Our latest feast

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Okonomiyaki お好み焼き - Japanese Vegetarian Pancake

Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き o-konomi-yaki?) is a Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning "how you like" or "what you like", and yaki meaning "grill".

Okonomiyaki is mainly associated with the Kansai or Hiroshima areas of Japan, but is widely available throughout the country. Toppings and batters tend to vary according to region. Tokyo okonomiyaki is usually smaller than a Hiroshima or Kansai okonomiyaki.

One of Alex's favourite meals is Okonomiyaki. I must admit I love them too.  Either a quick snack or a planned meal they are fantastic. They are jam packed full of goodness and a great way to use up vegetables.

While the traditional Okonomiyaki has cabbage as it's main ingredient and very few others, but you can, in fact, put anything you want into the mix and fry.  Many restaurants offer cooked pork mince, chicken, prawns, bacon, chinese sausage and even noodles - I guess the potential at home is endless.


Okonomiyaki お好み焼き - Japanese Vegetarian Pancake
(Recipe adapted from Okonomiyaki World)

Serves: 2

1 cup plain flour
2/3 cup Water (or Chicken stock)
2 eggs, whisked
Salt
ground white pepper
300 grams green cabbage, cut into strips
1 carrot, peeled and grated
100 grams fresh bean shoots
2 spring onions, thinly sliced diagonally
cooking spray
Kewpie Mayonnaise
Okonomi Sauce or Barbecue Sauce

In a large bowl, whisk together flour and water until smooth. Add in eggs mixing to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

Add cabbage, carrot, bean shoots and ¾ of the onions and mix, but don't over mix.

Spray a non-stick frying pan cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add half the Okonomiyaki mixture.

Using a spatula flatten and form pancakes until around 1.5cm thick - approximately 30cm across.

After about 3 minutes, flip over pancake and cook for 4 minutes.

Flip pancake again and cook for 3 minutes or until firm and well browned.

Remove to plate and drizzle with Kewpie mayonnaise and Okonomi or Barbecue sauce. Sprinkle with remaining spring onion.

Eat quickly before someone near you takes your portion.

No comments: