Taiyaki

Posted May 24th, 2011 in Food 12 Comments »

Taiyaki, fish-shaped baked Japanese sweet, is one of my favourite snack.  This is a kind of stall-food you buy at festivals or shrine on New Year’s Day, but now you can also buy from the food courts in shopping centres or some convenience stores across Japan.  The original filling is azuki an – red bean paste, but there are more varieties such as custard cream and chocolate.

At the shop they use this type of big grill to make taiyaki, but there’s a small version of this to use at home.

The weather like today makes me miss taiyaki. It should be eaten warm, and is kind of a winter sweet.  I don’t have a taiyaki maker at home, so I bought a pack of frozen taiyaki from an Asian grocery shop.

I warmed it up in the microwave, then toasted in a toaster oven to make it crunchy outside.  Eating it with vanilla ice cream gives you the contrast of hot and cold, and the texture of crunchiness of the skin and melty ice cream.

Yuuummmm!

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12 Comments on “Taiyaki”

  1. 1 Anna said at 1:24 pm on May 24th, 2011:

    Hi Ume, what a coincidence that you’ve written this post as lately I’m craving for taiyaki with azuki an filling. I was browsing some websites for a taiyaki maker and found this one: http://www.jlist.com/search/all/taiyaki

    I’m thinking of purchasing the electric mini taiyaki maker but am not sure if the power is okay for use in Australia as I have heard that some Japanese electrical items run on a different power outage? Can you advise me on this? 🙂

    Thanks!!!

  2. 2 Megan said at 3:02 pm on May 24th, 2011:

    Ohhhh! Yum!
    We had momiji shaped ones when we went to Matsushima. My favourite flavour was the cream cheese! I wish I could eat about ten of them right now.
    Anna, if you buy an appliance with the Japanese plug, you just need to get an adaptor to plug into our power socket. My husband has an electric razor from Japan that he does that with.

  3. 3 umepontarou said at 8:17 pm on May 24th, 2011:

    Megan,

    Momiji-manju with cream cheese! Sounds delicious 😀

    … I know everyone will doubt me of being Japanese if I ask this question, but where is Miyajima? (^^;)

  4. 4 YL said at 3:05 pm on May 24th, 2011:

    They are having a japanese fair here in Singapore, and a store selling taiyaki, takoyaki and okonomiyaki! There was another japanese fair that finished this week – they were selling food from 四国! We had so many sweet potato snacks, yuzu drinks and homemade udon! 😀

    There’s so much good food in Japan!

  5. 5 umepontarou said at 8:18 pm on May 24th, 2011:

    YL,

    So glad to hear from you 😀

    I know, that’s why I miss Japan soooo much! All the food you listed above… taiyaki, okonomiyaki, takoyaki… and Shikoku foods… makes me sooo hungry!!

  6. 6 Megan said at 3:05 pm on May 24th, 2011:

    Sorry, I should have said Miyajima! (not Matsushima)

  7. 7 Anna said at 3:08 pm on May 24th, 2011:

    Thanks Megan! My husband’s told me though that I’d actually need to get a voltage converter, not a plug converter?? Am quite confused.. am searching frantically for a taiyaki maker for sale in Australia! I might end up using just a dutch pancake maker to make some just to satisfy my cravings for now.. ;D

  8. 8 umepontarou said at 8:15 pm on May 24th, 2011:

    Anna,

    Sorry for the late reply, and thanks Megan too!
    I’ve checked the website you linked above, and the electric one says “Power AC100V”, which means you will need a voltage converter. In Australia, the electric voltage is 240V, and in Japan it’s 100V.

    Using a dutch pancake maker will do the job, just the shape is round, not fish 😉

  9. 9 Anna said at 8:53 am on May 25th, 2011:

    Thanks Ume. I think i’m going to get a dutch pancake maker this weekend, then I can make mini pancakes for Isabelle to try too! The size will be perfect for her to hold in her little hands. 🙂 I’m still eyeing a taiyaki mould though.. found this one: http://www.amazon.com/Taiyaki-Japanese-Fish-Shaped-Cake-Maker/dp/B00065YBEU

    Miyajima is a little island about an hour away from Hiroshima. We didn’t get the chance to visit the island during our last trip to Japan as we only managed to squeeze in a day trip to Hiroshima from Kyoto. My friends who have been to Miyajima highly recommend the place though! 🙂

  10. 10 umepontarou said at 10:50 pm on May 25th, 2011:

    Anna,

    The teriyaki grill won’t need an electric convertor, but I’m not sure if it’s as easy as the electric one to use… you’ll need to watch the fire not to burn the dough 🙂

    Oh ya, Miyajima near Hiroshima :D. I’ve never been there but I hear it’s beautiful.

  11. 11 Megan said at 9:47 am on May 25th, 2011:

    Hi Ume,
    Here is a link to a very good article about Miyajima (I’m sure you will recognise the Tori gates in the ocean) http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/travel/miyajima_travel.html. It is a beautiful place to stay for a night or two – so peaceful. I do recommend visiting there!

  12. 12 umepontarou said at 10:59 pm on May 25th, 2011:

    Megan,

    Yes, I will definitely visit there sometime! The place is not that far from my house too (Hioshima ⇔ Shiga) 🙂

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