Taiyaki
Taiyaki (たい焼き): fish-shaped waffle cakes filled with sweet red bean
Taiyaki were first sold in 1909 at a Tokyo street stall that still exists in Azabu-Jūban, shaped like sea bream because the fish was a luxury eaten at celebrations. Today vendors at winter festivals and shopping streets across Japan press batter into fish-shaped iron moulds, fill them with sweet bean paste and turn them out golden and crisp-edged. Contains egg, milk and wheat. You need a taiyaki pan. The common mistake is overfilling, which makes the bean paste burst through the seams and burn; keep the filling a finger's width from the edges. Chef's tip: let the batter rest for 30 minutes so the gluten relaxes, which gives a thinner, crisper shell.
- Total time
- 55 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
For the batter
- 5 ½ oz plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 oz sugar
- 1 eggmedium
- ¾ cup milk
- 1 tbsp vegetable oilplus extra for the pan
For the filling
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Whisk 5 ½ oz plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder and 1 oz sugar in a bowl. Beat 1 egg with ¾ cup milk and 1 tbsp vegetable oil, then whisk into the flour until smooth. Rest for 30 minutes.
Step 2: Divide 11 ½ oz chunky sweet red bean paste (tsubuan) into 8 portions of 40 g and shape into flat ovals.
Step 3: Heat the taiyaki pan over a medium-low heat on both sides for 2 minutes and brush the moulds with oil.
2 minStep 4: Fill each fish mould about 60% full with batter, place a bean oval in the middle, then pour a little more batter over to cover.
Step 5: Close the pan at once and cook for 2–3 minutes, then flip and cook for 2–3 minutes more, until both sides are deep golden. Open to check; trim any overflow with scissors.
5 minStep 6: Turn out onto a rack and serve hot, while the shell is crisp. Repeat with the rest of the batter.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 220 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 42 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does taiyaki take?
- About 55 minutes in total: 35 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of baking powder?
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar per 1 tsp.
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