Okonomiyaki
Recipe by Miru
Miru at The St. Regis Chicago serves brunch with a twist of Japanese comfort food, including Okonomiyaki. Often described as a Japanese savory pancake, okonomiyaki translates to “as you like it” (okonomi) and “grilled” (yaki), hinting at the customizable nature of the dish, allowing for a variety of ingredients according to personal preference. Miru shares their take on this Japanese staple, try the recipe at home.
Okonomiyaki
Add Japanese savory pancakes to your brunch menu
Yield: 4-6 servings
Ingredients:
1 small head of cabbage
4 large eggs
1½ cups okonomiyaki flour (Chef recommends Otafuku Okonomiyaki Flour)
1 cup water
1 tsp. hondashi
⅓ cup green onions, chopped (green parts only)
½ cup panko breadcrumbs
1 lb. extra jumbo shrimp, 16/20, cut into thirds
1 lb. thick sliced bacon, cut into large dice
½ Tbsp. olive oil blend or canola oil
½ Tbsp. butter, unsalted
1 ½ Tbsp. Kewpie Mayonnaise
1 ½ Tbsp. okonomiyaki sauce (Chef recommends Otafuku Okonomiyaki Sauce)
1 pinch AO Nori
1 pinch Ito Kezuri (shaved bonito flakes)
½ tsp. pickled red ginger, cut into thin strips
Japanese products can be found in the International aisle at local grocery stores or online.
Method:
1. Core the head of cabbage, slice thin and submerged in ice cold water for 30 minutes. Drain the cabbage and pat dry. You want this to be as dry as possible so the rest of the mix will adhere to it.
2. Preheat oven to 400°F.
3. Make 1 cup of dashi by mixing the teaspoon of hondashi with the cup of water, set aside.
4. In a large pan, sear bacon to render the fat. Strain bacon out and set aside.
5. Place the eggs, flour, dashi, green onions and panko breadcrumbs in a large mixing bowl. Mix until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
6. Fold in the cabbage, mixing well.
7. Fold in bacon and/or shrimp. Set aside.
8. Heat the oil and butter in a large non-stick pan over medium high heat until just about smoking.
9. Add mix, cook until brown and edges start to crisp, about 4-5 minutes. Carefully flip with a spatula and cook for another 4-5 minutes.
10. Place into the preheated and bake for about 5-6 minutes. Desired internal temperature should be 140°F.
11. Remove from the pan and place on a cutting board.
12. Cut into 6 even “pizza” slices and place on a serving platter.
13. Garnish with mayonnaise, Okonomiyaki sauce, AO Nori, bonito flake, and pickled ginger.
