Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is a savory Japanese pancake packed with shredded cabbage, batter, and your choice of add-ins, pan-fried until golden and topped with a sweet-savory sauce, Japanese mayo, bonito flakes, and dancing katsuobushi shavings. The name means "grilled as you like it" — a beloved Osaka-style street food.

By YumYum Editorial · Japanese

Prep: 20 min · Cook: 25 min · Total: 45 min · Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup dashi stock (or water)
• 2 eggs
• 4 cups finely shredded green cabbage
• 4 green onions, sliced
• 6 oz thinly sliced pork belly (or bacon)
• 2 tbsp pickled red ginger (beni shoga)
• 2 tbsp neutral oil, for the pan
• 1/4 cup okonomiyaki sauce (or ketchup mixed with Worcestershire sauce)
• 3 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp bonito flakes (katsuobushi)
• 1 tbsp aonori (dried green seaweed powder)

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk the flour and dashi together until smooth and lump-free.
2. Add the eggs and whisk to combine into a thick batter.
3. Fold in the shredded cabbage, green onions, and pickled ginger until evenly coated in batter.
4. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat.
5. Pour the batter into a thick round mound, about 8 inches wide, and lay the pork belly slices over the top.
6. Cook for 6-7 minutes until the underside is deep golden, then carefully flip using a large spatula (or two).
7. Press down gently and cook the other side for 6-7 minutes until cooked through and the pork is crisp.
8. Slide onto a plate, drizzle generously with okonomiyaki sauce and Japanese mayo in a crosshatch pattern, then top with bonito flakes and aonori. Serve hot.