Ella Walter
Takoyaki is a beloved Japanese street food, made of octopus and other ingredients encased in a savoury pancake batter. The spherical shape of the takoyaki is formed using a special pan with half-spherical moulds. While the traditional way to make takoyaki is with a takoyaki pan, it is possible to make them without one. One alternative is to use an aebleskiver pan, which is similar to a takoyaki pan but has larger moulds and is traditionally used for sweet treats in Europe. Another option is to use a stovetop pan on a butane burner, which is a social and interactive way of cooking and eating takoyaki.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pan type | Danish-style ebelskiver pan |
| Oil | Generous amount |
| Batter | Dashi-flavoured, smooth, thick |
| Cooking technique | Balls are flipped 90 degrees with skewers |
| Toppings | Takoyaki sauce, Kewpie mayo, bonito flakes, aonori |
| Filling | Octopus, ginger, green onions |
| Alternative uses | Æbleskivers, bubble waffles, meatballs |
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What You'll Learn
Use a Danish ebelskiver pan
If you want to make takoyaki without a takoyaki pan, a Danish ebelskiver pan is a great alternative. Ebelskivers are Danish pancake balls that are cooked in a similar way to takoyaki. Both dishes start with a wheat-based batter poured into well-oiled hot cast-iron spherical moulds, then gradually flipped and turned to form battered balls.
To make takoyaki in a Danish ebelskiver pan, first, heat the pan on medium-low heat and coat it liberally with a neutral oil. To test the temperature, add a couple of drops of water to the pan. If it sizzles immediately, it's ready. Next, pour a generous amount of dashi-flavoured batter into the moulds. Each ball should then be filled with a piece of octopus, some ginger, and green onions. When the bottom of the balls are cooked, use skewers to flip them 90 degrees so that the inside batter flows out to create the other side of the ball. Once the balls are lightly grilled and hold their shape, move them around the pan to ensure even cooking. Most home takoyaki pans have uneven heat, so moving the balls around will help them brown evenly. Finally, brush the cooked balls with takoyaki sauce and squeeze on some Japanese mayo.
You can also get creative with your fillings and toppings to make unique and tasty snacks. For example, you can make taco-yaki by substituting the dashi with beef or chicken stock and adding cooked, taco-seasoned ground beef or pork, cheese, and chopped onion to the middle. Top with sour cream, salsa, or hot sauce for a taco-inspired version. Or, try pizza-yaki by substituting the dashi with chicken or veggie stock and filling with diced pre-cooked sausage, dried oregano, and cheese. Top with marinara sauce, pesto, dried oregano, more cheese, or hot sauce for a pizza-like experience.
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Make pizza balls
To make pizza balls using a takoyaki pan, you can follow a recipe similar to the one below. However, note that traditional takoyaki uses octopus as its main filling, so you will need to adapt the recipe to make pizza balls.
Ingredients
- Oil
- Eggs
- Dashi or chicken/vegetable stock
- Pre-cooked sausage (pepperoni, Italian, or other varieties)
- Dried oregano
- Cheese
- Marinara sauce
- Pesto
- Hot sauce
Method
- Prepare your fillings and ingredients.
- Generously oil the takoyaki pan with a brush or a paper towel dipped in oil.
- Heat up the pan.
- Mix the batter with a whisk, ensuring there are no floury bits.
- Pour the batter into the pan.
- Once the bottom of the balls is cooked, use skewers to flip them 90 degrees.
- Pour in more batter to ensure a super round ball.
- Cook until the balls are crispy and brown, moving them around the pan to account for uneven heating.
- When the balls are golden and crisp, transfer them to a plate.
- Brush the balls with sauce and squeeze on some mayo.
- Top with dried oregano and cheese.
Enjoy your pizza balls!
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Try Æbleskivers
If you're looking to make takoyaki without a takoyaki pan, you could try Æbleskivers. Æbleskivers are spherical Danish snacks made from fried batter, similar in texture to pancakes but with a light and fluffy interior. The name means "apple slices" in Danish, and while slices of apple are not an ingredient in modern versions, they were traditionally cooked with apple or applesauce inside. Æbleskivers are cooked on the stove top using a special pan with several hemispherical indentations, similar to the pans used for takoyaki.
To make Æbleskivers, you will need a special Æbleskiver pan, which can be purchased at local kitchen stores or online. The batter usually includes wheat flour, mixed with buttermilk, milk or cream, eggs, sugar, and salt. You will also need a pastry brush to brush melted butter into the cups of the pan before adding the batter. This helps prevent sticking and adds flavour and texture. To turn the Æbleskivers as they cook, use a knitting needle, skewer, or fork to give them their characteristic spherical shape.
Once cooked, Æbleskivers are traditionally served dipped in raspberry, strawberry, black currant or blackberry jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Butter, maple syrup, honey, and whipped cream are also popular toppings. If you want to make a savoury version, you could try filling them with cheese, meat, or vegetables, and topping them with sour cream, salsa, or hot sauce.
If you're feeling adventurous, you could also try making other dishes with your Æbleskiver pan, such as bubble waffles, pizza balls, or Danish apple bites.
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Make bubble waffles
Bubble waffles, also known as egg waffles or eggettes, are a sweet, chewy treat that originated in Hong Kong in the 1950s. They are cooked to look like a sheet of bubbles and are usually served wrapped like a waffle cone, filled with toppings such as whipped cream, fruit, or ice cream. They can also be served flat, like a traditional waffle, or pulled apart and eaten from a bowl.
To make bubble waffles, you will need a bubble waffle maker or a special waffle iron. There are electric and stovetop versions available, with the electric version being easier to control in terms of temperature. Preheat your waffle maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you are using a waffle iron, place it on a sheet pan to catch any drippings. Spray the waffle maker or iron with cooking spray or oil, taking care not to use too much or it will overflow when the batter is added.
Prepare your batter, which should be egg-based and have a similar consistency to regular waffle or pancake batter. Pour the batter into the waffle maker or iron, filling each well. Be careful not to overfill the spaces between the wells. Close the lid and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side for a handheld waffle maker, or 5 minutes for an electric version. You can also cook the waffles for 1 minute and 30 seconds on each side if using a waffle iron. Flip the waffle maker or iron over halfway through the cooking process.
Once the waffle is cooked to a golden brown colour, remove it from the maker or iron and transfer it to a baking sheet. If you plan to fold the waffle into a cone shape, do so immediately while it is still warm and pliable, draping it over a rolling pin or glass. Top with your desired toppings, such as butter, syrup, fruit, chocolate, whipped cream, or ice cream. Enjoy!
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Use a cast iron or aluminium stovetop pan or an electric pan
If you don't have a takoyaki pan, you can use a cast iron or aluminium stovetop pan or an electric pan. Stovetop pans are the most common type of takoyaki pan and can be placed on a typical gas burner, with the temperature easily controlled by adjusting the burner. They are also easy to clean, with some being dishwasher-safe. Cast iron pans are heavier and take longer to heat up, but they retain heat better. On the other hand, aluminium pans are lighter, cheaper, and respond more quickly to temperature changes.
When using a stovetop pan, you will need to grease the pan with butter or oil and heat it on a medium setting. You can then pour the batter into the pan and add your desired ingredients. Remember to use a generous amount of batter and oil to ensure the outsides of your takoyaki are crispy and easy to flip. You can use skewers to flip the takoyaki balls and ensure they are evenly cooked.
Electric pans are another option for making takoyaki. They are a fun choice for cooking directly at the dinner table, but they do have some hotter and cooler areas, so you may need to cook certain areas for longer. When shopping for an electric pan, look for one with a removable cooking surface for easier cleaning.
If you want to try something different, you can also use a takoyaki pan to make Æbleskivers, a Danish treat similar to takoyaki but with a sugary, breakfast-style batter and sweet fillings.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use a Danish-style ebelskiver pan, which is used to make aebleskivers (a Danish treat similar to takoyaki). You can also use a cast iron or aluminium stovetop pan, or an electric pan.
You will need a dashi-flavoured batter, octopus, ginger, green onions, oil, skewers, takoyaki sauce, kewpie mayo, and bonito flakes.
You can make your own takoyaki sauce by combining sweet and savoury flavours. You can also substitute it with other sauces such as sour cream, salsa, or hot sauce.
You can make Æbleskivers (a Danish treat similar to takoyaki but sweeter), pizza balls, taco-yaki, bubble waffles, and even Japanese omelet poppers.
