Toddler Treat: Okonomiyaki

 Toddler Treat: Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese-style pancake and is very popular with kids. There are restaurants all over Japan that specialize in making Okonomiyaki. These places have special tables with a griddle built into them.  Families are seated around the griddle, they cook their Okonomiyaki and eat them.  We chose to make this dish with cabbage, green onion and shrimp, but you can use almost any shredded vegetable and chopped meat combination.    

Okonomiyaki Pancakes:

• ¼ cup Flour
• 1 tsp. Baking powder
• 1 Egg
• 3 Tbsp. Water
• ¾ cup Nappa cabbage, shredded
• 5 Cooked shrimp, chopped or ¼ cup cooked chicken, chopped
• 2 Green onions (green parts only), chopped

Okonomiyaki Sauce:

• 3 Tbsp. Ketchup
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. Soy sauce

Directions: Combine flour and baking powder in a medium size mixing bowl. Gently mix in the water and egg. Next, add the cabbage, shrimp and green onions and mix them together thoroughly.

 

Heat a skillet over medium heat and lightly oil. Spoon the okonomiyaki mixture in to the skillet to make 2 pancakes (about 4-inches wide).

Cook about 4-5 minutes and turn it over with a spatula and cook an additional 4 minutes. Both sides should be a light golden brown and the pancake will be firm in the center.

Serve on a plate and spread the sauce over the okonomiyaki. 

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Introduction to Japanese Food

Introduction to Japanese Food

  

The people of Japan enjoy a long, healthy life.  So much so, that according to research, Japan has the longest lifespan of any country in the world.  The Japanese diet has been shown to play a big role in this long, healthy life. 

There is a lot more to Japanese cooking than sushi.  Many Japanese dishes are noted for having an umami (say it oo-MA-mee) flavor. Umami is a savory taste with meaty flavors.  Shitake mushrooms and soy sauce provide umami taste and are common ingredients in Japanese dishes.

Japan is an island surrounded by ocean waters that provide a steady supply of seafood.  For this reason, fish and sea plants are plentiful in the Japanese diet.  Japanese people do eat chicken and red meat too. 

Along with fish, common foods in Japanese meals include: 

• Brown and White Rice
• Soba and Udon Noodles
• Vegetables
• Mushrooms
• Soy Beans - edamame and Tofu
• Nori (Dried seaweed sheets used for wrapping sushi)
• Fruits

Herbs and Spices in Japanese Cooking:

Japanese dishes are enhanced using pickled and fresh ginger, soy sauce, wasabi paste, miso, rice vinegar, mirin (rice wine), chili oil and mustard.  Dashi, a soup stock made from shitake mushrooms or edible sea kelp, gives many dishes a distinctive flavor.  Dashi powder is often available in the Asian section of your grocery store.

If you are lucky to have Japanese Market in your area, stop in for a visit. Japanese products have colorful packaging and interesting shapes. All imported food products must have English ingredients label.  So while you may not be able to read the front of the package, the ingredients (and often cooking instructions) will help you discover what's inside.  

  

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