Here's a quick question for you to answer: Have you ever heard of or tried monjayaki before? If the answer to that was no, then this is a must-read for you!
While sushi is known to be the most famous Japanese food, monjayaki—often called monja—has become very popular amongst tourists recently.
Once you try it, you'll find out how flavorful and fun it is as it can be cooked at your own table!
Monjayaki is often compared to okonomiyaki. However, there is a distinct difference between the two. Okonomiyaki is firmly cooked while monjayaki is runnier. Therefore, you might not like how it looks at first. However, you won't even care about its appearance once you start eating it!
Most monjayaki restaurants offer basic menus, but some also have extra ingredients that you can add.
Once ordered, a bowl with ingredients in it such as meat, seafood, vegetables, etc. and a liquid called "'dashi" will be served to your table. We personally love to add cheese and kimchi which makes our own monja extra tasty with a hint of spice!
They will also serve small plates as well as both small and large spatulas to the table you're at. The large spatulas are intended for cooking—and chopping—the monjayaki while the smaller ones are used to check when it's done and to serve yourself or to eat straight off the hotplate.
How To Make Monjayaki
STEP 1
Pour and spread the oil on the hotplate then empty the ingredients, being careful to retain the liquid inside the bowl as you will need that last!
STEP 2
Quickly chop up the ingredients in small pieces using two metal spatulas while letting it cook. If you have children with you, this can be fun for them too! Just make sure that the ingredients they're cooking don't get burnt.
STEP 3
When it's cooked, shape it into a doughnut by making a hole in the center and pour in all the leftover liquid. Let it stand for about 30 seconds and then begin to mix all the ingredients together again.
STEP 4
Thinly spread it across the whole plate, then wait until it thickens.
If you're not confident enough to cook it yourself at first, don't hesitate to ask the staff for assistance or even for them to cook it for you. However, if you want to give it a try, express to the staff that you're ready to try. Otherwise, they may continue cooking it until it's finished as that sometimes happens.
You might wonder when it's ready to be eaten. Use a small metal spatula, served for everyone to eat with, and scrape the edge of the monja, checking the bottom. If it's either thickened or a little burnt, how some people like it and referred to as okoge, it's ready to be enjoyed!
Monjayaki is not all about its taste—it's about the enjoyment you can have while cooking it too!
While sushi is known to be the most famous Japanese food, monjayaki—often called monja—has become very popular amongst tourists recently.
Once you try it, you'll find out how flavorful and fun it is as it can be cooked at your own table!
Monjayaki is often compared to okonomiyaki. However, there is a distinct difference between the two. Okonomiyaki is firmly cooked while monjayaki is runnier. Therefore, you might not like how it looks at first. However, you won't even care about its appearance once you start eating it!
Most monjayaki restaurants offer basic menus, but some also have extra ingredients that you can add.
Once ordered, a bowl with ingredients in it such as meat, seafood, vegetables, etc. and a liquid called "'dashi" will be served to your table. We personally love to add cheese and kimchi which makes our own monja extra tasty with a hint of spice!
They will also serve small plates as well as both small and large spatulas to the table you're at. The large spatulas are intended for cooking—and chopping—the monjayaki while the smaller ones are used to check when it's done and to serve yourself or to eat straight off the hotplate.
How To Make Monjayaki
STEP 1
Pour and spread the oil on the hotplate then empty the ingredients, being careful to retain the liquid inside the bowl as you will need that last!
STEP 2
Quickly chop up the ingredients in small pieces using two metal spatulas while letting it cook. If you have children with you, this can be fun for them too! Just make sure that the ingredients they're cooking don't get burnt.
STEP 3
When it's cooked, shape it into a doughnut by making a hole in the center and pour in all the leftover liquid. Let it stand for about 30 seconds and then begin to mix all the ingredients together again.
STEP 4
Thinly spread it across the whole plate, then wait until it thickens.
If you're not confident enough to cook it yourself at first, don't hesitate to ask the staff for assistance or even for them to cook it for you. However, if you want to give it a try, express to the staff that you're ready to try. Otherwise, they may continue cooking it until it's finished as that sometimes happens.
You might wonder when it's ready to be eaten. Use a small metal spatula, served for everyone to eat with, and scrape the edge of the monja, checking the bottom. If it's either thickened or a little burnt, how some people like it and referred to as okoge, it's ready to be enjoyed!
Monjayaki is not all about its taste—it's about the enjoyment you can have while cooking it too!
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