Some twelve years ago when I first moved to Melbourne, Daimaru was one of the biggest Japanese Chain right in the CBD. To be specific, it used to occupy the majority of Melbourne Central. Why did I bring a shopping centre into this picture? Well, anyone still remembers the Okonomiyaki they used to serve at their food section? That has to be one of my tastiest memories when it comes to Japanese food. You see, growing up in Bintulu, my knowledge of Japanese food was limited to sushi, and expensive seafood. There wasn’t even one Japanese restaurant back home (there are a couple now, I believe), so when my friend brought me to try this Okonomiyaki during my first couple of months of settling in Melbourne, it was a revelation. To be honest I have already forgotten what made their version so good, but I’m sure a few Melbournians are still nodding your heads right now… right? By the way, Daimaru closed down the same year I moved to Melbourne, so I had to resort to other places, but never had one as good as theirs.
Literally, Okonomiyaki means “Grilled what you like”, it’s almost like a Japanese version of Pizza (although the consistency is probably more like pancake), where you can choose a variety of toppings. Cabbage is usually the main ingredient and I have seen Bacon being used in most recipes. Although the ones I used to buy in food courts in Melbourne are largely meat free.
Okonomiyaki, the way I like it.
Since we kicked off the Asian Food Fest (organised by Wendy again following the very successful Malaysian Food Fest) with Japan, I thought I would share this recipe with you. I have kept it really simple and used special Okonomiyaki flour which you can now buy in most supermarket (so I don’t have to get everything else separately and end up not using them). To me, Okonomiyaki means convenience, so I allow myself to ‘cheat’ a bit here.
Basic Okonomiyaki
50g Okonomiyaki Flour (if not using special flour, use all purpose flour with some dashi powder, bonito flakes, tempura bits)
1/3 cup of Water (or Dashi stock)
1 Egg
Cabbage, around 150g, cut into small strips
3 stalks Spring Onions, finely chopped
3 strips of Bacon
Handful of Bonito Flakes
Okonomi sauce, to taste (easily found at the Jap food section of your supermarket)
Kewpie Mayonnaise, to taste
Optional: Prawns, Chinese Sausages, Benishoga (Pickled Ginger)
Whisk, whisk away! You can see this flour has some bits of tempura as well as bonito flakes already.
In a large bowl, whisk together Okonomiyaki Flour and Water until smooth
Add Eggs, Cabbage, Spring Onions and mix, but don’t over mix.
Ready to go!
Heat a bit of oil in the large skillet and add Okonomiyaki mixture.
Here we go!
Using a spatula to flatten and form pancakes until around 1.5cm (3/4″) thick. Add Bacon pieces to cover top of each pancake.
Not perfectly round, nevermind, the sauces will cover it.
After about 3 minutes, flip over pancake (bacon side down) and cook for 4 minutes. You might want to flip to do the other side if it’s not fully browned.
Forgot to take a photo before I flip. So here’s a second flip. Haha!
Remove to plate and drizzle with Kewpie mayonnaise, okonomi sauce and sprinkle with more Boniko flakes.
Serve hot!
It’s not the most elegant dish, but I suppose it’s more of a comfort food. At least for me.
Want some?
I love the complexity of the flavours despite using very few ingredients. Fun textural contrast between the pancake, slightly crunchy cabbage and crispy bacon. I did have to split this into 2 portions though (still recovering from my illness so appetite is not quite there yet). I might try a salmon version next time, or mentaiko. Yum.
What is your favourite Okonomiyaki topping? Do you have a favourite Japanese dish?
Not sure if Singapore has/had Daimaru (I only know Takashimaya), but seems that the stores are all in Japan now. Hehehe yeah piggy because I am a piggy!
drools… I love okonomiyaki… always wanted to make this but I just cannot read the darn label on those ready packed okonomiyaki batter mix. So gonna try this soon…
Maybe you can give it a try! Usually people would put prawns or octopus in it too (don’t really like seafood that much and bacon is already sinful enough for me). I got the piggy whisk from Melbourne. 😛 It’s a shop called house.
Thanks for the recipe Kelly! I’ll love to try making this on my own, but to be honest I don’t really like Kewpie mayo (the vinegar they use doesn’t agree with my taste buds) but a lot of people love it.
I used to hang out at Melbourne Central too, this was before Fed Square was completed. It’s usually my first stop since there was zoning at that time (Clayton is Zone 2 and Huntingdale Zone 1 (which is just a quick 5 minute drive away, so that’s where I’ll park and take the train to central).
There are a few good homemade kewpie mayo recipes out there, you could play around with it and substitute the rice wine vinegar for lemon juice or something.
My place was right at the cross over of zone 1 and zone 2 as well (Bentleigh), but I always drove to work since I worked in the opposite direction (either Dandenong or Clayton) ie against the traffic, so no problem la.
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I love your pig whisk! The dish look very yum 🙂
Thank you! I have a special fondness to cute piggies since I was born in the year of boar.
Oh, I get it! I was year of the snake, but I’m not too keen on them … no snake utensils for me 😉
Hahahaha that would be a little odd wouldn’t it?
Daimaru? Sounds familiar. Did they have that in Singapore? This looks good!!! Ya…your whisk is so cute!!!
Not sure if Singapore has/had Daimaru (I only know Takashimaya), but seems that the stores are all in Japan now. Hehehe yeah piggy because I am a piggy!
drools… I love okonomiyaki… always wanted to make this but I just cannot read the darn label on those ready packed okonomiyaki batter mix. So gonna try this soon…
oh ya.. the whisk is super cute!!! Daiso?
Oh, usually they will slap on an English label for ingredients, but not instructions.
I got the piggy whisk from Melbourne. It’s a shop called house.
Kelly, I haven’t tried okonomiyaki yet but it sure looks delish especially with bacon 🙂 Gee, that piggy which is so cute! Where did you get it?
Maybe you can give it a try! Usually people would put prawns or octopus in it too (don’t really like seafood that much and bacon is already sinful enough for me). I got the piggy whisk from Melbourne. 😛 It’s a shop called house.
Thanks for the recipe Kelly! I’ll love to try making this on my own, but to be honest I don’t really like Kewpie mayo (the vinegar they use doesn’t agree with my taste buds) but a lot of people love it.
I used to hang out at Melbourne Central too, this was before Fed Square was completed. It’s usually my first stop since there was zoning at that time (Clayton is Zone 2 and Huntingdale Zone 1 (which is just a quick 5 minute drive away, so that’s where I’ll park and take the train to central).
There are a few good homemade kewpie mayo recipes out there, you could play around with it and substitute the rice wine vinegar for lemon juice or something.
My place was right at the cross over of zone 1 and zone 2 as well (Bentleigh), but I always drove to work since I worked in the opposite direction (either Dandenong or Clayton) ie against the traffic, so no problem la.
There is a place in Franklin, Tennessee known as Dental Bliss, and
this place is like no other dentist office you may have visited
before. In days gone by, dental crowns or bridges were considered the
obvious choice for replacing lost or irrevocably damaged teeth.
It’ll only keep the mouth healthy when the brush reaches good condition along with the bristles is strong.
It takes about seven seconds to create a measurement.
This top security program offers some support for decryption against many common protocols.
Already it’s being used by mining companies to sue governments attempting to keep them from
protected areas; by banks fighting financial regulation; by wway of a
nuclear company contesting Germany’s decision to modify
off atomic power.
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I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was wondering what all
is needed to get set up? I’m assuming having a
blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very
web savvy so I’m not 100% positive. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
We need to see companies moving into territory that laptop makers like HP and Dell currently occupy;
tablets and phones priced and spec-ed for a very different kind of audience.
Also, Android comes in many shapes and sizes meaning that there are a lot of options
for consumers, but different screen sizes, different resolutions, and varying capabilities make development challenging.
Is it just an touchscreen tablet or is it world domination.
Does your website have a contact page? I’m having problems locating it
but, I’d like to shoot you an e-mail. I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
Either way, great site and I look forward to seeing it
grow over time.
Today, I went to the beachfront with my children. I
found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed.
There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is
completely off topic but I had to tell someone!
It’s really a great and useful piece of info.
I am glad that you simply shared this helpful
info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks
for sharing.
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Okonomiyaki | Kelly Siew Cooks. I was moved enough to post a thought 😉 I do
have 2 questions for you if you tend not to mind.
Could it be simply me or does it seem like a few of the responses look like they are coming from brain dead visitors?
😛 And, if you are posting at other online social sites, I’d like to keep
up with anything new you have to post. Would you
make a list all of all your communal pages like your linkedin profile, Facebook
page or twitter feed?
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Also, I’ve shared your website in my social networks
First of all I would like to say terrific
blog! I had a quick question that I’d like to ask if you do not
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your mind prior to writing. I’ve had difficulty clearing my mind in getting my thoughts
out. I truly do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or tips?
Thank you!
Hmm it looks like your site ate my first comment (it was
super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had
written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to the whole thing.
Do you have any tips for inexperienced blog writers? I’d really appreciate
it.
We always discover a two-room suite to be in that offers a sleeper sofa and 2
separate TVs. Without a strap, in case you tip the sofa at a time to move it, cargo
area frame is more likely to open up on you within the worst
of places. Sofa sleeper manufacturers often usually focus more about the making of a Quality Sofa;
the bed is basically an afterthought.
There are space age technologies also useful for sofa mattress designs which includes the memory foam.
The truth is, not simply you may get a sectional sleeper sofa or loveseats,
and also some new concepts for example sectionals acquiring a constructed-in chaise seat.
each time i used to read smaller articles which also clear
their motive, and that is also happening with this paragraph which I
am reading at this place.
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