Do you know okonomiyaki? If you could answer the question, your knowledge of Japan is so good. I heard that foreign people know sushi, ramen, and soba noodles. But okonomiyaki is not. So I think the people that know okonomiyaki well are good at Japanese culture.
But if you can talk about 15 okonomiyaki's ingredients, I guess many Japanese people will be surprise.
Now in this article, I will introduce okonomiyaki's standard ingredients and a little one. Perhaps you may surprise the ingredients, even if you like Japanese culture. Enjoy!
Then Osaka style and Hiroshima style are a little bit different. And the difference is how to make it. Osaka style is mixing ingredients and cooking, but Hiroshima style is cooking separately and pile up them.
So, the okonomiyaki means the dish that you can cook mixed ingredients as you like, I guess.
For example, In Osaka styled okonomiyaki is firstly mixing flour, water, and cabbage, etc.
The ingredients is byproduct of tempura.
Cooking with instant ramen is different to add boiled Cheese noodles. Adding crushed instant ramen, mouthfeel of okonomiyaki would be a little crunchy.
However, it might not be usual in Osaka. Because usually Osaka people don't like natto.
Maybe you have had a little surprising or interesting. But I think the all knowledge of okonomiyaki I introduced, should be a bit of okonomiyaki culture. So you can explore Japanese okonomiyaki culture. Enjoy the exploring.
But if you can talk about 15 okonomiyaki's ingredients, I guess many Japanese people will be surprise.
Now in this article, I will introduce okonomiyaki's standard ingredients and a little one. Perhaps you may surprise the ingredients, even if you like Japanese culture. Enjoy!
1．About okonomiyaki
First of all, I will introduce about basic knowledge of okonomiyaki.1-1．What is okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki is Japanese popular dish. It is a kind of dish of flour. Basically mixing flour and water, and put ingredients into it. Then it is cooked on frying pan.1-2．The famous city of okonomiyaki
Usually the famous cities of okonomiyaki are Osaka and Hiroshima. They have another original okonomiyaki.Then Osaka style and Hiroshima style are a little bit different. And the difference is how to make it. Osaka style is mixing ingredients and cooking, but Hiroshima style is cooking separately and pile up them.
1-3．What means the words okonomiyaki
The world of okonomiyaki is originally two words were added "okonomi” and "yaki”. "Okonomi” means "as you like” and "yaki” means grilled.So, the okonomiyaki means the dish that you can cook mixed ingredients as you like, I guess.
2．Standard ingredients of okonomiyaki
So the okonomiyaki is OK to cook as you like. But there are typical ingredients of okonomiyaki. Now I introduce the ingredients in usual.2-1． Sliced meat
Sliced meat are used at putting on the ingredients, and grilled. Usually sliced pork or sliced beef is used. And chicken is not used as the ingredients in usual.
2-2．Cabbage
Cabbage is one of the most used ingredients. Perhaps the okonomiyaki doesn't contain cabbage is not existing, I guess.For example, In Osaka styled okonomiyaki is firstly mixing flour, water, and cabbage, etc.
2-3．Age-dama (tempura bits)
Age-dama, tempura bits is fried crunch flour. In dictionary it is explained "bits of fried batter left after cooking tempura”.The ingredients is byproduct of tempura.
2-4．Yamaimo (yam)
Yamaimo, yam is used when mixing flour and water. Mixing yam, the okonomiyaki would be softly. Usually yam is used , when cooking. It should be used in grated.
2-5．Egg
Egg is almost used when flour mix and water. By using egg, okonomiyaki would be more tasty. And it would be better, in nutrition.
2-6．Sea food
Sea food is also used as common ingredients. Usually shrimps, and chopped squids and striped clams are used.
3．A little strange ingredients
Now you know okonomiyaki can be contained ingredients that you like. So sometimes, okonomiyaki contains a little strange ingredients. So I will introduce a little one.3-1．Cheese
Cheese is sometimes added as okonomiyaki ingredients. You know when it grilled, the cheese in the okonomiyaki should be melted. And melting cheese adds a little different taste with okonomiyaki.
3-2．Mochi (rice cake)
Mochi, rice cake sometimes is contained. Usually moci is used in chopped or sliced. Mochi should be stretchy. Then adding mochi, okonomiyaki would be added another mouthfeel.
3-3．Chinese noodles
Sometimes okonomiyaki would be added Chinese noodles that are boiled. I think they would be piled up after grilling separately.
3-4．Kimuchi
Kimuchi is very spicy food, you know. So adding kimuchi to okonomiyaki, it should be spicy. If you like spicy food, Adding kimuchi is recommended.
3-5．Corn
In Japanese dish, corn is added constantly. Then okonomiyaki also contains corn.
3-6．Potato
Sometimes potato is added as ingredients. Adding potato to okonomiyaki, the potato would be sliced.
4．Strange ingredients
There are some ingredients if you would see surprising. I will introduce them in this section.4-1．Instant ramen
Adding instant ramen might be rare case. It is added by being crushed. It should be not boiled.Cooking with instant ramen is different to add boiled Cheese noodles. Adding crushed instant ramen, mouthfeel of okonomiyaki would be a little crunchy.
4-2．Potato chips
I think that potato chips can add potato flavor and a bit crunchy. It would be different mouthfeel to sliced potato.
4-3．Mentaiko (Spicy cod roe)
Mentaiko, spicy cod roe in hot ingredients. so adding it, okonomiyaki also spicy. But adding mentaiko is not spicy, it adds popping texture.
4-4．Tsukemono
Tsukemono has original flavor. So containing tsukemono should add its flavor.
4-5．Natto
Natto has sticky and onigiri flavor. So adding natto might add the its mouthfeel.However, it might not be usual in Osaka. Because usually Osaka people don't like natto.
4-6．Curry
Curry is spicy and onigiri flavor. Then putting into okonomiyaki, the okonomiyaki also should have curry's spicy taste and flavor.
5．Making okonomiyaki
Here is image of cooking okonomiyaki.Maybe you have had a little surprising or interesting. But I think the all knowledge of okonomiyaki I introduced, should be a bit of okonomiyaki culture. So you can explore Japanese okonomiyaki culture. Enjoy the exploring.
