Japanese Recipe Okonomiyaki

 

Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き）

   Okonomiyaki is a popular pan fried food(Japanese style pizza) that fits the same ecological niche in japan as pizza does in US.  It consists of batter and cabbage with selected toppings such as sliced pork, yakisoba noodles, green onion, squid, shrimp, bean sprouts and others. As the name indicates “okonomi” literally means “to one’s liking”, you can add whatever ingredients you like in okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki is very popular in Osaka and Hiroshima and have their own style in cooking okonomiyaki. In Japan, people usually eat okonomiyaki at restaurants that specialize in the dish. The attractive point in okonomiyaki restaurant is that you are free to cook you own style okonomiyaki on the dining table equipped with an iron griddle (“teppan”).

Ingredients:       
2 cups shredded cabbage (1 1/2 inch strips)
1 cup green onion chopped
2 eggs
1 cup water
2 tbsp  sake
1 cup tempura batter/flour
1/4 cup vegetable oil
200g shrimps (others seafood as much as you like)
okonomiyaki sauce
katsuobushi (bonito flakes)
mayonnaise
aonori (seaweed/green laver)
beni shoga(red ginger)

Preparations:
Beats the eggs in a large bowl. Add flour and water and beat mix well. Add in sake, cabbage, green onion. Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a skillet. Pour the batter over the skillet and make a round. Then sprinkle 1/2 of the shrimp, and others seafood on top. Cook each side on medium heat for 2 minutes, until lightly browned. Reduce the heat to low and cook, covered for another 5 minutes, occasionally turning and gently pressing the okonomiyaki with a spatula. Flip the okonomiyaki again and spread okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise on top. Sprinkle aonori over the sauce. Sprinkle katsuobushi (bonito flakes) and beni-shoga (red ginger) for topping.

See also Okonomiyaki Eating Contest