| If you're a lover of Japanese food, you're | | | | consisting of a pancake-like batter and a little piece |
| undoubtedly familiar with sushi, tempura, teriyaki, and | | | | of octopus as a filling. The dumpling batter is poured |
| other common Japanese food fare, but in this article | | | | into a special pan molded into rows of little |
| I'd like to introduce you to three delicious Japan food | | | | semi-circles and grilled for a few minutes on one side. |
| items that you might not yet have heard of. All of | | | | Then the balls are flipped over with a toothpick or |
| these foods are both common and popular in Japan | | | | chopsticks and grilled on the other side until golden |
| (not to mention delicious!), but have not yet found | | | | brown. |
| their way to the masses overseas in the same way | | | | The takoyaki are then served up, usually in portions |
| that sushi has. Trust me, though, it's just a matter of | | | | of 8 or so, in a plastic or paper container and topped |
| time before they do! | | | | with a sweet soy-based sauce and ingredients like |
| 1. Okonomiyaki | | | | green onion, pickled ginger, green onion, mayonnaise, |
| Okonomiyaki Japanese pancake is a popular food | | | | and katsuobushi (dried fish shavings). |
| item in Japan at restaurants, festivals and home | | | | 3. Onigiri Rice Balls |
| parties. Translated literally as "cook what/as you like," | | | | Onigiri rice balls are a favorite picnic and snack food in |
| okonomiyaki is especially fun to eat at restaurants | | | | Japan. Onigiri is a popular carry out food item in |
| and home parties, where participants gather around a | | | | Japanese convenience stores, and is a common item |
| flat grill, mix up the ingredients, and have fun cooking | | | | found in bento boxed lunches. Simple to make and |
| the pancakes themselves. | | | | delicious to eat, onigiri is a staple food item in Japan. |
| The okonomiyaki pancake batter consists of flower, | | | | Popular onigiri fillings include tuna salad, salmon flakes, |
| eggs, water, grated yam, and cabbage. Fillings include | | | | seafood salad, konbu (a type of sea vegatable), |
| pork, assorted seafood, vegetables, kimchi, cheese, | | | | umeboshi (a sour bright-red pickled Japanese plum), |
| mochi, and yakisoba. Toppings and seasonings include | | | | and shrimp tempura. |
| nori seafood flakes, katsuobushi (fish flakes), pickled | | | | If you're planning to travel to Japan, make sure to |
| ginger, mayonnaise, and a Worcestershire-like sauce. | | | | keep an eye out for these delicious Japan food items |
| 2. Takoyaki | | | | and give them a try! |
| Japanese Takoyaki is a snack of grilled octopus balls | | | | |