Okonomiyaki

What you need:

- Large pan

- 2 spatulas 

Batter:

- 1 cup Okonomiyaki flour (see pic for details. You can buy this at most Japanese markets)

- 1 egg

- 1/2 cup water

-about half a small cabbage 

- 3 strips of bacon (cut in half, to make 6 shorter pieces)

- anything else you want to add in (see below)

Toppings:

- Okonomiyaki sauce 

- Japanese Mayonaise 

- Katsuo (fish flakes) 

- Ao nori (sorry not in pic T_T, but its also called “green laver”)

Steps: 

Mix Okonomiyaki flour, water, and egg together.  Then cut cabbage in half and make very fine slices (you can throw away the core of the cabbage if you want) and cut these in half. Add cabbage to batter and mix well.  Let batter sit for about 10-15 minutes.  In the meantime, cut bacon slices in half and heat a small amount of oil in pan.  Pour about half of the batter into pan and use the 2 spatulas to spread out and form the batter into a circle.  Place the strips of bacon on top and wait until the bottom has become slightly brown.  Next, place the 2 spatulas on opposite sides of the okonomiyaki and flip (This can be difficult at first, but the best tip is to do this fast. Do not try to flip it slowly or carefully!!)  Also it is best not to squish or flatten okonomiyaki, while cooking! Wait until the bacon has cooked and become slightly crispy.  You make choose to flip one or two more time, but the best way to check if it is cooked is to take the corner of the spatula and slightly press the center.  If the batter “puffs” back up then it is likely cooked.  (cooking time can vary depending on how thick you make it) Next, transfer to plate and pour lines of Okonomiyaki sauce and mayonaise on top. Add the katsuo and ao nori next and ENJOY! :D 

About okonomiyaki: It is very difficult to explain what Okonomiyaki is; however, it is similiar to a savory pancake with a slightly liquid-y center.  Okonomiyaki means to “grill as you like it.” So, you can basically add anything you want to the batter. In this recipe, I have made the very basic Kansai or Osaka style Okonomiyaki, but you can add so much more!  Some common ingredients include, shrimp, green onions, red pickled ginger, etc. Also (one of my favorites) is to add cheese and mochi! It may sound strange, but it is absolutely delicious! P: 

I hope this will help you! Okonomiyaki is a delicious and probably not a very well know dish in America, but hopefully this will get you cooking! It is super easy once you get a hang of flipping and is a lot of fun to cook with friends xD

- luminescemit (emi)