When I found a bunch of Garlic Chives getting wilted in the fridge, I decided to add them to Okonomiyaki. To make Okonomiyaki more colourful and nutritious, I also added Carrot. And the result was unsatisfying. It didn’t taste good with ‘Okonomiyaki Sauce’ and Japanese mayonnaise. Why?

I tried the ‘Okonomiyaki with Garlic Chives’ with a various sauces. ‘Tonkatsu’ Sauce is OK. ‘Ponzu’ is better. Sweet Chilli Sauce is too sweet but the spiciness is good. Garlic Chives better suit soy sauce based flavour. Then I made this dipping sauce and my family enjoyed it very much.

This ‘Okonomiyaki with Garlic Chives’ is much easier and more nutritious and lower calorie than Pizza. Why don’t you try it tonight?

Makes

4 Servings

Ingredients

Garlic Chives (‘Nira’) 1 bunch *about 120g, cut about 5cm length
Carrot 1/2 to 1 *shredded or sliced to thin strips
Onion 1/2 *thinly sliced
Cabbage 4 leaves *thinly sliced
*Note: Add as much as you like if you can combine with the batter
Pork Mince 250 to 300g
Oil
Salt & White Pepper
Plain Flour OR Self-Raising Flour 1 cup
Water 1 cup
Eggs 2

Dipping Sauce

Soy Sauce 2 tablespoons
Rice Vinegar 2 tablespoons
Mirin 1 tablespoon
Sugar 1 to 2 teaspoons
Chilli Garlic Sauce 1 to 2 teaspoons

Method
  1. Heat 1 teaspoon Oil in a frying pan and cook Pork Mince, season with Salt and White Pepper.
  2. Make batter by mixing Flour, Water, Eggs and a pinch of Salt.
  3. Add thinly sliced vegetables and cooked Pork Mince to the batter and mix well.
  4. Heat small mount of Oil in a frying pan, pour the vegetable batter mixture to form pancake(s). Large or small size of your choice. When the edge of the pancake has set, flip the pancakes over, and cook for 4 or 5 minutes until cooked through and browned. You may turn the pancakes over a few times while cooking.
  5. Place all the sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix well to make the sauce.
  6. Cut the pancake into small pieces and serve with the sauce as dipping sauce OR place the pancake on a plate and dress with the sauce and serve.