I think okonomiyaki is a famous Japanese menu in the world. Actually, we can see a lot of information about Japanese menu on the Internet. And sometimes we can find information on okonomiyaki.
By the way, there are many types of okonomiyaki. For example, there are pork, beef, or seafood, etc.
But do you know "Modanyaki”?
It is a kind of okonomiyaki. But I think it is difficult to imagine modanyaki by the name.
So in this article, I will introduce modanyaki. I want you to have a knowledge of okonomiyaki, and enjoy it.
1．Okonomiyaki development
Okonomiyaki is a menu of common people. And it might be a cheap menu. Perhaps, poor people developed okonomiyaki after World war 2.
By the way, there were many hungry people after the war. Then they couldn't have enough food that they can satisfy.
At that time, people had a good idea of the food. They baked mixture flour and water. And they added sliced cabbage.
Nowadays, the menu had developed as okonomiyaki. Then it can be added ingredients freely as you like.
2．Started Modanyaki
First, modanyaki had cooked in Kobe's okonomiyaki restaurant. The first modanyaki was added udon noodles. It can be tasted of crispy baked udon noodles and chewy texture of flour parts.
And the menu had been famous in Western areas. Then, many restaurants started the modanyaki.
3．Adding Chinese noodles to okonomiyaki
First modanyaki was adding udon noodles.
By the way, the modanyaki was spread to various areas. And some restaurants had added Chinese noodles. You know baked Chinese noodles are crispy. Then, Chinese noodles typed modanyaki became famous.
Now there are some types of Chinese noodles. Straight noodles, curly noodles, and depending on the thickness. You can choose any noodles. But I think a little thick is better. Because with thin noodles, it might be so soft, while okonomiyaki would be baking.
4．Udon noodles are also OK
Nowadays, Chinese noodles styled modanyaki is very popular. So udon noodles typed modanyaki might be strange. But Udon noodles are also delicious.
5．Combination of staple food
Perhaps some people might notice that Chinese noodles are staple food. On the other hand, okonomiyaki is a staple food, too. Because it contains flour. It should be a strange menu.
But, In Japanese menu, the combination of staple foods is not strange. There is another combination menu. For example, there is yakisoba-pan(yakisoba-bread) that is yakisoba and bread.
6．A little strange modanyaki
Basically, modanyaki is one kind of okonomiyaki. So you can add your favorite ingredients. But there are some recommendations that I have. Then I will introduce my recommendations.
6-1．Mochi (rice cake)
First of all, I want to introduce ingredients that I recommend.
Usually, modanyaki is added Chinese noodles or udon noodles. But, some recipes introduce adding mochi (rice cake).
I think it is a good idea to enjoy having mochi. And you know mochi has felt. So having mochi styled modanyaki will satisfy you.
6-2．Rice
Next, you know rice is Japanese staple food. On the other hand, Chinese noodles are a staple food, too. And there is a rice modanyaki that is added to the rice.
By the way, rice modanyaki is not mixed rice with okonomiyaki. The rice should be put on the okonomiyaki when it is cooked.
6-3． Instant noodle
Instant noodles is a packaged ramen. It should be cooked by boiling.
And by using instant noodles, you can cook modanyaki.
Actually, you should boil the instant noodles, before putting on the cooking okonomiyaki. If you put the instant noodles without boiling, the modanyaki will be hard. Then you should boil it.
7．About topping
Basically it is free to put on the topping. you can put on the ingredients as you like. Perhaps, cheese or kimchi are OK. And you can find the topping that you can enjoy.
By the way, foreign people know about foods Japanese people don't know. Then if you find the original topping, you can find very nice modanyaki that Japanese people don't know about.
Anyway, you can enjoy okonomiyaki with your idea. So, you can make original modanyaki. Then with cooking modanyaki, you would make original food culture.Can you imagine your original modanyaki? Let's think about modanyaki, and cook it!
