Okonomiyaki with Prawns & Bacon

Okonomiyaki is a classic Japanese street food recognized by Westerners as pancake/omelette and sometimes referred to as Japanese Pizza. This dish is a freestyle of ingredients and there is no limit as long as you follow a few basic rules:

• Prepare the batter of the right consistency, not too wet and not too dry.

• Rest the batter for at least 30 minutes.

• Use ingredients that will not overpower the dish with one flavour.

• Use protein that does not require a long time to cook (Pancake is quite thick, prawns and bacon is a good start)

Okonomiyaki brings a unique combination of flavours and textures and can be prepared in no time at home on your frying pan. In the end, you will be rewarded with dancing Katsuobushi. This is of my favourites Japanese dishes! Enjoy the cooking and let me know how you liked it!

Okonomiyaki with Prawns & Bacon

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Ingredients for 2 Okonomyiaki:

• 100g (3.52oz) of plain flour

• 1/2tsp baking powder

• 1 large egg

• 1 medium potato (150g (5.3oz)) grated

• 90ml (0.095quarts) of flavourful stock (leftover Ramen, Dashi, Vegetable or meat stock)

• 1/2tsp black pepper

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• 1/4 of a sweetheart cabbage shredded (I found this one to work the best as it doesn't require long cooking and it is delicious) Use 1/2 if very small.

• 1 spring onion finely sliced (substitute with wild garlic in season)

• 1 small shallot, finely sliced

• 3 garlic cloves grated

• 10g (0.35oz) of fresh ginger grated

• 225g raw prawns, cut into 4

• 3 rashes of streaky unsmoked bacon cut in half

• 2tbsp of oil for frying

Ingredients for Tonkatsu sauce:

• 3tbsp ketchup

• 1tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1tsp sweet soy sauce

• 1tsp sweet chilli sauce

• 1/2tsp hot sauce

• dash of mirin

Toppings:

• Japanese Mayonaise (Polish Mayonaise Kielecki tastes alike)

• Katsuobushi (Dried Bonito Flakes) you can purchase here

Instructions:

1. For the batter whisk plain flour with baking powder, stock and egg until no lumps are present then add grated potato and black pepper. Rest covered for at least 30min-1 hour.

3. While waiting for the batter, prepare other ingredients for Okonomiyaki and make Tonkatsu sauce by mixing all the ingredients together.

4. When the batter is rested add, shredded cabbage, grated ginger, onions, garlic, prawns and mix everything together.

5. Heat the frying pan to medium heat with 1tbsp of oil. Place half of the Okonomiyaki mix on the pan and shape it round, flatten slightly and place half of the bacon on the top. Allow to slowly cook for 3-4 minutes or until the bottom is golden brown then flip upside down, flatten again by pressing slightly harder than before and cook for another 3-4 minutes.

6. When ready, remove from the pan and garnish with tonkatsu sauce, mayo, katsuobushi, repeat with the rest of the batter.

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Check out equipment useful for this recipe:

• Non-stick frying pan