat until it is cooked through.

Do not press it with a spatula while cooking! It will release the air from the batter and make it dense.

 

Okonomiyaki

Cook it slowly over low heat until it is thoroughly cooked. The key is to allow the cabbage to become sweet and translucent, resulting in a delicious final dish.

 

set meal with grilled meat

Once it's cooked through, it's ready! To serve it easily, place a plate on top of the frying pan and flip the pan to transfer it onto the plate.

Please be careful not to burn yourself.

 

Step3.Seasoning and Toppings.

set meal with grilled meat

Apply sauce and mayonnaise, and sprinkle bonito flakes or dried seaweed (aonori) according to your preference.

 

Finish

Okonomiyaki

Enjoy it as soon as it is done.

 

 

mitsuhiro eguchi

 

It is a favorite menu item for both children and adults. Adults can enjoy it as a junk food with a beer in hand. However, since it mostly consists of cabbage, it is a healthy menu option that helps address vegetable deficiencies.


 

 

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for details. As an Amazon Associate, Google Adsense,I earn from qualifying purchases.