Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pancakes) Recipe | A Spicy Perspective (2024)

FAQs

Is okonomiyaki spicy? ›

Its flavors—sweet and savory, spicy from bits of ginger, smoky with the flavor of dashi—were instantly recognizable (as they would be to anyone who grew up eating casual Japanese food), while the texture, simultaneously crunchy and creamy, hit all of my comfort food sweet spots.

There are two significantly different types of Okonomiyaki. First, the Kansai or Osaka style, in which the ingredients are all mixed into a batter and then grilled. Second, the Hiroshima style, in which a small crepe-like pancake is grilled and then other ingredients are layered on top.

OtaJoy's label lists sugar, white vinegar, molasses, salt, tomato paste, apple, carrot, peach, dates, onions, raisins, mushrooms, garlic, kelp and spices (you didn't think we were going to give away our secrets, now did you?) among other ingredients.

Make sure you only add the batter to the vegetables at the last minute before cooking. If you leave the vegetables in the batter too long, the water will come out and you'll have a soggy mess that's impossible to flip without breaking.

Japanese food is often considered "less spicy" than other Asian cuisines, and this could be explained by the country's culinary history and climate influences. Culinary history and tradition: Japanese culinary history places a strong emphasis on the natural flavors of fresh ingredients.

Your goal is just to get the loose mixture to come together. Don't press it down too much, or your okonomiyaki will be dense. Eat it right away. Like many egg-based dishes, okonomiyaki is best hot off the stove.

Okonomiyaki is sometimes translated into English as "as-you-like-it pancake". However, this may be misleading. Though it does consist of batter cooked on a griddle, okonomiyaki has nothing of the sweetness or fluffiness of pancakes, not to mention that it is usually filled with octopus, shrimp, pork, yam or kimchi.

The word "okonomiyaki" is derived from "okonomi" meaning "as you like" and "yaki" meaning "grilled. It's commonly referred to as being a Japanese pancake. Accurate to its name, okonomiyaki can be served with a variety of toppings which include everything from meat and seafood to vegetables and cheese.

Okonomiyaki is healthy!

Because Okonomiyaki is made from various kinds of ingredients, such as eggs, meat and vegetables, it contains much of our daily nutritional requirements.

Bonito flakes—the dried, smoked shavings of skipjack tuna—are so light that any amount of steam makes them waver and curl, as if swayed by an ocean current. As a result, the pink flakes move when placed atop hot dishes.

What is the cousin of okonomiyaki? ›

Hiroshimayaki. A close cousin to okonomiyaki is hiroshimayaki, or Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. Although the ingredients are similar, the cooking process for hiroshimayaki is quite different.

Okonomi Sauce Substitutes: If you don't have Okonomi sauce on hand you can make your own. Easy Okonomi Sauce Recipe: Mix 3 tbs of ketchup, with 1 tbs of Worcestershire sauce, with 1 tsp of Soy Sauce.

Okonomi sauce, also known as okonomiyaki sauce is a sweet-savoury Japanese condiment, with rich flavours similar to thick Worcestershire sauce. As its name suggests, the sauce is the traditional topping for Okonomiyaki savoury pancakes, but is also a great accompaniment to takoyaki and pork belly dishes.

Nappa cabbage has a more prounounced flavor and softer texture while round cabbage has crunchy neutral flavor and texture. But you can throw whatever you want in Okonomiyaki. There is no rule for that, it just ingredients mixed with batter finished with the typical sauce.

Cook for about 5 minutes covered. After the bottom of the pancake is browned, flip it over and cook covered for another 5 minutes. Flip a third time and cook uncovered for 2 minutes. Take off the heat, plate and add toppings of your choice: mayonnaise, okonomiyaki sauce etc.

What Does Okonomiyaki Taste Like? Okonomiyaki has a delightfully complex flavor that is sweet, spicy (from pickled ginger), savory, and smoky. It has a delicious crispy, creamy texture. The ingredients and toppings combine to create a distinct flavor that will make you want to order okonomiyaki as often as possible.

I've seen okonomiyaki referred to as a “Japanese pizza” or “Japanese frittata” in the U.S. The batter is made with flour, tempura scraps (tenkasu), grated yam (nagaimo or yamaimo), and eggs. It's then mixed with shredded cabbage and sometimes additional ingredients like shrimp and squid.

Small bits of beni shoga (紅生姜), or red pickled ginger, give a nice pop on the color of takoyaki and a little spicy, pungent kick to the dish.

The word "okonomiyaki" is derived from "okonomi" meaning "as you like" and "yaki" meaning "grilled. It's commonly referred to as being a Japanese pancake. Accurate to its name, okonomiyaki can be served with a variety of toppings which include everything from meat and seafood to vegetables and cheese.