Do you know about this pan-fried dish that is common in Japanese home kitchens? Okonomiyaki means "Whatever you like, fried", and has a simple base that every Japanese person knows. Usually, okonomiyaki has a batter made of flour, water, beaten egg, and a sticky potato called yamaimo. After that, whatever you want goes into it. Tonight, mine is pork on the bottom with Korean spicy kimchi in the batter.
自分の家庭料理でお好み焼がき出来ました。
I can't really tell you my recipe. I just eyeball it. One egg, well beaten, a tablespoon of flour, a handful of chopped cabbage, a bit of grated potato if you have it, a tablespoon of water if you don't, a teaspoon or so of grated or pickled ginger, and a few grams of pork or bacon. Then I threw in some Korean kimchi. If you want an authentic recipe, see this awesome bilingual blog. I like how this recipe uses daishi fish stock to make up the liquid part of the recipe. There are many regional variations of okonomiyaki, and nearly as many recipes as there are okonomiyaki afficionados.
お好み焼き生で Here is my own home-made okonomiyaki naked.
やっぱり私は青いのりとソースとかつおぶしが乗せています。 そのあとはmayonnaise ですよ。Here is okonomiyaki dressed the way I like it - mysterious brown sauce, Kewpie brand mayonnaise, nori seaweed and katsuo fish flakes. This keeps me warm in the winter!
Hi Liz. Interesting stuff the one about Okonomiyaki....I wish I could cook one here at work or have one in some pub around the airport. Wishful thinking...UK is the land of Fish and chips or the sausage.But at least there is a good variety of food from around the world in downtown.Cheers
Daniela
Posted by: Daniela ortu | February 13, 2008 at 08:52 PM
Daniela,
It's super easy to make, and all the ingredients are easily found in London.
I do miss greasy fish and chips on occasion. My Scottish Grandpa used to do a fryup some mornings - eggs and fat sausages, potato scones, the eggs slathered with HP Sauce. Mm. I can feel arteries hardening just thinking about it...
Made a new blog - www.erizabesuesu.wordpress.com Go see!
Posted by: erizabesu | February 14, 2008 at 02:02 PM
Hey Eliza,
I have a similar entry in my blog, since I also starting cooking in Japanese. ^^
So for a alternative (vegetarian ;p) recipe and some more ideas: http://dwellingindreams.blogspot.com/2008/01/cooking-in-japanese.html
good appetite ^^
mika
P.S. What else did you try to make yourself?
Posted by: mika | February 21, 2008 at 12:25 PM