Okonomiyaki

INGREDIENTS:

Home-made shrimp dashi: (can use hondashi to replace)

• 2 pieces Dried kelp

• Shrimp heads and shrimp shells

• Handful of bonito flakes

• 3 cups of water
  

For Okonomiyaki Batter:

• 1 cup (152g) all purpose flour (or any flour will work)

• Pinch of salt

• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

• 4 eggs

• 1/2 cup (120ml) dashi

• 1/4 large head cabbage shredded

• 2 tablespoons red pickled ginger chopped (beni shoga)

• 4-5 shrimps, poached and cut into small bite sized pieces

• 3-4 green onions stems, chopped
  

For Toppings:

• Bonito Flakes

• Thin sliced green onion (green part)

• Thinly sliced roasted seaweed strips (can use the Korean snacks one)

• Kewpie mayo

• Okonomiyaki sauce

INSTRUCTIONS:

Shrimp Dashi:

1. Put kelp, shrimp heads, and shrimp shells in cold water and bring to a boil.

2. Use a ladle to crush the shrimp heads and make sure you get all the tomalley into the dashi.

3. Poach your peeled and de-veined shrimps and take them out.

4. Turn off the heat and add in the bonito flakes to incorporate fully in the dashi.

5. Strain everything out and keep the liquid.

6. Put into a sealed mason jar and keep in the fridge, can use it for up to 2 weeks. (use this to replace water in any dish)

Batter:

1. Mix flour, baking powder, salt, whole eggs and dashi.

2. Season your green cabbage with salt, and squeeze the water out of it.

3. Cut shrimp into bite sizes.

4. Toss cabbage, shrimp, pickled ginger, and green onion whites in batter.

5. To cook the pancake, start a nonstick pan on medium heat.

6. Add thin strips of pork belly, or bacon (no oil needed since the pork will render enough fat to cook everything)

7. Add all your package mixture on top.

8. Flip pancake when the bottom side is somewhat solid and brush with sauce.

9. Flip pancake again and brush the other side with sauce.

10. Pancake cooks relatively fast, as long as everything is moving in the pan in one piece, they are all cooked through. I cooked the pork belly / bacon side for longer because I like the char on pork.

Plating:

Once the pancake is done, brush on more sauce, add a grid of kewpie mayo, sliced green onions, more bonito flakes and strips of nori.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the food.

INGREDIENT LINKS: Bonito flakes: https://amzn.to/3LHraa9 Kewpie mayo: https://amzn.to/3u9GEhp Okonomiyaki sauce: https://amzn.to/3j5suHz Roasted seaweed: https://amzn.to/3DDYqfH