Okonomiyaki is a savory Japanese pancake made with a batter of flour, shredded cabbage, meat, seafood, and other ingredients, cooked on a griddle. It is a popular soul food in Japan and comes in various regional styles, with Hiroshima-style and Kansai-style being the most well-known. Once cooked, it is topped with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, dried seaweed, and bonito flakes. Popular additions include cheese and mochi.

Ingredients (for 2 servings)

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 head cabbage, shredded
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup water
• 200g chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 200g pork belly, cut into bite-sized pieces
• Akatsuki (dried shrimp tempura flakes), as needed
• Beni shoga (pickled red ginger), as needed
• Aonori (dried seaweed), as needed
• Okonomiyaki sauce, as needed
• Mayonnaise, as needed
• Vegetable oil, as needed
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (optional)

Instructions

1. Shred the cabbage. Cut the chicken and pork belly into bite-sized pieces.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, water, and eggs. Add baking powder for a fluffier batter.
3. Stir in the cabbage, chicken, pork belly, and akatsuki.
4. Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Pour in the batter and spread it into a circle.
5. Cook until golden brown on both sides.
6. Top with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, beni shoga, and aonori, and serve immediately.

Tips

• Squeeze out excess moisture from the cabbage to prevent the batter from becoming soggy.
• Avoid overmixing the batter.
• You can substitute other meats, such as bacon or sausage, for the pork belly.
• Feel free to customize the toppings with your favorite ingredients.

Health and beauty benefits

By consuming okonomiyaki, you can obtain a well-balanced intake of various nutrients. The combination of diverse ingredients like flour, eggs, cabbage, meat, and seafood allows for efficient absorption of essential nutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Furthermore, okonomiyaki is also rich in dietary fiber. The dietary fiber found in ingredients like cabbage helps regulate the intestinal environment, promoting constipation relief and potentially lowering cholesterol levels.