Forget the pepperoni and cheese. Try pizza, Japanese style.

I've been taking a break from traditional western pizza. The thin, crisp crust loaded with bacon and gooey cheese. I've discovered a healthier version. Japanese style.

Okonomiyaki is a popular dish in Japanese.  Okonomi means your choice. Yaki means fried or grilled.

Okonomiyaki, or the Japanese version of pizza 

I've gained a greater appreciation for Japanese cuisine thanks to our new international student, Aimi. She is 17 years old, and loves to cook and bake. She won a scholarship to study English in Canada for a year. Okonomiyaki is one of Aimi's favourite dishes.

Okonomiyaki batter 

The recipe is easy peasy.  The cabbage in the batter makes it filling and nourishing. If seafood isn't your thing, use shredded pork, chicken or beef. The pancake itself  has a mild taste, like many other Japanese dishes. The punch of flavour comes from the condiments and garnish, such as green onion, spicy mayonnaise or oyster sauce.

Okonomiyaki
(makes one large pancake for 4-6)
Batter:
1 cup all purpose flour or rice flour
1/2 cup fish stock (see note below for quick fish stock)
1 egg
2 cups shredded cabbage or roughly 1/4 of a head of cabbage
1 cup of seafood (I use frozen assorted shrimp, scallops, mussels, octopus thawed in warm water)

Garnish:
Chopped green onion
Mayonnaise
Oyster sauce

1. Combine the flour, stock and egg in a medium bowl. 
2. Fold in the cabbage. 
2. Heat a lightly greased frying pan over medium heat.
3. Scoop the batter into the hot pan.
4. Arrange the thawed seafood into the batter.
5. When bubbles appear on the surface, carefully flip the pancake.

Enjoy your okonomiyaki warm, topped with chopped scallions, mayonnaise and oyster sauce.

Note: For a quick stock, add 2 teaspoons of Hondashi (powdered Japanese fish stock) to 1/2 cup of warm water. If you're using meat instead of seafood, substitute the fish stock with vegetable or meat broth.

Help me resuscitate my blog

I nearly pulled the plug on AK's Kitchen. I wasn't doing much blog-worthy cooking (the routine protein + starch = quick family meal). I was about to let my blog fizzle out in cyberspace and join countless others in the big blog graveyard. 

A few readers told me that they miss my posts, the recipes and the people behind the recipes. So AK's Kitchen is back. 

My list of recipes is on the thin side. This is why I need your help. ("Send them now," implore my kids. "We need new flavours!")

One thing that hasn't changed is the constant flow of fascinating and inspiring people who stop by AK's Kitchen.

One of our visitors is here from Taipei. She asked me,"Why is cabbage so important to you Canadians?" 

Huh?

"Cabbage day. Why do you have cabbage day every week?    

She had misheard us when we were talking about GARBAGE day. She also thought that our curb side bins were filled with cabbage. 

I hope you can help start a new chapter in AK's Kitchen by sharing your recipes and meals with me. 

With your input, I can add more umph to my cooking repertoire. And win brownie points with my bottomless bellies.