Okonomiyaki Aka Japanese Pizza Food

OKONOMIYAKI

Steps:

• Gather all the ingredients.

OKONOMIYAKI - JAPANESE PIZZA

Steps:

• Toast the nori by waving it over a flame until it stiffens slightly, but be careful--it burns easily. Crumble into little pieces and set aside.
• Combine all the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
• Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.
• Beat the eggs in a large bowl.
• Add the flour and water and continue beating until you have a batter the consistency of pancake batter.
• Add the sake and salt.
• Fold in the cabbage, carrots, and scallions. Be sure to mix the batter and vegetables together evenly. Each okonomiyaki will use 1/4 of this mixture.
• Heat 1 tbsp. of the oil in a standard 10-inch skillet. Spoon 1/4 of the batter onto the hot skillet (like a pancake) making sure the vegetables are evenly distributed.
• Then sprinkle 1/4 of the shrimp or meat of you choice on top.
• Cook each side on medium heat for 2 minutes, until lightly browned. Reduce the heat to low and cook, covered, for another 5 minutes, occasionally turning and gently pressing the okonomiyaki with a spatula.
• Prepare three more okonomiyaki as above. Keep the finished pancakes warm in a low oven while making the rest, or use two skillets and make two okonomiyaki at a time.
• Serve hot with the sauce to taste--I recommend 1 tbsp. per okonomiyaki-- and top with about a tsp. of mayonnaise and a sprinkling of toasted nori.

OKONOMIYAKI (JAPANESE PIZZA)

Steps:

• Mix together Flour, Water, and Mashed Potatoes and then lastly add the Cabbage. (I know people don't usually have mashed potatoes hanging about but if you don't have time to make them before hand, try another egg replacer to see what happens?).
• Heat a skillet on medium, adding a little bit of oil. Cut up the Sandwich "Meat" and/or mushrooms and fry them slightly ( if you fry the veggie ham for too long they will become too crunchy). Right over the ham/mushroom pieces, pour in one third of the mix and spread it around in the frying pan so that it becomes a "pancake" shape (Conversely, you can mix the "ham" into the mix above and skip this step).
• Cook for 5 mins (I usually cover it with a pan lid).
• Flip. Cook for 5 more minutes.
• Repeat steps 2 to 4 for the last two pancakes.
• Mix together equal parts of mayonnaise and BBQ sauce for the sauce to spread on the "pizza".
• If you're vegan, you're on your own for finding/making vegan mayo and bbq sauce, but I know it's doable!
• Note for Eggless option you MUST use Vegan mayo. Mayo has eggs unless stated as Vegan.

OKONOMIYAKI

Steps:

• Crack the egg into a large bowl and tip in the flour, bouillon powder and 100ml water. Mix well. Stir in the shredded cabbage and season well.
• Heat the oil in a small, deep frying pan or skillet (ours was around 19cm) over a medium heat and fry the pork belly slices for 4-5 mins until golden and the fat has rendered. Pour the cabbage mixture over, stir everything together and fry for 5 mins until dark brown underneath and semi-cooked. Flip and cook for 5 mins more.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce by whisking all the ingredients. Season lightly.
• When the okonomiyaki is cooked, transfer to a serving plate and top with the sauce, mayo, green nori, spring onions and katsuobushi, if using.