Japanese-style pancakes (okonomiyaki) recipe

Name: Japanese-style pancakes (okonomiyaki)
Yield: Serves 2
Ingredients: 4cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely sliced into matchsticks; 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar; ½ tsp caster sugar; 2 eggs; 150g plain flour; 1 tsp baking powder; 3 tsp reduced-salt soy sauce; ½ sweetheart cabbage, finely sliced (250g); 4 spring onions, finely sliced, white and green parts separated; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 tbsp clear honey; 2 tbsp tomato ketchup; 1½ tbsp lighter mayonnaise; 2 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted; ½ red chilli, finely sliced (optional)

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese-style savoury pancake. In our version, we mix sweetheart cabbage and spring onions in the pancake batter, then top with pickled ginger and red chillies. This okonomiyaki recipe is a great for a weekend brunch or a quick lunch. Check out more of our delicious savoury pancake recipes or browse Japanese food recipes and ideas.

See method

Serves 2
28 mins to prepare and 12 mins to cook
697 calories / serving

Vegetarian

Shop your ingredients

Tesco Root Ginger Loose
4cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely sliced into matchsticks
£0.56
£5.60/kg
Tesco Rice Wine Vinegar 150Ml
1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
£2.25
£15.00/litre
Silver Spoon Caster Sugar 1Kg
½ tsp caster sugar
£2.25
£2.25/kg
Tesco British Barn Eggs 10 Pack
2 eggs
£1.70
£0.17/each
Stockwell & Co. Plain Flour 1.5Kg
Aldi Price Match
150g plain flour
£0.70
£0.47/kg
Stockwell & Co. Baking Powder 150G
Aldi Price Match
1 tsp baking powder
£0.57
£3.80/kg
Tesco Reduced Salt Soy Sauce 150Ml
3 tsp reduced-salt soy sauce
£0.55
£3.67/litre
Tesco Sweetheart Cabbage Each
Aldi Price Match
½ sweetheart cabbage, finely sliced (250g)
£0.75
£0.75/each
Tesco Bunched Spring Onions 100G
49p Clubcard Price
(£4.90/kg)
Offer valid for delivery from 08/09/2026 until 05/10/2026
4 spring onions, finely sliced, white and green parts separated
£0.69
£6.90/kg
Tesco Pure Vegetable Oil 1L
Aldi Price Match
2 tbsp vegetable oil
£1.45
£1.45/litre
Tesco Squeezy Clear Honey 340G
1 tbsp clear honey
£1.19
£3.50/kg
Hellmann's Tomato Ketchup Sauce Squeezy 430ml
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
£2.15
£5.00/litre
Tesco Light Mayonnaise 450Ml
Aldi Price Match
1½ tbsp lighter mayonnaise
£0.86
£1.91/litre
Tesco Sesame Seeds 100G
Any 4 for 3 Clubcard Price - Cheapest Product Free - Selected Dried Fruit Nuts And Seeds
Offer valid for delivery from 30/09/2026 until 26/10/2026
2 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted
£1.20
£12.00/kg
Tesco Red Chillies 60G
Aldi Price Match
½ red chilli, finely sliced (optional)
£0.51
£8.50/kg

Method

Mix the ginger, vinegar, caster sugar and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Scrunch together with your hands, then set aside to pickle.
Meanwhile, whisk the eggs, flour, baking powder, 1 tsp soy sauce and 150ml water in a large mixing bowl. Lightly season, then stir through the cabbage and spring onion whites to coat in the batter.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a medium nonstick frying pan over a medium heat. Spoon in half the batter, keeping it as circular as possible and patting the mix down in the pan with a spatula. Fry for 6-7 mins until golden underneath, then confidently flip over and cook for another 4-5 mins until golden and cooked through. Tip out onto a plate, then return the pan to the heat with the remaining 1 tbsp oil and repeat with the remaining batter.
Meanwhile, mix the honey, ketchup and remaining soy sauce in a bowl to make a dipping sauce. Set aside.
Brush the cooked pancakes with the dipping sauce and drizzle over the mayonnaise. Scatter with the pickled ginger, sesame seeds, spring onion greens and sliced chilli, if using. Serve with the remaining dipping sauce on the side.