Okonomiyaki

        Happy New Year!  

I usually make something each year that symoblizes good luck on New Year's Day and almost all of them involve greens or round foods. So, I decided to make Okonomiyaki, which is a Japanese Savory Pancake - it's round and it's full of Green Cabbage. It's one of those foods that I am very fond of due to my childhood in Japan and I wanted to make a Gluten Free version. It turned out to be remarkably easy!

I used chopped Green Cabbage, sliced Green Onion and  a little bit of ground Pork seasoned with Tamari and Mirin.  I made a batter out of a Gluten Free flour blend that included Xanthan Gum (Cup4Cup) and mixed it with Chicken Broth and an Egg. It's usually made with a Dashi Broth, but I am all out of Bonito Flakes. Cooked in a frying pan, it only takes about 20 minutes. I brushed it with a mixture of Bulldog Fruit and Vegetable Sauce, which is a Gluten Free version of Katsu Sauce mixed with Kewpie Mayonnaise. It was so good and I'm happy it is a lucky food too!

Okonomiyaki

4 cups Cabbage, chopped fine

1 - 3 Green Onions, trimmed and cut into small pieces

1 cup Gluten Free Flour Blend (including Xanthan Gum or add 1 teaspoon)

1 cup Chicken Broth

1 Egg

1/2 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil

1/4 pound Ground Pork

1/2 Tablespoon Tamari

1/2 Tablespoon Mirin

For Sauce: mix together 1-1/2 Tablespoons of Bulldog Fruit and Vegetable Sauce and 1 Tablespoon of Kewpie Mayonnaise

In a small bowl, mix together the Pork, Tamari and Mirin. Mix to blend thoroughly. In a larger mixing bowl, combine the Cabbage, Green Onions, Gluten Free Flour Blend, Chicken Broth and Egg. Stir to combine. 

Heat a 10" nonstick frying pan on medium heat and add in the Pork. Cook until no longer pink. Remove from the heat and blend the Pork into the Okonomiyaki batter. Then heat the Oil in the same frying pan and pour in the batter. Press down lightly with a spatula. Cover and cook for 7 - 9 minutes or until the bottom is browned when you lift up the edges. Place a plate over the pan and turn over carefully. then slide the Okonomiyaki back into the pan (uncooked side down) and cook for an additional 7 - 9 minutes. Wash and dry the plate and then slide the Okonomiyak onto the plate. Brush with the sauce mixture and cut into 8 pieces to serve.

Five Element Analysis

Cabbage belongs to the Earth Element. The Green Onion and Rice Flour in the Gluten Free Flour as well as the Mayonnaise contribute the Metal Element. The Chicken Broth adds the Wood Element and the Pork and Egg bring in the Water Element. and the Bulldog Fruit and Vegetable Sauce, being Dark Brown adds a little more. Only the Fire Element is missing so be sure to serve this savory snack with some Green Tea!