Takoyaki (Osaka Octopus Balls)
Crisp-skinned, molten-centred batter balls filled with tender octopus, spring onion and pickled ginger, cooked in a special pan and topped with takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, aonori and dancing bonito flakes.
Servings
Ingredients
Nutrition
Per serving
Steps
Make the batter
In a bowl, whisk the flour, eggs, cold stock, soy sauce and salt until completely smooth and very thin, like pourable cream. Transfer the batter to a jug.
- 200 g flour
- 2 eggs
- 600 ml stock
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- ¼ tsp salt
✅ Done when: batter is smooth and runs off the whisk like thin cream
Heat the pan
Heat a takoyaki pan (a pan with 12-20 half-sphere molds) over medium-high heat for a few minutes, then brush every mold and the flat surface generously with the oil.
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
✅ Done when: oil is hot and shimmers in the molds
Fill
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Turn and shape
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Top and serve
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Make the batter
In a bowl, whisk the flour, eggs, cold stock, soy sauce and salt until completely smooth and very thin, like pourable cream. Transfer the batter to a jug.
- 200 g flour
- 2 eggs
- 600 ml stock
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- ¼ tsp salt
✅ Done when: batter is smooth and runs off the whisk like thin cream
Heat the pan
Heat a takoyaki pan (a pan with 12-20 half-sphere molds) over medium-high heat for a few minutes, then brush every mold and the flat surface generously with the oil.
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
✅ Done when: oil is hot and shimmers in the molds
Fill
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
Turn and shape
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
Top and serve
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The Story Behind the Dish
Takoyaki was created in Osaka in 1935 by street vendor Tomekichi Endo, who added octopus to an earlier batter snack. Osaka, known as 'the nation's kitchen', is famous for konamon, dishes made from flour batter such as takoyaki and okonomiyaki.
Many Osaka families own a takoyaki pan and hold 'takopa' (takoyaki parties) at home.
⭐ Why It's Famous
Crispy outside, gooey inside and topped with savoury sauce: it's the soul food of Osaka.
💡 Fun Fact
The bonito flakes on top seem to 'dance' because the heat from the takoyaki makes them curl and wave.
Osaka
34.69°N, 135.50°E
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