Basic Okonomiyaki Recipe（お好み焼き）

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese source of pride! It’s consider an Osaka delicacy and it is one of the most famous Japanese foods in all of the world.  Okonomiyaki is a Japanese pancake made from flour, eggs, shredded cabbage, and meat.

Osaka local foods are surprisingly expanding all over the world. When you ask ‘Please name one of the Japanese dishes you know’, some answers are probably centered on food created in Osaka like Takoyaki, kushi-katsu, Okonomiyaki, and more.

What is Okonomiyaki?

Some people call Okonomiyaki a Japanese pancake. Yes, it is soft and you actually uses flour but Japanese people think of Okonomiyaki as a lunch or dinner meal and we don’t consider it a pancake. Okonomiyaki was actually created in Tokyo a long time ago, and it’s expanded to all of Japan and Osaka. Hiroshima accepts it as one of their main foods. Since then, Okonomiyaki has become especially famous for being from Osaka.

Another surprise, when comparing Osaka and Hiroshima, there are more Okonomiyaki restaurants in Hiroshima than Osaka. The reason is Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki includes more steps to make while Osaka-style is easier so there are many households that prefer to make it at home.

5 Important Ingredients for Okonomiyaki

You can make your own Okonomiyaki. But making Okonomiyaki needs 5 important ingredients besides your favorites.

1. Nagaimo / Yamaimo

Nagaimo is Chinese yam in English. It is an important ingredient that helps make the texture of okonomiyaki nice and fluffy and not too doughy. Right after you grate it, it is sticky but after you cook, it makes the okonomiyaki so fluffy. Some people have an allergic reaction, so when you grate Chinese yam, wear kitchen gloves.

It can be difficult to find this ingredient in the U.S. So I use cake flour because it expands and gets fluffy in a similar way. If you can find Nagaimo then this is the classic way to make this recipe!

2. Okonomiyaki sauce

Adding Okonomiyaki sauce makes a big difference! I personally love to use it for so many dishes such as Hambagu, Korokke, and Tonkatsu. Okonomiyaki sauce has a rich and deep flavor and when you taste it, you will fall in love!

You can buy Okonomiyaki sauce at Asian grocery stores, but I saw some local stores sell the sauce these days. I found Okonomiyaki Sauce on amazon and it’s actually affordable!

3. Japanese Mayonnaise

Japanese Mayonnaise is probably one of the ingredients you should have if you cook Japanese/ Asian food a lot! People often wonder what the big difference is between American mayonnaise and Japanese mayonnaise and I think Japanese mayonnaise is tangier and sweeter than American mayo. The reason is because Japanese mayonnaise uses egg yolks only while American mayonnaise uses the entire egg.

If you are new to Japanese mayonnaise, buy kewpie and you won’t regret it! I have been using this brand for my whole life.

4. Tenkasu (tempura bits/scraps)

I think so many people haven’t heard of Tenkasu. Tenkasu is tempura scraps and it makes the flavor of the Okonomiyaki batter deep and rich. I like adding Tenkasu, and classic okonomiyaki always contains it, but if you don’t have it I think you can skip. I have a hard time finding this at my local grocery stores, so I don’t usually use this and this recipe doesn’t include Tenkasu as an ingredient.

If you want Tenkasu, HERE is where you can find it!

5. Katsuobushi

Yes, must have! Katsuobushi is a Japanese preserved food made from bonito. Katsuobushi is so useful. You can use it for making dashi as well. It won’t go bad quickly so I recommend it! This is also easy to find at any Asian grocery store. I can say most Asian stores have it. HERE is where to buy Katsuobushi!

Q&A Often asked about Okonomiyaki

I will introduce some questions and answers often asked about Okonomiyaki!

Q&A : What is the difference between Osaka style and Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki

Hiroshima-Style Okonomiyaki uses almost the same ingredients, but they are layered rather than mixed in with the batter like Osaka-style. Not only that, fried egg and yakisoba noodles (or sometimes udon noodles) are used as toppings.

Q&A : How to make Okonomiyaki quickly and easily

There is  Okonomiyaki Flour (Mix) at Japanese grocery stores! You can skip some of the ingredients using this particular flour. You add this Okonomiyaki flour, water, and eggs to make okonomiyaki batter. Using this, you don’t need Tenkasu, and Chinese yam!

Similar Recipes to Okonomiyaki on Oishi Book

• Omusoba (オムそば)
• Yakisoba with Homemade Sauce
• Tori no Karaage Recipe ( 鶏の唐揚げ – Japanese Fried Chicken)

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