Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is a popular Japanese food that literally translates to 'as you like it'. The idea in okonomiyaki restaurants is to choose your fillings & then either cook your pancake at your table on a griddle set into it, or to sit at the counter & watch the chefs prepare it for you. Either way it's a fun experience & one I did often during the time I lived in Japan.

The recipe below is approximate because I never learnt how to make this from a recipe, but by helping a Japanese friend in her kitchen. It's very hard to get it wrong though, so whatever you choose to add to yours will surely turn out well! Generally okonomiyaki contain cabbage, but other combinations of fillings can vary greatly.

Serves 2 (ish!)

Ingredients

plain flour

milk

1 egg

1/2 head cabbage, shredded

2 or 3 carrots, either grated or finely diced

other fillings of your choice, e.g. prawns, chicken, pork

seasonings, e.g. salt, pepper, garlic salt, dried onion

sunflower oil

okonomiyaki sauce (can be purchased from large supermarkets in the foreign food aisle or The Farmlands Chinese supermarket near Leicester market)

mayonnaise

bonito flakes (optional - I didn't have any for this photo)

Directions

Mix together the flour, milk and egg until you have a consistency like pancake batter.
Add in all your other ingredients & any seasonings. Your batter should coat all your ingredients but not overwhelm them.
Heat a little oil in a large frying pan. Drop in a tablespoon or two of the mixture & flatten down in the pan. Cook on both sides until golden brown.
Mix together some okonomiyaki sauce & mayonnaise until it's a beige/pale brown colour. Spread it over the pancake & sprinkle with bonito flakes.
Eat immediately.

This recipe tastes even better made with vegetables from Community Harvest Whetstone :)

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse