Sometimes referred to as a Japanese omelette or Japanese pizza, Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) is actually a one-of-a-kind dish with a taste and consistency that is uniquely its own. Served in both festival street stalls as well as specialized restaurants throughout Japan, Okonomiyaki literally means 'cooked as you like', and thus the toppings and batters used to make it vary significantly by region. In Osaka, where the dish originates, Okonomiyaki is typically made with cabbage, pork belly and green onion.
Let's learn how to make the original Osaka-style Okonomiyaki!
Ingredients (makes two servings):
- 100 g Okonomiyaki Flour
- 1 large egg
- 1500 ml water
- 300 g chopped cabbage
- 100 to 200 g thinly sliced pork belly
- 30 g green onion
- Okonomiyaki Sauce (Kansai-style)
- Kewpie Japanese Mayonnaise (add to taste)
- bonito flakes (add to taste)
- cooking oil (any neutral-tasting oil works- we use canola)
optional: aonori (dried seaweed powder)
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Directions:
1. Chop the cabbage into long, thin slices. Chop the green onion into thin rings.
2. Pour the Okonomiyaki Flour into a mixing bowl and add the water in two stages- mixing well until the batter becomes even and smooth.
3. Add the egg, cabbage, green onions and mix.
4. Heat a skillet over medium heat, add cooking oil, and pour half of the batter onto the pan (make sure the batter is dispersed evenly, like you're making a pancake).
5. Place 3-4 pork belly slices on top of the 'pancake', then cover the pan with a lid and cook for a few more minutes.
6. After the bottom has turned a golden brown, flip the Okonomiyaki over to cook the other side and crisp the pork.
7. When the other side has turned golden brown, remove the pan from heat and transfer the Okonomiyaki to a plate.
8. Coat the top liberally with Okonomiyaki Sauce, then add Japanese mayonnaise and bonito flakes as desired!
optional: dust the finished product with aonori powder
Slice the Okonomiyaki like a pie and enjoy with chopsticks or a fork.
Itadakimasu! (Let's eat!)
Shop authentic okonomiyaki ingredients here.