Flavors of Okonomiyaki: Japan's Customizable Delight

             Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savory pancake that marries a luscious batter with a diverse array of fillings. The batter, a blend of flour, grated yam, shredded cabbage, eggs, and dashi, is cooked to a golden perfection on a griddle. What makes okonomiyaki truly captivating is its adaptability. 

Ingredients:

- 2 cups all-purpose flour

- 1 ½ cups dashi (Japanese soup stock)

- 2 large eggs

- 2 cups shredded cabbage

- 1 cup thinly sliced green onions

- 1 cup tenkasu (tempura scraps) or substitute with fried onions

- 1/2 cup grated yamaimo (Japanese mountain yam) or substitute with grated regular yam

- 1/2 cup thinly sliced pork belly or your choice of protein (optional)

- Vegetable oil for cooking

- Okonomiyaki sauce (store-bought or homemade)

- Japanese mayonnaise

- Aonori (seaweed flakes) and katsuobushi (bonito flakes) for garnish

Instructions:

1. Prepare Batter:

   - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, dashi, and eggs until smooth.

   - Add shredded cabbage, sliced green onions, tenkasu, and grated yamaimo. Mix well.

2. Cooking Batter:

   - Heat a griddle or non-stick skillet over medium heat and lightly oil the surface.

   - Pour a portion of the batter onto the griddle, forming a round pancake about 1 inch thick.

3. Optional Protein Layer:

   - If using pork belly or another protein, place slices on top of the batter.

4. Flip and Cook:

   - Cook for 4-5 minutes until the bottom is golden brown.

   - Flip using two spatulas and cook the other side until golden brown and the center is cooked through.

5. Serving:

   - Transfer the okonomiyaki to a plate and spread a generous layer of okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise on top.

6. Garnish:

   - Sprinkle aonori and katsuobushi over the sauce.

7. Serve Hot:

   - Slice into wedges and serve immediately while hot.

8. Customize:

   - Feel free to customize with additional toppings like pickled ginger, red pickled beni shoga, or additional green onions.

Enjoy the delightful experience of making and savoring classic Okonomiyaki, a dish that embodies the essence of Japanese comfort food and culinary creativity.