Brunch Special – Okonomiyaki, Japanese Pancake

The Asian Street Food that I Miss So Much – Okonomiyaki 

Okonomiyaki is a savory version of Japanese pancake, made with flour, eggs, shredded cabbage. You can add any kind of meat/ protein like beef, pork belly, or octopus. It is very popular street food in Asia, and I miss it so much since I moved to Boston. Recently I found that Okonomiyaki could be a perfect brunch dish as well – just like buttermilk pancakes (who doesn’t like more pancakes??).

Hey so How about making Okonomiyaki for a Sunday brunch? I made one large okonomiyaki that serves 2 humans but you can always make a smaller one if you want to serve the okonomiyaki as an appetizer.

What You Need to Cook Okonomiyaki

Ingredients

How to Cook Okonomiyaki

Step 1:

Use a sharp knife to cut the cabbage into thin slices. You can add some scallion as well and put the cabbage and scallion in a big bowl.

Step 2:

In a separate bowl, crack 2 eggs, 2 cups of all-purpose flour in, add 1 cup of whole milk, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Whisk and mix them until fully combine – no lumps left (if there are still lumps, add more cold water or milk). I have seen other recipes using 1 cup of flour and cold water, but I like my mixture to be thicker and creamier so I put more flour and milk. But as you know, you can always try other ways, the key is – no lumps!!

Step 3:

Combine  the cabbages and scallion with the mixture, stir together

Step 4:

Slice the scallions that we will use as toppings

Step 5:

Yes! we start cooking!!

Turn to medium heat and split the oil in the pan when it is hot.

Put 3-5 slices of Bulgogi in the pan, the bulgogi will help you hold the pancake together also add some crunchy texture.

Step 6:

Pour in the mixture and flatten out the tops into an even round pancake. Turn the heat down to medium-low. Let your big pancake to steam for about 10 mins.

Step 7:

Here comes the little challenge part. After 10 minutes, lift up the pancake from the edge and flip it. if it is too hard to flip the whole pancake, don’t worry, cut the big pancake in half and then flip it. You can also prepare another preheated pan, and just flip it to the new pan. Cook 1-2 more minutes, your Okonomiyaki is almost ready!

Step 8:

Put the bonito flakes and scallion on top then transfer( I didn’t, because I am LAZY) the okonomiyaki to a plate. Put okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise on top.

Let me know how your cooking goes!! Enjoy the okonomiyaki with a Matcha Latte or boba milk tea, that’s a perfect brunch for sure!