recipe: okonomiyaki
Homemade Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) is a delicious Japanese savoury pancake made with cabbage, batter, and your choice of toppings. The name roughly means "grill what you like," so it's highly customisable.
Whilst in Japan we ate our fair share of these delicious pancakes, however, even before travelling, would regularly make them at home with whatever veg we had in the fridge.
Here's a simple and authentic recipe, which can be tailored to your own unique tastes and desires:
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Ingredients (2 servings)
Batter:
1 cup all-purpose flour (or flour of choice)
2/3 cup water
1 egg
1/4 tsp salt
Fillings:
2 cups finely shredded cabbage
2 green onions (chopped)
Optional: 4-6 slices of thin pork belly or bacon, or even tofu if your vego
Optional: veggies you have that can be shredded or thinly sliced
Toppings: (all optional or add your own)
Okonomiyaki sauce (store-bought or homemade*)
Japanese mayonnaise (like Kewpie)
Aonori (seaweed flakes)
Katsuobushi (bonito flakes)
Pickled ginger (beni shoga), optional
Instructions:
Prepare the Batter:
In a bowl, mix flour, water, salt, and baking powder.
Beat in the egg until the batter is smooth.
Add Fillings:
Gently fold in the shredded cabbage and green onions. Add any extra fillings you like.
Preheat & Cook:
Heat a large skillet or nonstick pan over medium heat with a little oil.
Spoon in half the batter and shape it into a round pancake about 1/2 inch thick.
Cook for about 4–5 minutes until golden underneath.
Flip carefully and cook another 4–5 minutes. Press gently to flatten if needed.
Check Doneness:
It should be cooked through and golden brown. If unsure, stick a toothpick in — it should come out clean.
Serve & Top:
Drizzle generously with okonomiyaki sauce and Japanese mayo in a zigzag pattern.
optional:
Sprinkle aonori and bonito flakes over the top.
Add pickled ginger if desired.
Enjoy x