Japanese Pancake : Okonomiyaki

Image from Closet Cooking

I was scouring the web last night and I found another mouth watering Okonomiyaki, which more people give description as a Japanese pizza but more likely as a zesty batter cake. Actually, it gives me recollection when I was still living in Taipei because this is a common sight from street side food stand. I find this dish a communal snack but really filling to your satisfaction.

However, I searched the actual meaning of the word ‘okonomiyaki’ which is interpreted in 2 words: okonomi, which implies ‘as you like’ while yaki, stands for ‘grilled’. Unitedly, it brings the Japanese word 'okonomiyaki' as ‘grilled as you like’.

Interesting as always, I wish to try this recipe because Im perpetually fascinated with pizza and this one can be related to pizza because you are the one who decides in picking up garnishes or toppings and separate it into slices. Anyway, here's the basic recipe that is worth trying, its so simple yet filling snack.

Okonomiyaki

Ingredients:
1 cup flour (or use whole wheat flour)
3/4 cup dashi (or water)
1 egg
1/4 of a cabbage (shredded)
1 carrot (grated)
1 zucchini (grated)
1 green onion (chopped)
Imitation crab meat
mushroom
squid
3 slices bacon
okonomiyaki sauce (or Worcestershire sauce)
mayonnaise
green onion (chopped)

Toppings: Optional

• aonori
• katsuobushi
• okonomiyaki sauce or tonkatsu sauce plus optional mayonnaise

Directions:
1. Mix the flour, dashi, egg, cabbage, carrot and zucchini in a large bowl.
2. Heat some oil in pan.
3. Pour in mixture and top with the bacon slices.
4. Cook on medium heat until golden brown on both sides, about 5-15 minutes per side.
5. Top with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise and green onion and slice.
6. or Sprinkle on some katsuobushi and aonori liberally.

This is the one with sprinkled katsuobushi and aonori on top