These okonomiyaki cabbage pancakes are just what you need to satisfy your cravings while still keeping on track with your diet. Made with all low carb, keto and gluten-free ingredients, you can eat these delicious cabbage pancakes guilt-free!
What is Okonomiyaki Chaffles, a Japanese Cabbage Pancake?
Okonomiyaki is usually thought of as festival food and is made to be eaten as a snack, appetizer or side dish. They are made with cabbage and can be considered savory fritters.
This recipe in particular gives you the option of making it easily using a waffle iron as well as keeping you on track by using low carb and gluten-free ingredients.
Fun Fact – Okonomi-yaki literally translates to ‘grilled your way’. So you can add whatever you want to the cabbage mix! In Japan, the different prefectures have their own unique variations of what their okonomiyaki consists of.
What does Japanese okonomiyaki cabbage pancake taste like?
Japanese okonomiyaki are savory pancakes made from shredded cabbage mixed in a batter topped with mayo and a Japanese barbeque sauce.
What ingredients do I need to make okonomiyaki?
- Mozzarella Cheese – pre-shredded mozzerella cheese.
- Baking Powder – used as a rising agent.
- Cabbage – shredded using a knife or mandolin.
- Mayo – use Japanese mayo which is slightly sweeter and richer than American Mayonnaise.
- Bonito Flakes – made from dried, shaved bonito or skipjack. Responsible for many umami flavored Japanese dishes.
- Green Onion – scallions, chopped.
- Dried Seaweed Powder – you can purchase these at Japanese supermarkets.
- Beni Shoga (pickled ginger) – also found in Japanese supermarkets, these are usually cut into thin matchsticks and soaked in a red marinade.
- Ketchup – use your preferred type of traditional ketchup.
- Soy Sauce – low sodium is preferred.
- Sweetener – use your preferred sweetener.
- Worcestershire Sauce – gives the sauce depth and found in most supermarkets.
Which cabbage is best for okonomiyaki?
Regular green cabbage is traditionally used when making Japanese okonomiyaki. But you can also try experimenting with red cabbage as well.
What other ingredients can I add to Japanese cabbage pancakes?
The list of toppings to add to okonomiyaki is endless. Below are a few ideas and they include:
- Shrimp
- Garlic
- Pork
- Scallop
- Shredded Carrot
- Bean sprouts
- Benishoga (reg ginger)
- Kewpei Mayonnaise
- Bonito Flakes
- Green Onion / Scallions
- Dried Seaweed
How to make okonomi sauce?
To make okonomiyaki sauce, simply combine ketchup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and sweetener in a bowl and mix well.
How to make Japanese style cabbage pancake okonomiyaki?
Prepare gluten-free batter by mixing eggs, mozzerella cheese, baking powder and shredded cabbage.
Next, combine ingredients to make the drizzling sauce!
In a mini waffle maker or a medium-sized skillet coated with vegetable oil, pour the batter and cook on medium-high heat for 2-4 minutes or until golden brown, flip with a spatula and repeat.
After that, simply add toppings of your choice such as mayo, red ginger, bonito flakes, or even sriracha mayo!
Substitution Tip – if you’re looking to make a traditional okonomiyaki batter, simply substitute the Mozzarella cheese with 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup of water or dashi and a sprinkle of salt!
What to serve with Japanese cabbage pancakes?
You can enjoy Japanese cabbage pancakes on the side with some grilled chicken skewers, sauteed vegetables, a side salad, or miso soup.
What is the nutrition information for this okonomiyaki recipe?
- 105 Calories
- 2g Carbohydrates
- 0g Fiber
- 5g Protein
- 8g Fat
- 24mg Cholesterol
- 630mg Sodium
- 46mg Potassium
- 144mg Calcium
- 1mg Iron
- 146ui Vitamin A
- 1mg Vitamin C
Looking for other Japanese recipes?
- Japanese Beef Fried Rice
- Japanese Chicken Gratin
- Japanese Beef Bowl Gyudon
- Japanese Tonkatsu Pork Cutlet
- Japanese Braised Pork Belly
Now, it’s get making this Okonomiyaki Chaffles Cabbage Pancake recipe!
- Prepping Time 5M
- Cooking Time 15M
- Total Time 20M
- Net Carb/Waffle ~2.5g
- Servings 3 Waffles
Ingredients
Okonomiyaki Waffle
- 2 Egg
- 1/2 Cup Mozzarella Cheese
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/4 Cup Shredded Cabbage
Toppings
- 1 tbsp Kewpie Mayo
- 2 tbsp Bonito Flakes
- 1/2 Stalk Green Onion
- 1 tsp Dried Seaweed Powder
- 1 tbsp Beni Shoga (pickled ginger)
Sauce
- 2 tbsp Sugar-Free Ketchup
- 2 tsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Sweetener (sugar alternative or preferred sweetener)
- 2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
Directions
1) Gather all the ingredients.
2) Shred cabbage with a shredder and set aside.
3) In a mixing bowl, beat egg and then mix in shredded Mozzarella cheese, Baking Powder and shredded cabbage.
4) Finely chop green onions and set aside.
5) In a new mixing bowl, combine and mix all ingredients for sauce – Sugar-Free Ketchup, Soy Sauce, Worcestershire sauce and sweetener. Note – you can transfer sauce to a squeeze bottle for ease of use and better presentation.
6) Plug-in Dash Mini Waffle Maker to pre-heat.
7) Spoon a 1/3 of the mixture into the Dash Mini Waffle Maker and close cover. Cook for 4-5 minutes (4 minutes will have a softer crust). Repeat for as many bases you are making. Transfer to a serving plate, top with Bonito Flakes, dried seaweed powder, beni shoga, chopped green onions and drizzle with Kewpie Mayo and okonomiyaki sauce.
Hope you enjoy your Okonomiyaki Chaffles Cabbage Pancake!
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Okonomiyaki Chaffles Cabbage Pancake
Ingredients
Okonomiyaki Waffle
- 2 Whole Egg
- 1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/4 cup Shredded Cabbage
Toppings
- 1 tbsp Kewpie Mayo
- 2 tbsp Bonito Flakes
- 1/2 Stalk Green Onion
- 1 tsp Dried Seaweed Powder
- 1 tbsp Beni Shoga pickled ginger
Sauce
- 2 tbsp Sugar-Free Ketchup
- 2 tsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Sweetener sugar alternative or preferred sweetener
- 2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Shred cabbage with a shredder and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, beat egg and then mix in shredded mozzarella cheese, baking powder and shredded cabbage.
- Finely chop green onions and set aside.
- In a new mixing bowl, combine and mix all ingredients for sauce – Sugar-Free Ketchup, Soy Sauce, sweetener and Worcestershire sauce. Note - you can transfer sauce to a squeeze bottle for ease of use and better presentation.
- Plug-in Dash Mini Waffle Maker to pre-heat.
- Spoon a 1/3 of the mixture into the Dash Mini Waffle Maker and close cover. Cook for 4-5 minutes (4 minutes will have a softer crust). Repeat for as many bases you are making. Transfer to a serving plate, top with Bonito Flakes, dried seaweed powder, beni shoga, chopped green onions and drizzle with Kewpie Mayo and okonomiyaki sauce.
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Nutrition
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Thank you thank you! I bought the dash “griddle” as well and will try this dang it!! I’ll try adding some thinly slice pork belly, and maybe some shrimp. Perfect for personal size okonomiyaki. You guys are the best, as you can tell I am a huge fan!
Hey Tony! Thank you very much for your kind words and these are the kind of comments that really make LCA all worth while! Yup, this recipe was made for you and we really hope you enjoy it! We are also planning to do a takoyaki one soon, but if you can’t wait for it, just use the same base with added tako cooked inside a takoyaki grill. I’m pretty sure it would work without any revisions to the recipe, but not 100% sure since we haven’t tried yet! Thanks again for being patient while we worked on this recipe and being a fan!!
Hey thanks for thinking of me! I can’t wait to get this one griddled up, I think I will use the mini griddle instead of the waffle iron and try to pack more cabbage and goodies in! Please do post if you get a chance to try the takoyaki:) Take care guys!
Yup, the mini dash griddle makes the ideal sized chaffles and they are cheap as well! We will definitely get the to the takoyaki soon so keep checking back!
Are you still working on that takoyaki recipe?
Hi Ryan! It’s on our list so we’ll get to it eventually!
Hi just want to know if I can cook this in a pan instead of a waffle iron. and if so how long? Thanks!
Hi Monica! I can’t say for sure since we only cooked and tested the recipe as indicated, but I would guess it would work. Try using medium heat covered for 2-3 minutes, flipping and repeat.
Yes, I cooked mine for 20 min total in a nonstick 9″ skillet, and it came out just like what I had at the restaurant. I am going to try a George Foreman grill tonight.
Hey Gina – glad to hear it came out well!