The ultimate Japanese street snack, now in your own home. Have a takoyaki party this weekend! Takoyaki literally translates to “octopus fried,” but they aren’t just fried octopus – they’re tiny, piping hot balls of batter filled with green onions, ginger, crispy tempura bits, and octopus. It’s crisp, it’s gooey, it’s delicious. The best Japanese street food!

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Takoyaki – The Ultimate Japanese Street Snack

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups dashi stock
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1/2 cup cooked octopus, diced
• 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
• 1/4 cup tempura bits (tenkasu)
• Pickled ginger, chopped
• Takoyaki sauce
• Kewpie mayo
• Bonito flakes
• Aonori (seaweed powder)

Step-by-Step Instructions for Takoyaki:

1. Prepare the Batter:
   • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, eggs, dashi stock, and soy sauce until smooth.
2. Heat the Takoyaki Pan:
   • Preheat the takoyaki pan over medium heat and brush each cavity with oil.
3. Cook the Takoyaki:
   • Pour the batter into each cavity of the takoyaki pan, filling it to the top.
   • Add a piece of octopus, some green onions, tempura bits, and a bit of pickled ginger to each cavity.
   • When the edges start to cook, use skewers to turn each takoyaki 90 degrees. Add more batter if needed to form a round ball.
   • Continue turning the takoyaki until they are golden brown and crispy on all sides.
4. Serve:
   • Remove the takoyaki from the pan and place them on a plate.
   • Drizzle with takoyaki sauce and Kewpie mayo.
   • Sprinkle with bonito flakes and aonori.
   • Serve immediately while hot.

Helpful Hint:

• To ensure your takoyaki are perfectly round, overfill the pan cavities slightly and use the excess batter to shape the balls as they cook.

Alternative Ingredients:

• Swap octopus with shrimp, chicken, or tofu for different variations.