Tonpeiyaki (Omelette With Otafuku Sauce)

Tonpeiyaki（とんぺい焼き）

🍴What kind of dish is Tonpeiyaki??

Tonpeiyaki is a popular Japanese savory dish that originated as a teppanyaki (cooked on an iron griddle) item, particularly famous in the Kansai region (like Osaka).

• Core Ingredients: It is primarily made by stir-frying pork, cabbage, and bean sprouts together.
• Preparation: This stir-fried mixture is then wrapped in a thin sheet of cooked egg.
• Seasoning: It is typically topped with okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise, along with other condiments like bonito flakes (katsuobushi) and green laver (aonori).
• Category: It falls under the umbrella of Teppanyaki (鉄板焼き), which refers to various dishes cooked on an iron plate, such as okonomiyaki and yakisoba.

Memo📝The name comes from the fact that iron plate is called teppan in Japanese. Yaki means to stir fry.

Memo📝Due to the absence of wheat flour, the modern Tonpeiyaki is considered a lighter and healthier alternative to other flour-based teppanyaki dishes like okonomiyaki and takoyaki.

📜 The Original Form of Tonpeiyaki

The original form of Tonpeiyaki (Ton-pei-yaki) was quite different from the flour-free, egg-wrapped vegetable dish commonly known today. It was originally much closer to a “Konamon Ryori” (flour-based dish).

• Batter/Dough: A thin batter, very similar to a crêpe dough, was made using wheat flour.
• Preparation: On top of this thin dough, they placed stir-fried pork loin and a thinly cooked egg sheet (usuyaki tamago).
• Seasoning: Instead of the popular okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise used today, it was seasoned primarily with ketchup.

🧀 Ultimate Variations & Secret Toppings

We’ll introduce you to some secret toppings that will transform simple tonpeiyaki into something even more special. Adding just a little extra effort to your usual okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise will dramatically enhance its appeal!

• Cheese: The cheese melts from the heat of the eggs and combines with the sauce to create a rich, full-bodied flavor.
• Kimchi: The combination of pork and kimchi goes without saying! The spicy, sour, and sweet flavors create an addictive taste.
• Pickled Ginger: Not only does its vibrant red color whet your appetite, but its refreshing sourness and spiciness refresh your palate with every bite. It pairs perfectly with rich sauces.
• Shichimi Togarashi: Topping it with shichimi togarashi not only adds heat but also a sophisticated secret ingredient.
• Natto: A unique and unexpected dish that we recommend you try if you’re brave!
  Unexpected Natto: You might think, “Natto?”, but it’s actually delicious! Natto’s sticky texture and unique umami flavor are the perfect match for junky flavors.

Use these tips to find your perfect seasoning!

🔥NUTRITION FACTS : Tonpeiyaki (Omelette With Otafuku Sauce)

TOTAL NUTRITION VARUE

• 444 Calories Protein 25.7 g Total Fat 32.5 g Total Carbohydrates 14.0 g Sodium 2.7 g

INGREDIENTS : Tonpeiyaki (Omelette With Otafuku Sauce) (2SERVINGS)

• Pork komagire (Thinly sliced pork shoulder loin) 50g
  • Sesame oil 4g
• ★Cabbage 80g
• ★Moyashi(bean sprout) 50g
• ★Salt 1g
• ★Pepper moderate amount
• ☆2Eggs
  • ☆Potato starch 4g
  • ☆Water 8g
  • ☆Sesame oil 4g
• Okonomiyaki sauce （＝Otafuku sauce） 12g 　※Doro sauce is also good.
• Half calorie mayonnaise 12g
• Aonori (Green laver) moderate amount
• Bonito flakes 1g

🥫 Japanese Savory Sauces: Otafuku and Doro Sauce

Here is a summary of the characteristics and origins of Otafuku Okonomiyaki Sauce and Oliver Sauce’s Doro Sauce, two distinctive Japanese savory sauces.

🍎 Otafuku Okonomiyaki Sauce

Otafuku is perhaps the most famous brand of Okonomiyaki sauce, known for its rich and sweet flavor profile.

Ingredients & Flavor: It is made by blending various vegetables and fruits (such as tomatoes, dates, onions, and apples) with spices and vinegar.

Secret Ingredient: The key to its signature flavor is the use of the date fruit as a raw ingredient.

Versatility: While essential for Okonomiyaki, the sauce is versatile and can be used to add flavor to many other dishes, including Western-style Japanese foods like Hayashi rice and hamburger steak.

🌶️ Doro Sauce (Oliver Sauce Co., Ltd.)

Doro Sauce is unique because of its origin as a by-product of Worcestershire sauce, giving it an unmatched flavor and texture.

Manufacturing Process: Worcestershire sauce is made by boiling vegetables, fruit, sugar, salt, vinegar, and spices, and then separating the resulting liquid.

The “Doro” (Mud): The non-liquefied sediment that remains after the liquid is drawn off is called “Doro” (which means “mud” or “sludge”).

Characteristics: This sediment was researched and subsequently became Doro Sauce. It is a matured sauce with a unique spicy flavor that is highly valued.

🍳How to make Tonpeiyaki (Omelette With Otafuku Sauce)

🔪 Preparation

1. Chop the Cabbage: Cut the cabbage into 3mm-wide strips.
2. Wash the Vegetables: Rinse the cabbage and bean sprouts.

🥓 Cooking the Filling

1. Fry the Pork: Heat sesame oil in a frying pan and stir-fry the pork.
2. Add Vegetables: Once the pork changes color, add the cabbage and bean sprouts and continue to stir-fry them together.
3. Season the Filling: When the vegetables have softened, season the filling with salt and pepper.

🥚 Preparing the Egg Sheet

1. Make the Egg Mixture: Dissolve potato starch (katakuriko) in water, then immediately add the egg and mix thoroughly. (This step is crucial for creating a firm, pliable egg sheet.)
2. Cook the Egg Sheet: Heat sesame oil in a separate frying pan and pour in the egg mixture. Tilt the pan to spread the mixture and form a thin, round sheet.
3. Stop the Heat: Once the egg is set (cooked), turn off the heat.

🍽️ Assembly and Serving

1. Assemble the Tonpeiyaki: Place the cooked filling on top of the egg sheet, and then roll it up like an omelet.
2. Serve: Place the Tonpeiyaki on a serving plate.
3. Garnish: Decorate generously with Okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, bonito flakes (katsuobushi), and green laver (aonori).

🍰 Alternative: Bake Tonpeiyaki in a Cake Mold

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