Okonomiyaki (Japanese Savory Cabbage Pancake)
Local name: お好み焼き
In short: A thick, fluffy pancake loaded with cabbage and thin pork slices, brushed with sweet-savory sauce and finished with mayonnaise and bonito flakes. It takes about 1 h 5 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Total
- 1 h 5 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 540 kcal
Okonomiyaki means 'grilled as you like it,' and the Osaka style is the one most people picture: a thick batter packed with shredded cabbage and cooked on a hot griddle. Pork belly slices go on top, and the finished pancake gets brushed with sweet-savory sauce, striped with mayonnaise and scattered with seaweed powder and bonito flakes. Cabbage is the main ingredient, so chop it fine and keep the batter just enough to bind.
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Stir in the dashi until smooth.
- Fold in the cabbage, spring onions, tenkasu and ginger. Add the eggs and mix lightly. The mixture should look like cabbage held together by batter, not a pourable batter.
- Heat 1/2 tablespoon of oil in a 24 cm (10 in) non-stick pan over medium heat. Scoop in a quarter of the mixture and shape it into a round about 2 cm (3/4 in) thick, without pressing it down.
- Lay 2 slices of pork belly over the top. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, until the underside is deep golden.
- Slide a wide spatula under the pancake and flip it in one quick move. Pat the edges to neaten, cover and cook 5 minutes more, until the pork is cooked through and the center is hot. Flip once more for 1 minute to crisp the other side.
- Transfer to a plate, pork side up. Brush with sauce, draw lines of mayonnaise across the top, and finish with aonori and bonito flakes.
- Repeat with the remaining mixture, wiping the pan between pancakes. Cut into wedges and serve hot.
Tips
- For an extra-fluffy pancake, replace 3 tablespoons of the flour with 3 tablespoons of grated nagaimo (mountain yam) if you can find it.
- Shrimp, squid, sliced mushrooms or corn make good additions, and the meat can be left out for a vegetarian-style version. Cook seafood through before serving.
Questions and answers
Why does my okonomiyaki fall apart?
Usually the cabbage is chopped too coarsely, or the pancake was flipped before the underside set. Chop the cabbage fine, wait the full 5 minutes before turning and use a wide spatula.
Can I mix the batter ahead of time?
Whisk the flour and dashi up to a day ahead and keep it chilled. Add the cabbage and eggs just before cooking, because cabbage releases water and thins the mixture if it sits.
What is the difference between Osaka and Hiroshima okonomiyaki?
Osaka style mixes everything into one thick pancake. Hiroshima style layers a thin crepe with cabbage, pork, a fried egg and often yakisoba noodles, without mixing them together.
How long does it take to make Okonomiyaki (Japanese Savory Cabbage Pancake)?
About 1 h 5 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 45 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Okonomiyaki (Japanese Savory Cabbage Pancake)?
About 540 kcal per serving, with 20 g of protein, 46 g of carbohydrates and 30 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 540 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 20 g |
| Carbohydrates | 46 g |
| Fat | 30 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 10 g |
| Sodium | 1100 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
