2022-11-01
By Chef Takashi
Japanese Cuisine
Appetizer
Use the air fryer to cook your takoyaki balls for a crisp exterior without the mess of deep frying. Set it to 375°F for 10-12 minutes, shaking halfway through for even browning.
Utilize the Instant Pot’s “Steam” function to quickly steam your takoyaki batter before cooking, ensuring a light, fluffy texture. It’s a great shortcut for getting a soft, moist interior.
Make use of the induction cooker's precise temperature control when using a takoyaki pan. It ensures your takoyaki balls cook evenly without burning, helping you achieve that perfect balance of crispy and tender.
Takoyaki batter is a mixture of flour, dashi stock, eggs, and other seasonings. Achieving the right consistency of the batter can be challenging, as it needs to be thick enough to hold the fillings in place but not too thick that it doesn't cook through properly.
Takoyaki is cooked in a special takoyaki pan with rounded molds. Ensuring that the batter is cooked evenly and forms a crispy golden-brown outer layer while the filling is still tender requires practice and attention to cooking time and temperature.
Takoyaki is traditionally filled with small pieces of octopus, pickled ginger, and green onions. Distributing the fillings evenly throughout the batter can be challenging, and ensuring that each takoyaki has enough filling without being overfilled requires skill.
Once the batter starts to set in the molds, they are flipped with a special takoyaki pick to cook the other side. Flipping the takoyaki properly without causing the batter to spill out or stick to the pan takes practice and a steady hand.
Takoyaki is typically served with a sweet and savory sauce and topped with mayonnaise, dried bonito flakes, and green onions. Properly saucing the takoyaki without making it soggy or overpowering the flavor of the filling can be challenging. Arranging the toppings in a visually pleasing way requires attention to presentation.
Preparation Time 20 min
Cook Time 30 min
Total time 50 min