Okonomiyaki Authentic Recipe (2024)

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake. It differs by region and this authentic recipe is the well known and mouth-watering Osaka okonomiyaki. Follow this easy savoury pancake recipe and also make your own okonomiyaki sauce, or simply purchase it from a local store. A healthy meal with simple vegetarian or vegan options.

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Okonomiyaki is an iconic Japanese street food savoury pancake. Who would not like it? Loaded with heaps of shredded cabbage and scallions, topped with protein of your choice, and sizzling delicious Okonomiyaki sauce?

Okonomiyaki Authentic Recipe (1)

What is Okonomiyaki?

You may already know what it is. This is for those who are new to Japanese cuisine. It is simply a Japanese savoury pancake made primarily from shredded cabbage, flour, eggs and water. Some call it Japanese pizza.

Okonomiyaki Authentic Recipe (2)

Also it is a very versatile dish that has many adaptations and various topping options. That is why it gets the name Okonomiyaki. “Okonomi” meaning “what you like” and “yaki” meaning grilled as I explained in my post, Understanding Japanese food terms.

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Styles of Okonomiyaki

In Japan, the batter and toppings will differ from region to region, but the three main styles are Kansai or Osaka, Hiroshima, and Tokyo. My favourite is the Kansai style because that’s the area I grew up in. It is also the main version of Okonomiyaki and the most common around Japan; and most likely the kind that you see in Japanese restaurants in your city.

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Characteristics of Osaka style

The difference of Osaka style recipe is that the shredded cabbage and green onion are mixed and folded into the batter unlike Hiroshima style recipe in which the ingredients are fried in layers. Also, the Osaka style has a larger portion of shredded cabbage than Hiroshima style.

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Shredded cabbage

Because the Osaka style has more cabbage and it is mixed into the batter, the way you shred it and the size of the cabbage is quite important. If not done properly, the cabbage would become soggy during cooking. When cooked through it still will have the crispness of cabbage. So it needs to be shredded about 3cm (1.2inch) long in length.

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Toppings

The most common topping of Osaka style is thin pork-belly strips which is called “Buta-dama”. However as the name suggests, you can put whatever you like. I often cook this with my students (learning Japanese) in my Japanese class and ask them to bring toppings they like. Some brought a piece of bacon which was a fresh idea for me and it was delicious.

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Garnishes

Usually we garnish with red Pickled GingerOkonomiyaki Authentic Recipe (8), Bonito Flakes Okonomiyaki Authentic Recipe (9), seaweed called Aonori Okonomiyaki Authentic Recipe (10). I understand that those ingredients are difficult to find if there are not any Japanese grocery stores near you. They are available online. Also because Okonomiyaki has become so popular world wide, you can also purchase an Okonomiyaki Kit Okonomiyaki Authentic Recipe (11) nowadays.

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The Okonomiyaki Batter

Now you can make the batter from scratch, or you can also purchase Okonomiyaki savoury pancake premix. Because it is so convenient and easy to use, I often use a premix. It already contains dashi stock powder and baking powder so what you need to do is just add egg and water.

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Okonomiyaki Sauce

I usually use store bought Okonomiyaki sauce as they are readily available in Japan like soy sauce. My favourite brand is “Otaf*cku”. If you can not get any okonomiyaki sauce, I included it in my online shop or you can mix 2tbs tomato sauce, 2tbs worcestershire sauce, 1tsp oyster sauce, and 1tsp honey or maple syrup all together.

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Special ingredients: Tenkasu

Tenkasu is a Tempura byproduct. Tenkasu Okonomiyaki Authentic Recipe (15) means tempura waste though it is not a waste. We recycle this byproduct. It is an important secret ingredient of Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki in my humble opinion. It adds both flavour and texture. And you can buy those from shops too in Japan.

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But What if I Don’t Have a Teppan?

No problem. Although it may be the best way to cook Okonomiyaki on a big steel plate called “Teppan” just like the one you see at street food markets, you don’t need to own a teppan. You can flip the pancake on your frying pan or use a BBQ if your BBQ has a flat cook surface. I bought a Grill Pan Okonomiyaki Authentic Recipe (17) in Japan and brought it back to Australia. Also you can use a waffle iron to make Okonomiyaki Savory Waffle.

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Oh, and if you have Wide egg flippersOkonomiyaki Authentic Recipe (19) like the photo below, it certainly makes flipping the savoury pancake a lot easier. My daughter was flipping the pancake in the photos above, and she was hesitant thinking she would break the pancake. However, she found the flipping easy with the wide egg flippers. I bought them from Daiso for just $2.80.

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Osaka Okonomiyakiis a great dish to make with your family and friends if you have a hot plate because you can all cook your Osaka style Okonomiyaki together at the same time and have fun adding different toppings. Hope you enjoy!!

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Stay connected

If you like the recipe please rate the recipe and leave comments below. Also don’t forget to follow me on Youtube, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. This way you keep up to date with all the latest happenings on Chopstick Chronicles. Don’t forget to Sign up for a weekly newsletter so you never miss out on new authentic delicious Japanese recipes! Sign up form is on the right-hand sidebar.

Okonomiyaki Authentic Recipe (22)

Osaka Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake. It differs by region and this authentic recipe is the well known and mouth-watering Osaka okonomiyaki. Follow this easy savoury pancake recipe and also make your own okonomiyaki sauce, or simply purchase it from a local store. A healthy meal with simple vegetarian or vegan options.

Course: Main Dish, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: Japanese

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 483kcal

Author: Shihoko | Chopstick Chronicles

Rate this recipe

4.82 from 61 votes

PrintPin

Ingredients

  • 200 ml water
  • 1 tsp konbu dashi stock powder
  • 160 g plain flour
  • 4 egg
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp sugar
  • 480 g finely chopped cabbage
  • 40 g chopped green shallot
  • 40 g Tenkasu
  • 160 g thinly sliced pork
  • bonito flake to garnish
  • pickled ginger to garnish
  • Aonori to garnish
  • 1 tbs olive oil
  • 1/4 cup okonomiyaki sauce

MetricUS Customary

Instructions

  • Dissolve the dashi powder into the water to make the dashi stock.

  • Place the flour in a large bowl and add salt, sugar, and pour the dashi stock in to mix. Set aside.

  • Divide the chopped cabbage, green shallots, and tenkasu into 4 small mixing bowls.

  • Add one egg each and 1/4 of flour and dashi mixture to each bowl.

  • Mix them well together with a fork.

  • Heat cooking plate to 200 degrees and pour the cabbage mixture onto the cooking plate to spread approximately 2cm thickness.

  • Place the thinly sliced pork and bonito flake on top of the cabbage mixture.

  • When the edge of the okonomiyaki has become firm and cooked, flip it over with two egg flippers.

  • Put the lid on and steam grill for a few minutes.

  • Turn the okonomiyaki over one more time to check whether the meat is cooked.

  • Brush the okonomiyaki with Okonomiyaki sauce and garnish with pickled ginger, more bonito and sprinkle aonori to serve.

Video

Notes

*Tenkasu is tempura by-product crisps. It can be purchased from asian grocery stores but If you can not get it, it can be omitted.

*Aonori is also known as green laver. It is edible green seaweed, usually consumed as dried, finely flaked form. Often used for Okonomiyaki, Yakisoba, and takoyaki topping in Japanese cuisine.

*Check out The Shop if you don’t have Asian grocery stores nearby. I separated the mixture into 4 seperate bowls to already mix and prepare into 4 okonomiyaki, however, you can mix all the ingredients in 1 large bowl and then divide it into 4 servings on the hot plate

*Pickled ginger can be mixed into the batter or garnish later sprinkling on top of Okonomiyaki.

*In the video, I used pre mix flour so added just water.

Nutrition

Calories: 483kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 192mg | Sodium: 395mg | Potassium: 409mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 455IU | Vitamin C: 45.8mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 3.5mg

Did you make this recipe? Show me how you went on Instagram! Mention @chopstickchronicles

Chopstick Chronicles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Okonomiyaki Authentic Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is traditionally in okonomiyaki? ›

The batter is made of flour, grated nagaimo (a long type of yam), dashi or water, eggs, shredded cabbage, and usually contains other ingredients such as green onion, meat (usually thinly sliced pork belly or American bacon), octopus, squid, shrimp, vegetables, konjac, mochi, or cheese.

What is the literal translation of okonomiyaki? ›

The word "okonomiyaki" is derived from "okonomi" meaning "as you like" and "yaki" meaning "grilled. It's commonly referred to as being a Japanese pancake. Accurate to its name, okonomiyaki can be served with a variety of toppings which include everything from meat and seafood to vegetables and cheese.

Why is my okonomiyaki falling apart? ›

Okonomiyaki Recipe Tips

If your cabbage is too chunky, they won't hold together well, and they'll have a denser, less delicate texture. I always use my mandoline when I make this recipe. If you don't have one, finely shred the cabbage in a food processor or with a sharp knife. Don't pack it down too much.

What are the two types of okonomiyaki? ›

There are two significantly different types of Okonomiyaki. First, the Kansai or Osaka style, in which the ingredients are all mixed into a batter and then grilled. Second, the Hiroshima style, in which a small crepe-like pancake is grilled and then other ingredients are layered on top.

What does okonomi mean in English? ›

From okonomi, meaning “how you like it” and yaki, meaning “cooked,” okonomiyaki is a highly customizable, beloved Japanese street food known for its signature stripes of pale-yellow mayonnaise.

What is the moving stuff on my okonomiyaki? ›

Bonito flakes - known as katsuobushi in Japanese - are a strange food upon first sight. They are known to move or dance when used as a topping on foods such as okonomiyaki and takoyaki. It can be an odd sight upon first viewing if moving food makes you squeamish.

Who invented okonomiyaki? ›

It's difficult to pinpoint the origin of okonomiyaki. The idea of a grilled pancake goes as far back as the Buddhist ceremonies during the Edo period (1683- 1868).

What is the cousin of okonomiyaki? ›

Hiroshimayaki. A close cousin to okonomiyaki is hiroshimayaki, or Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. Although the ingredients are similar, the cooking process for hiroshimayaki is quite different.

What is the Tokyo version of okonomiyaki? ›

A type of pan-fried batter or savoury pancake, monjayaki is Tokyo's answer to okonomiyaki, the iconic dish of Hiroshima and Osaka. Monjayaki retains a slightly runny appearance much like melted cheese even when cooked – but the delicious concoction tastes better than it looks.

Is okonomiyaki good for you? ›

Okonomiyaki is healthy!

Because Okonomiyaki is made from various kinds of ingredients, such as eggs, meat and vegetables, it contains much of our daily nutritional requirements.

Why is my okonomiyaki soggy? ›

Make sure you only add the batter to the vegetables at the last minute before cooking. If you leave the vegetables in the batter too long, the water will come out and you'll have a soggy mess that's impossible to flip without breaking.

What if okonomiyaki is too wet? ›

Mix tempura flour and dashi or water to make a batter in a consistency of pancake batter. Add shredded cabbage and dried shrimp (if using) to the batter and mix well. If the batter seems too wet, add more flour. If too thick, add more water.

What is a fun fact about okonomiyaki? ›

Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) is a Japanese food dish of a pan-fried batter cake and different ingredients including meat, seafood, and vegetables. Most okonomiyaki has cabbage in it. The name of this dish means "cook what you like".

What is kaisen okonomiyaki? ›

This seafood okonomiyaki with squid and shrimp is made from an original recipe dough made from Japanese wheat flour with bonito flakes and kelp dashi, and baked in a unique manufacturing process. to make it fluffy.

What is modern okonomiyaki? ›

Modan-yaki is when okonomiyaki has noodles included as a layer. The noodles used are either yakisoba or udon noodles, and are cooked inside the okonomiyaki, in addition to the cut up pieces of proteins and vegetables.

What is that flaky stuff on okonomiyaki? ›

Katsuobushi (Dried Bonito Flakes) – Katsuobushi is shaved flakes of fermented and smoked bonito and these flakes are super paper-thin! It's a super umami-rich ingredient that's used for making dashi (Japanese soup stock). When you sprinkle them on top of the okonomiyaki, they dance along with the steam!

What is the culture of okonomiyaki? ›

>Okonomiyaki is a regional dish from Osaka, a city from western Japan whose residents are well-known for their love of good food and good drink, especially with family or friends in tow. Osaka is home to a number of famous street foods, and okonomiyaki is one of the very best.

What is the difference between Osaka and Hiroshima okonomiyaki? ›

In Osaka style okonomiyaki, all of the ingredients are mixed together and cooked together. In Hiroshima style okonomiyaki, all of the ingredients are layered almost like a cake. Soba or udon noodles are also added to Hiroshima-yaki in another layer as well. (Although they do add noodles to okonomiyaki in Osaka.

What are the ingredients in Okonomi sauce? ›

OtaJoy's label lists sugar, white vinegar, molasses, salt, tomato paste, apple, carrot, peach, dates, onions, raisins, mushrooms, garlic, kelp and spices (you didn't think we were going to give away our secrets, now did you?) among other ingredients.

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