Looking for a new recipe to try? This is an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide on how to make homemade takoyaki octopus balls. The ingredients are simple and the instructions are clear so you can enjoy this dish in your own kitchen. Make these delicious octopus balls today! They're perfect as an appetizer or snack. You'll love them!
Jump to:
- Takoyaki Octopus Balls
- Do I Have to Have a Special Pan for Making Takoyaki?
- Is the Octopus Cooked Before Adding to Takoyaki?
- What Does Octopus Taste Like?
- What Other Fillings Can Go Into Takoyaki?
- What Goes with Takoyaki?
- Why Do Bonito Flakes Move?
- What is Dashi Stock?
- What Are In Octopus Balls?
- Handy Kitchen Tools
- How Do You Make Fried Octopus Balls?
- More Delicious Recipes
- Homemade Takoyaki Octopus Balls
Takoyaki Octopus Balls
Takoyaki Octopus Balls are an ideal treat. Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, Takoyaki Octopus Balls are delicious small dumplings that have a sauteed piece of octopus inside. If you have never tried making Takoyaki Octopus Balls, you are in for a treat.
The batter is cooked in a special pan or takoyaki grill until it’s crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The finished product has an appearance that resembles a beehive when looked at from above. Takoyaki is brushed with sauce and mayonnaise, then sprinkled with green onions and sesame seeds before being eaten.
This recipe will teach you how to make your own homemade takoyaki octopus balls so you can enjoy this delicious treat any time you want! Whether it's for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even as a late-night snack.
Do I Have to Have a Special Pan for Making Takoyaki?
While there are a lot of times you can make do with the items you already have in your kitchen. However, this is not one of those times. You have to have a special pan, also known as a takoyaki grill to make this dish.
Is the Octopus Cooked Before Adding to Takoyaki?
Another question that some people have is whether or not you need to cook the octopus before making the takoyaki. Yes! You have to cook or sauté your octopus first before mixing it into the batter along with all of your other ingredients.
What Does Octopus Taste Like?
When most people ask this question they are looking for an answer that is going to help them determine how good the taste of octopus will be inside of their takoyaki. The reality is that there are a lot of different ways you can prepare octopus so it may not always have the same taste every time.
However, when you are making Takoyaki, the octopus tastes like umami. That is because the octopus has been browned or sautéed before being added to the batter. This will give it a taste that you are not used to because all of your favorite takoyaki have always just had ingredients inside of them.
What Other Fillings Can Go Into Takoyaki?
While octopus, scallions, ginger, and kelp are the most common and most traditional, that doesn't mean you can't use this same method to create different flavors. Below are some other options to put inside your takoyaki balls to replace the octopus.
- Chicken, Pork, or Beef
- Mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, green chiles, red chiles
- Furakakit
- Teriyaki sauce to replace soy
What Goes with Takoyaki?
Takoyaki is usually served with takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, and green onions. It is often common to also see bonito flakes on top of takoyaki. This combination of ingredients will give your takoyaki the flavor that you are looking for whenever you want this delicious treat!
More ideas for what to make with Takoyaki is to go one step further with your mayo and make a sriracha mayo. This is a great combination.
Of course, if you are serving these as part of a meal, I love adding a side of Japanese sunomono cucumber salad or some Japanese okonomiyaki cabbage pancakes.
Why Do Bonito Flakes Move?
Bonito flakes are pieces of dried, grated fish. They can be used as a topping on takoyaki and okonomiyaki. When they are on hot food, they move or dance because of their thin and light structure. Do not be scared - they are not alive!
What is Dashi Stock?
Dashi stock is a broth commonly used in Japanese cooking that is umami flavored. It consists of a combination of a broth base such as miso soup with umami flavors such as dried seaweed, fish flakes, and similar.
Make your own dashi stock using this recipe.
What Are In Octopus Balls?
The ingredients for this recipe are below but not all octopus balls are the same. This is a personal recipe that is similar to what is most authentic in my experience.
- Eggs
- Dashi stock
- Dark soy sauce
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Boiled octopus
- Pickled ginger
- Seaweed powder
Topping Options:
- Scallions
- Takoyaki sauce
- Japanese mayonnaise
- Bonito flakes
Note: While octopus, pickled ginger, and seaweed are commonly added to takoyaki, you can fill them with some of the other options listed above if you prefer.
Handy Kitchen Tools
How Do You Make Fried Octopus Balls?
In a large bowl, whisk flour and salt together.
Whisk in the eggs, stock, and dark soy sauce until the batter is smooth.
Heat the takoyaki pan until very hot and brush each space well with vegetable oil.
Pour batter into each hole of the pan filling it completely.
Add fillings inside each hole of batter, don't worry if it overflows.
Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until set, then carefully, use a chopstick to flip each ball 90-degrees. Pour more batter and around each ball until just filled.
Rotate the balls every minute, while cooking, adding scraped batter to form a smooth ball.
Cook the balls until the batter is cooked through and golden brown, for a total of 5 to 7 minutes.
Serve with takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, scallions, and bonito flakes.
More Delicious Recipes
If you want to expand your Japanese menu, make sure you check out some of these other recipes below. Perfect for adding to your menu!
- Japanese Garlic Fried Rice Recipe
- Miso Roasted Japanese Eggplant - Nasu Dengaku
- Chanko Nabe - Japanese Sumo Wrestler Stew
- Japanese Clear Soup
- Japanese Omelette Rice (Omurice)
Homemade Takoyaki Octopus Balls
Equipment
- Takoyaki Pan
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Chopsticks
Ingredients
Takoyaki Batter
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 ⅙ cup dashi stock
- 2 tsp dark soy suace
Takoyaki Fillings
- 1 cup Octopus cooked & chopped
- ¼ cup pickled ginger
- 1 tbsp seafood powder
- 2 scallions chopped
Takoyaki Toppings
- 4 tbsp takoyaki sauce
- 4 tbsp Japenese mayonnaise
- 4 tsp Bonito flakes
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk flour and salt together.
- Whisk in the eggs, stock, and dark soy sauce until the batter is smooth.
- Heat the takoyaki pan until very hot and brush each space well with vegetable oil.
- Pour batter into each hole of the pan filling it completely.
- Add fillings inside each hole of batter, don't worry if it overflows.
- Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until set, then carefully, use a chopstick to flip each ball 90-degrees. Pour more batter and around each ball until just filled.
- Rotate the balls every minute, while cooking, adding scraped batter to form a smooth ball.
- Cook the balls until the batter is cooked through and golden brown, for a total of 5 to 7 minutes.
- Serve with takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, scallions, and bonito flakes.
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