1First, prepare the batter. Combine half of the water and half of the flour in a large bowl, mixing thoroughly to prevent lumps.
2Gradually add the remaining flour in about three portions while mixing until well combined.
3Add 1 teaspoon of soy sauce, 1g of dashi powder, and a pinch of salt to the batter and mix well.
4Prepare 1/4 of a cabbage (about 250g). Finely chop the hard core of the cabbage.
5Cut the leafy part of the cabbage vertically into strips about 1cm wide, then cut horizontally into roughly the same width to create coarse chop.
6Prepare 200g of thinly sliced pork, such as pork belly or pork loin, and cut it into about 10 to 15cm lengths.
7Arrange 100g of the pork slices one by one in a circular shape in a large frying pan, forming the base of the okonomiyaki.
8Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the pork and cook it slowly over low heat until crispy.
9Put half the amount of cabbage into the bowl with the batter, then add two ladles of the batter.
10Add one egg and slowly mix everything together gently with chopsticks, lifting from the bottom to avoid overmixing.
11Once the pork is cooked to a crispy point, give the batter a little mix and gently pour it over the pork in the frying pan.
12Spread the batter out evenly in thickness using a spatula, gathering it toward the center.
13Cook the okonomiyaki without a lid for about 8 minutes over low heat to achieve a fluffy texture.
14After 8 minutes, pour half a ladle of batter gently over the top to keep the cabbage from falling apart.
15Using two spatulas, carefully flip the okonomiyaki over.
16Cook the other side for an additional 8 minutes until crispy, allowing the pork to act as a lid to steam the cabbage.
17Generously drizzle okonomiyaki sauce over the cooked okonomiyaki.
18Drizzle mayonnaise in a zigzag pattern from the edge and use chopsticks to create a Japanese-style design.
19Recommend topping with bonito flakes, aonori (seaweed), and pickled ginger.
20Slowly slide the okonomiyaki from the frying pan onto a plate and serve.
Ingredients
50 g all-purpose flour
150 ml water
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 g dashi powder
1 pinch salt
250 g cabbage
200 g thinly sliced pork
1 egg
okonomiyaki sauce
mayonnaise
bonito flakes
aonori
pickled ginger
Equipment
large bowlfrying panspatulachopsticks
Tips
To prevent lumps in the batter, mix half of the flour and water thoroughly at the beginning, then gradually add the remaining flour in about three portions.
Cook the pork slowly over low heat until crispy to render fat and enhance flavor.
To achieve a fluffy okonomiyaki, do not cover it with a lid or press down with the spatula while cooking.
Do not mix the cabbage and batter too much, as this will release moisture from the cabbage and result in a soggy okonomiyaki.