How to make the best okonomiyaki

And what is okonomiyaki anyway?

Okonomiyaki is a delicious savoury pancake, said to have originated in Osaka. It’s a satisfying and economical mixture made using flour, eggs, cabbage, your choice of seafood, chicken, beef or tofu, then topped with a handful of condiments. In Japanese, the word ‘okono’ translates as ‘individual’ or ‘whatever you want’ and the word ‘yaki’ means ‘grilled’. So, okonomiyaki is an individual’s choice of grilled food.

After the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, food was in short supply and legend has it that okonomiyaki became a lot more popular. Despite food scarcity at the time, people could make a nutritious and tasty meal out of whatever ingredients they were able to find. Like all great inventions, okonomiyaki was born of necessity! These days, okonomiyaki can be found everywhere in Japan.

How to make okonomiyaki at home

There are two schools of thought on the best way to make okonomiyaki. In Osaka, the flour, egg, baking powder and stock are whisked together to make a batter and left to rest in the fridge for a couple of hours. Then the vegetables and protein are added and fully mixed into the batter. The mixture is fried in a pan until the batter is set and a chopstick poked into the middle comes out dry (just like when you make a cake). Okonomiyaki are garnished with seaweed, bonito flakes, sliced spring onions or anything else that you can get your hands on.

400 kilometres south of Osaka in Hiroshima, pancakes are cooked in layers – starting with a thin base of batter. They are topped with a pile of shredded cabbage, grilled until the cabbage reduces, then flipped over. Pre-prepared grilled soba noodles are added and a good dollop of okonomiyaki sauce.

Check out this video to see the two styles of okonomiyaki cooking or follow this okonomiyaki recipe.

When to eat okonomiyaki?

Not reserved for breakfast, okonomiyaki is a tasty, satisfying savoury meal for any time of the day. Pancakes (with vegetables) for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

And because it can be tailored to whatever you have in the fridge and whatever your family members prefer to eat, it’s both a great way to use up bits and pieces, as well as cater to individual tastes.

Where to find cooking supplies and ingredients for Okonomiyaki in Chatswood

Check out the Japan Home Centre for a range of fry pans and cookware that will make your kitchen sizzle and help you create the perfect okonomiyaki. Head to Asian City for authentic Japanese ingredients that will jazz up even the simplest okonomiyaki meal. Of course, Woolworths has fresh ingredients and always stocks the basics to ensure that cooking is a breeze.

If you really want to take a cooking short cut, check out the ready-to-heat Japanese pancakes available at Woolworths Chatswood. A basic okonomiyaki sauce is made from tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, sugar or soy sauce. If you don’t have the time or the motivation to make it from scratch, you can purchase a bottle from Woolworths.