History - Okonomiyaki World - Recipes, Information, History & Ingredients for this unique Japanese Food (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of okonomiyaki in Japan? ›

Okonomiyaki was invented in Japan prior to World War II and evolved and became popular during and after the war. The earliest origins of a basic crepe-like pancake date back to the Edo period (1683-1868) period where these were a special desert served at Buddhist ceremonies called Funoyaki.

The word "okonomiyaki" is derived from "okonomi" meaning "as you like" and "yaki" meaning "grilled. It's commonly referred to as being a Japanese pancake. Accurate to its name, okonomiyaki can be served with a variety of toppings which include everything from meat and seafood to vegetables and cheese.

Pancakes have existed in Japan since the Edo period (1603-1868); when a sweet, crepe-like, filled and folded pancake was served during Buddhist ceremonies. This pancake was eventually separated in two – a sweet version and a savoury version.

The main difference is in how they are prepared and the relative amounts of each ingredient. In Osaka style okonomiyaki, all of the ingredients are mixed together and cooked together. In Hiroshima style okonomiyaki, all of the ingredients are layered almost like a cake.

Okonomiyaki is popular all over Japan, particularly in the Kansai region, which includes Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe, and in Hiroshima, some 300km down the Inland Sea coast from Osaka.

The largest okonomiyaki was made by Kamigata Okonomiyaki Takoyaki Cooperative Association, Osaka, Japan and weighed 1.6 tonnes (3,527.3 lb).

Okonomiyaki is popular all over Japan, but in some regions, its popularity is greater, especially in regions such as Kansai (which includes Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe) and also in Hiroshima. But in Hiroshima, the Okonomiyaki has a reputation for being more traditional.

Okonomiyaki can also be made into a sweet dessert by using sweet ingredients instead of savory ones.

Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) is a Japanese savoury pancake made with flour, eggs, finely-chopped cabbage and customizable add-ins such as shrimp, scallops, bacon, chicken, bell peppers, and mushrooms.

The first written records of pancakes come from the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Who invented potato pancakes? ›

Although many Americans associate potato pancakes with Hanukkah, they have more broad origins. They originated in the eastern European countries of Germany Austria, Russia and Poland as a peasant food. Potatoes were cheap, plentiful and easy to store, making them a staple and necessitating inventive potato recipes.

The pancake's cake-y goodness has been making people happy since the dawn of man. Here are a few notable moments in the pancake's journey to greatness. 600 BC - The first recorded mention of pancakes dates back to ancient Greece and comes from a poet who described warm pancakes in one of his writings.

In postwar Hiroshima, okonomiyaki was invented to save a few wheat flour and vegetables (for example, cabbage, bean sprout, green onion and so on.) because foods are shortage. It is called "okonomiyaki (fried liking foods)" because people made okonomiyaki to include their favorite foods in the past.

Okonomiyaki originated from a thin pancake from the Edo period called funoyaki that was served at Buddhist ceremonies. Later, during and after the war, when food was scarce in Japan, it became more and more common to eat wheat pancakes made with whatever was available on hand to mix into them.

Okonomiyaki has a delightfully complex flavor that is sweet, spicy (from pickled ginger), savory, and smoky. It has a delicious crispy, creamy texture. The ingredients and toppings combine to create a distinct flavor that will make you want to order okonomiyaki as often as possible.

This variability is reflected in the dish's name; "okonomi" literally means "to one's liking". The dish is available all over Japan, but is particularly popular in the cities of Hiroshima and Osaka. Okonomiyaki is sometimes translated into English as "as-you-like-it pancake".

Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) is a Japanese savoury pancake made of a variety of ingredients. “o*konomi” means “what you like” and “yaki” means “grilled” or “cooked.” Traditionally, it is a dish best known in the Kansai and Hiroshima regions of Japan, with each having their own style.

The food is like a Japanese-style pancake (pizza) and is made by mixing various ingredients into a batter of eggs, flour, and water. Hiroshima-style is made by layering all the ingredients to form a mille-feuille and is usually topped with noodles.