Recipe of Takoyaki

Takoyaki is a very casual fast food in Japan. It might not be easily found at Japanese restaurants in the US or other parts of world even though it is a very popular dish.  Takoyaki tastes a little bit like round shaped Okonomiyaki, but it has a much different flavor from the Tako (octopus) cooked inside them. In most parts of Japan, people don’t treat Takoyaki as a meal.  Many people typically think of Takoyaki as something you get from street vendors at festivals and events.

It is very easy to make Takoyaki batter, and it’s even simple to cook, however, you must have a Takoyaki pan.  If you don’t have it, it’s not possible to make Takoyaki.  Luckily, today we can easily buy Takoyaki Pan online.  Some Takoyaki pans are cast iron pans to use on a stove top.   These work best on a gas stove.

Takoyaki is literally baked or fried octopus, so if you don’t use octopus, is it not really Takoyaki anymore?  ….that’s not true!  Put whatever you want inside Takoyaki.  We use cheese or sausage for kids, shrimp pieces when octopus is not available, vegetables like chopped cabbage, anything you want, really.  They are best eaten hot right out of a pan, so get a Takoyaki pan and enjoy fresh home made Takoyaki!

Takoyaki Recipe

Ingredients :

• 2 cups (480ml) Dashi
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
• 2-3 green onions, finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp Benishoga (pickled red ginger), chopped
• 5-6 oz octopus, cut into 1/2" cubes
• oil
• Takoyaki sauce or Okonomiyaki sauce
• mayo
• Aonori (green dried seaweed)
• Katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes)

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix well Dashi, eggs, soy sauce, salt, and flour with a whisk.
2. Heat a Takoyaki pan with oil to very hot, just until the oil begins to smoke. Use enough oil to coat the pan using a paper towel so that the batter won't stick. Then pour batter to fill the holes of the pan.
3. Drop octopus pieces in the batter in each hole, and sprinkle chopped green onions and ginger all over the pan.
4. Cook at medium heat for 1-2 minutes and turn over using a Takoyaki turner (you can use a chopstick too). It can be a little tricky at first, so watch the video to see the technique. Cook another 3-4 minutes, turning constantly.
5. Place the cooked Takoyaki on a plate and pour Takoyaki sauce and mayo over them (to taste). Finish the dish by sprinkling the Takoyaki with Aonori (green dried seaweed) and Katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes).