Okonomiyaki Sauce Recipe: How to Make Okonomiyaki Sauce

Okonomiyaki sauce (sometimes called okonomi sauce) is a sweet, umami-loaded sauce typically served with Japanese savory pancakes called okonomiyaki. Like ketchup and Worcestershire sauce, okonomiyaki sauce is made from fruits and vegetables, sugar, and vinegar, along with the additions of kelp, soy sauce, and shiitake mushrooms.

While there are regional variations on the okonomiyaki pancake, namely in Hiroshima and Osaka, the dish is always topped with sweet-and-savory okonomiyaki sauce. In Japan, bottled okonomiyaki sauce is widely available, but it is easy to approximate the sauce at home using a few condiments.

Okonomiyaki is best described as a savory Japanese pancake fried on a griddle until both sides are golden brown and finished with various sauces and garnishes. However, okonomiyaki is far more complex in flavor and texture than a pancake, stuffed with umami-rich ingredients held together with a hearty, filling batter. While the recipe for okonomiyaki may vary by cook and location, the basic components include a batter made with dashi stock and wheat flour, shredded cabbage, crispy bits of tenkasu (tempura scraps), beaten egg, and grated yam. From there, cooks can add additional ingredients, such as pork belly, seafood, and assorted veggies.

Okonomiyaki sauce can enhance a variety of Japanese foods, from pancakes to noodles, and you can use it as a substitute for other condiments.

1. 1. Okonomiyaki: Of course, okonomiyaki sauce is meant for topping this Japanese-style pancake, along with plenty of Japanese mayonnaise and a sprinkling of bonito flakes and aonori (seaweed flakes).
2. 2. Takoyaki: Okonomiyaki sauce is the perfect condiment for takoyaki—mini seafood-stuffed pancakes, or “octopus balls” .
3. 3. Yakisoba: These stir-fried noodles are typically seasoned with packaged yakisoba sauce, but okonomiyaki sauce is a great substitute.
4. 4. Tonkatsu: Fried pork cutlets are often served with tonkatsu sauce, a Worcestershire-based condiment that tastes similar to okonomiyaki sauce.