SaveOkonomiyaki (Japanese cabbage pancakes)
Savory Japanese street food pancakes packed with shredded cabbage and scallions, crisped with bacon and finished with a tangy homemade okonomi sauce and a zigzag of mayo. We cook two at once in a big skillet, so the whole thing is on the table in under 20 minutes.
- Prep
- 7 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Serves
- 2
- Per serve
- 550 kcal
Method
Amounts in the steps are for the original 2 servings. Use the ingredient list for your amounts.
Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Add the eggs, water and 1 teaspoon soy sauce and whisk into a smooth, loose batter. Fold in the cabbage and scallions until every shred is coated.
Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spoon the batter into two rounds about 6 inches wide and ¾ inch thick, pressing them gently into shape. Lay 4 bacon halves on top of each pancake.
Cook without moving them until the bottoms are deep golden brown, about 5 minutes. While they cook, stir the ketchup, Worcestershire, remaining 1 teaspoon soy sauce and sugar together for the okonomi sauce.
Flip the pancakes with a wide spatula so the bacon side is down. Cover the pan and cook until the bacon is crisp and the centers spring back when pressed, about 5 minutes.
Flip once more so the bacon is on top and cook 1 minute to crisp the bottom. Slide onto plates, brush with the okonomi sauce, zigzag the mayonnaise over the top and finish with the saved scallions and bonito flakes, if using.
Tips
- Shred the cabbage as finely as you can. Thin shreds cook through in the time given and hold the pancake together; thick chunks stay raw and make it fall apart.
- Okonomiyaki means "grilled as you like it," so swap the bacon for thin-sliced pork belly, cooked shrimp or extra scallions, or leave it off entirely.
- Bottled okonomiyaki sauce and aonori (seaweed flakes) are sold in Asian grocery stores if you want the full street food stall finish.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 550
- Protein
- 20 g
- Carbs
- 54 g
- Fat
- 29 g
- Saturated fat
- 6 g
- Fiber
- 6 g
- Sugar
- 12 g
- Sodium
- 1,360 mg
Estimated from USDA data for 1 of 2 servings. Doesn't include salt to taste or anything listed “to serve”.
Made it? Rate it
Tap a star to rate this recipe.
Gear that helps
- Nonstick griddle Cooks a whole batch of pancakes at once.
- Balloon whisk Smooth sauces and lump-free batters.
- Silicone spatula set Folds, scrapes and stirs without scratching pans.
- Digital kitchen scale Weighing beats cups for reliable baking.
As an Amazon Associate, Flash Recipe earns from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra.
