Have you ever tried Japanese pancake? How about Japanese pizza? In any case, these two are one and the same! You might wonder how this could be even possible. Well, here in Japan nothing is impossible! Just try this dish and you will see why it’s so popular. It’s full of flavour and satisfying, you will never be disappointed.
Okonomiyaki, known both as Japanese Pancake and Japanese Pizza, is actually a traditional dish in Japan. The dish was first invented during the Edo period (1603-1868), which was much like a crepe and served as a special dessert only during Buddhist ceremonies. But by the Meiji period (1868-1912), the dish acquired a sweeter taste and was termed sukesoyaki. As years passed the dish continued to evolve. The sauce added on top of the dish was gaining more importance, so it got a new name – yoshokuyaki. Then in the 1930s, the term okonomiyaki was finally used for the dish. When World War II (1939-1945) happened, the country experienced rice shortage; this boosted the popularity of the dish. People had to find a way to satisfy their basic need with the supply they had in hand – wheat, eggs, meat. Hence, the idea of adding more ingredients to the dish began to emerge.
Okonomiyaki is a large, grilled/fried pancake that comes with fillings, toppings, and sauces. Characteristically, it is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Although widely available in Japan, okonomiyaki is linked to two areas – Kansai area and Hiroshima area. Each area has a distinct way of preparing the dish. Kansai’s version of okonomiyaki can be likened to an omelette, wherein all ingredients are mixed together and then fried on both sides. This version is more popular. Hiroshima’s version is layered, with the ingredients piled on top of each other – batter, cabbage (lots and lots of it, more compared to Kansai version), meat (pork, chicken, or seafood), other vegetables, and a final but optional topping of fried soba noodles or fried egg.
In either version, sauces are added on top of the dish, then sliced into wedges and served just like a pizza.
But what makes this Japanese dish unique is that it has a special kind of batter. Aside from the usual mix of wheat flour, eggs, and water the batter may be seasoned with soy sauce and a sweet-tasting Japanese cooking wine called mirin. Sometimes, a broth made of sea kelp and dried fish flakes, called dashi, may be used instead of water.
Some of the toppings used are authentic Japanese ingredients, making the dish all the more unique. These are seaweed flakes, bonito flakes, and pickled ginger.
The final special aspect of the dish is the sauces used. Drizzled on top of the dish are okonomiyaki sauce (sweet, thick sauce) and kewpie (spicy Japanese mayonnaise).
Interestingly, the word okonomiyaki translates “grilled as you like it.” This means you can choose from a variety of ingredients and mix them as you wish for your toppings or fillings. You are free to create your own version of okonomiyaki; the possibilities of the dish are simply endless! Enjoy!!
