In Japan, if you have a jones for a snack, you’re covered. The huge amount of street food and vendors alike ensure you need not walk four blocks without something to eat in between. Thanks to anime, Westerners are introduced to a wide variety of these intriguing street foods. Okonomiyaki turns up in Tsubasa, takoyaki has made an appearance in The Wallflower and dango is everywhere you look, most notably in Sailor Moon.
Taiyaki is not only in anime (most recently in Kanon) it even has it’s own hit single, “Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun” (”Swim! Taiyaki”) by Masato Shimon.
Taiyaki, literally, “grilled sea bream”, is a wheat batter-based confection, much like pancakes and waffles, filled with bean jam (anko) and grilled in a fish-shaped iron. The result is a slightly crispy sea bream-shaped goodie perfect for on-the-go munching.
If you plan on making taiyaki, you’ll need a taiyaki-ki (taiyaki mold). But if you’re simply after the flavor of taiyaki, you can also make silver dollar size cakes with the batter and fill them with anko. This confection is called dorayaki (literally, “grilled gong”, in allusion to their round shape).
I wanted a more crisp bread for my taiyaki and have tweaked a krumkake recipe I found online. This recipe yields a firm, light crust that’s not too sweet.
Taiyaki
- 1 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 2 1/2 Tbs. cornstarch
- 3 Tbs. water
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 Tbs. honey (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups anko, room temperature
Sift together the flour, baking powder, and cornstarch. Set aside.
Beat together the eggs, honey, if using, and sugar till frothy and to it add the flour mixture and water. Whip till smooth.
Preheat a taiyaki-ki and brush it lightly with oil. Pour in a small amount of batter to the preheated pan, add a tablespoon of anko and more batter as necessary to fill in the details. Close and latch the pan.
Turn the heat to medium low and cook about 30 seconds then turn the pan over. Heat evenly for a minute and turn again. Repeat. The taiyaki are done when you can easily open the iron and the taiyaki are a golden brown, about 4 minutes. Serve immediately.
Makes 12 Taiyaki
Difficulty: Easy | Time: 30 minutes | Ingredient Availability: Easy
The Japanese use fillings other than anko for taiyaki. Chocolate, custard and even savory fillings are also popular additives. Use whatever you like; make it your okonomi-taiyaki!
You can make dorayaki with this recipe and add more honey to up the flavor and make it more moist. If you want, cut shapes from the dorayaki with a cookie cutter while the cakes are still warm. You can then sandwich anko between them.
I tried making these today, I filed my with jelly. I burnt them though… but the non-burnt parts tasted really good. I think I just need to improve my cullinary skills. ^_^’
@Tina, it takes practice and patience to make these critters, so know you can become a master taiyaki-ka. Set the heat to low and let each side slowly cook. You’ll get a nice golden color that way and less blackened taiyaki! Good luck!
OOOo i should try to make these! When are you going to post more recipes! =]
Hi Rachel,
I stumbled across this site with Google. I just thought I’d let you know that I think your Recipe section is one of the more wonderful things out there on the internet. It surprised me, actually, because I’m very picky about these kinds of things. I actually think your stuff is better than some of the cookbooks I have, that are published in Chinese/Japanese!
I don’t think a lot of this information is out there in English. Keep doing what you’re doing!
@Cliff, I’ve been kinda down and out the past few months, but I still retain my absolute love and devotion to Japanese cuisine. Hopefully within the next month I’ll be back on site and writing some recipes you’ll love to cook!
@Chris, Thank you so much for your sentiment! I hope you find the recipes easy to follow and tasty to eat! I’ve got some fall recipes all set to go as soon as I can get back to the computer full time!!
WOW i saw this on kanon and iv been dying to try this!!! would anyone know hhow to by the tayaki machine or just by already cooked taiyaki in the united states?
@Andrew, You can buy the taiyaki-ki at Amazon for about $26 plus S&H. Here’s the link:
Taiyaki Pan
You can also go to your local Asian food mart and check out their refrigerated section. Sometimes they carry taiyaki there, in both anko and ice cream varieties.
thanks rachel i will be looking at the link when i have free time.
Also i would like to know what asian marts might have taiyaki. So if you don’t mind will you please list some commen asian marts thats will have this machine…thanks.
hey im i want to make these for my Anime club that i run, would red bean paste work just as well?