Although not many restaurants offer vegan okonomiyaki, this delightful recipe was created by Chihiro Hirota, a registered dietitian in Japan. Hope everyone enjoys tasting the flavors of Japan!
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What is Vegan Okonomiyaki?
The Definition
Okonomiyaki is a popular traditional Japanese dish, similar to a pancake but savory, not sweet. It’s made with flour, eggs, cabbage, and a variety of other ingredients like meat, seafood, and vegetables. In Japanese, okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) combines “okonomi” (what you like) and “yaki” (grilled). As the name suggests, you can top it with a variety of ingredients, such as cheese, seafood, or a fried egg. Osaka and Hiroshima are particularly famous for their versions of this dish.
A vegan version of okonomiyaki omits animal products but still captures the delicious and satisfying flavors of the traditional dish.
Ingredients (Serves 2, Makes 4 Small Pieces)
- SilkenThick deep-fried tofu(絹厚揚げ/ Kinu-Atsuage): 2 pieces (200g)
- Cabbage: 150g
- Cake flour: 5 tablespoons (45g)
- Water: 2 tablespoons
- Kombu dashi powder: 2 teaspoons
- Oil: as needed
For the Sauce
- Japanese medium brown sauce sauce（中濃ソース / chūnō sōsu）: 2 tablespoons
- Ketchup: 2 tablespoons
- Soy sauce: 1 teaspoon
- Cane sugar: 1 teaspoon
Toppings:
- Egg-free mayonnaise: as needed
- Aonori (green seaweed flakes): as needed
Additional Information About Ingredients
*When you purchase products mentioned below, a portion of the sales may be returned to belongingJAPAN through an affiliate program.
1. SilkenThick deep-fried tofu(絹厚揚げ/ Kinu-Atsuage)
Using thick deep-fried tofu labeled “kinu” (silken) results in a smoother texture. In supermarkets, it is usually labeled as “絹厚揚げ” (kinu atsuage). Alternatively, you can use the same amount of silken tofu (kinugoshi tofu) as a substitute.
2. Konbu dashi Powder
Kombu dashi, made from kombu extract powder, adds depth of flavor.
3. Japanese medium brown sauce（中濃ソース / chūnō sōsu）
In Japanese supermarkets, “okonomiyaki sauce” is commonly available, but many varieties contain animal products. Therefore, we provide a homemade sauce recipe using easy-to-find ingredients. Japanese medium brown sauce, called 中濃ソース / chūnō sōsu, is made from a base of vegetables and fruits.
4. Egg-free mayonnaise
One of the leading mayonnaise brands in Japan is Kewpie. They also offer egg-free mayonnaise, which uses plant-based ingredients instead of eggs.
Directions
- Put the thick deep-fried tofu in a bowl and mash it well with your hands.
- Finely chop the cabbage.
- Add the cake flour, water, and kombu dashi powder to the mashed tofu and mix. Then add the chopped cabbage and mix gently.
- Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-low heat. Pour 1/4 of the batter into the pan and shape it into a circle. Cook for about 3 minutes until browned, then flip and cook on low heat for another 4-5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining batter.
- Place the cooked okonomiyaki on a plate, spread the mixed sauce on top, drizzle with mayonnaise, and sprinkle with aonori.
