JaPancakes? JaPancakes!

When I was searching through ideas for the Kitchen Star contest, I came across Okonomiyaki, which is the Japanese version of pizza. Really, it is nothing like pizza, with its cabbage and leek base, but the word "okonomiyaki" means "as you like it", and is traditionally topped with whatever the customer chooses, whether it be octopus or squid, or some vegetables. I decided this would be a fun dish to sweeten up for kids, using an apple, some raisins and some sunflower seeds. It is absolutely terrific! And it hardly takes any time at all to make.

JaPancakes! from rebecca eichenberger on Vimeo.

2 cups cabbage, finely shredded
1 cup leek, well washed and chopped
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
a couple pinches of salt
2 eggs, beaten
1+ tablespoon olive oil
1 large apple, peeled and shredded
1 cup raisins

Garnish
1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
1 tablespoon raisins
1 tablespoon cilantro
(optional: a sprinkle of cinnamon on top)

Combine cabbage, leeks, flour, salt, apple and all the raisins (reserving a small handful) in a bowl. Toss until everything is coating with a dusting of flour. Stir in the eggs and mix until everything is evenly coated.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add half of the oil. Scoop the cabbage mixture into the pan and form little pizzas. Use a metal spatula to press it into small pancake shapes, as flat as you can get it. Cook for 4-5 minutes, or until the bottom is golden. Flip and add more oil if needed, and cook for another 3-5 minutes. (You can also form one giant "pizza" round. To flip this, slide it on to a plate, and then in one quick motion, flip it back into the pan.)

When it is finished cooking, cut into wedges and garnish with sunflower seeds, raisins, cilantro (unless green frightens your child) and cinnamon. This is delicious hot, cold, or room temperature.