Japanese Takoyaki Octopus Balls (Printable)
Crispy golden balls filled with tender octopus, topped with savory sauces and traditional garnishes for authentic Japanese street food flavor.
# What You'll Need:
→ Batter
01 - 1.75 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 large eggs
03 - 2.5 cups dashi stock (or water with instant dashi powder)
04 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
05 - 0.5 teaspoon soy sauce
06 - 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
→ Filling
07 - 5 ounces cooked octopus, cut into small cubes
08 - 2 tablespoons pickled red ginger (beni shoga), finely chopped
09 - 2 tablespoons green onion, finely sliced
10 - 2 tablespoons tempura scraps (tenkasu)
→ Toppings
11 - Takoyaki sauce (or okonomiyaki sauce), to taste
12 - Japanese mayonnaise, to taste
13 - 1 tablespoon aonori (dried green seaweed flakes)
14 - 1 small packet bonito flakes (katsuobushi)
# Steps:
01 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, eggs, dashi stock, salt, soy sauce, and baking powder until smooth. The batter should be thin and pourable.
02 - Preheat a takoyaki pan over medium heat and lightly oil each compartment.
03 - Pour the batter into the pan, filling each hole to the top.
04 - Add a piece of octopus to each hole, then sprinkle with red ginger, green onion, and tempura scraps.
05 - Cook for 1-2 minutes until the edges start to set. Use skewers or chopsticks to turn each ball 90 degrees, allowing uncooked batter to flow out and form a round shape.
06 - Continue turning the balls every minute or so until they are evenly golden and crisp on all sides (about 8-10 minutes total).
07 - Remove takoyaki from the pan and arrange on a plate.
08 - Drizzle with takoyaki sauce and mayonnaise, then sprinkle with aonori and bonito flakes. Serve hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These handheld snacks deliver restaurant quality street food magic right in your own kitchen
- The batter comes together in minutes and the filling combinations are endlessly customizable
02 -
- The batter must be thin enough to pour easily, thick batter will result in dense, doughy takoyaki
- Work quickly when turning the balls, speed is your friend in achieving that perfect round shape
03 -
- Invest in a proper takoyaki pan, the half sphere molds are impossible to replicate with other cookware
- Have everything prepped and within reach before you start cooking, the process moves fast once the batter hits the pan