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What is Okonomiyaki Sauce?
Okonomiyaki sauce (also known as okonomi sauce) is a thick and fruity sauce that you apply to the famous Japanese savory pancake called “okonomiyaki” (お好み焼き). In Japan, most people use pre-made packaged okonomiyaki sauce, but you can easily make it from scratch too!
It’s actually heavily based on Worcestershire sauce but a lot thicker and sweeter. That being said, it’s a very fruity yet slightly tangy and sour sauce.
How I Developed This Recipe
Making okonomiyaki at home in Japan often involves using store-bought sauces, but living in England taught me that these sauces can be expensive outside of Japan. That’s why I developed a homemade okonomiyaki sauce recipe using simple, readily available seasonings.
This sauce is easy to make and is a great alternative to commercial sauces, especially if you’re in a place where they’re not easily accessible or are pricey.
Try this homemade sauce next time you make okonomiyaki and enjoy a taste of Japan wherever you are!
Ingredients & Substitution Ideas
Okonomiyaki sauce is complex and contains many ingredients. This would be a laborious task to make from scratch at home, but for your reference, Otaf*cku’s okonomiyaki sauce uses the following:
- Tomato
- Carrot
- Onion
- Apple
- Pumpkin
- Dates
- Sugar
- Soy Sauce
- Vinegar
- Salt
- Modified Food Starch
- Alcoholic Brewed seasoning
- Yeast Extract
- Spices
- Kelp
- Shiitake Powder
To capture the essence of okonomiyaki sauce, I simplify the sauce by combining 5 accessible condiments that contain or have similar flavors to the ingredients above!
- Worcestershire Sauce: A key ingredient for the unique flavor of Okonomi sauce. Your regular Worcestershire sauce will work perfectly. The fruits, vegetables, and vinegar in the sauce add depth, sweetness, and sourness.
- Oyster Sauce: For a rich savory flavor, I love to add oyster sauce. You can also use plant-based “oyster sauce” made with mushrooms if you’re looking for a plant-based substitute.
- Tomato Ketchup: For additional fruitiness and sweetness, also helps thicken the sauce.
- Honey: Not only for adding sweetness but also for thickening the sauce.
- Soy Sauce: Kikkoman is a globally recognized brand known for its quality and affordability. Refer to my comprehensive soy sauce guide for more details and other options.
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How to Store
I recommend keeping homemade okonomiyaki sauce in an airtight container in the fridge and using it within 2-3 weeks. Because it’s made of condiments that contain preservatives, it would probably last longer in theory, but you might as well make a fresh batch as it uses typical condiments that most people already have at home.
The Best Okonomiyaki Sauce to Buy Online
I know this is kind of breaking the essence of this post, but seeing as we often just buy okonomiyaki sauce in supermarkets, I thought it would be helpful to determine what kind of brand has the most authentic flavor.
I would have to say the majority of people in Japan buy Otaf*cku’s okonomiyaki sauce. It’s the most popular okonomiyaki sauce in Japan, without a doubt. You can actually forget about other pre-made okonomiyaki sauces because Otaf*cku is the one.
Otaf*cku also operates in the US so you can buy their wide range of products from their own website directly. Their signature okonomiyaki sauce is called “Okonomi Sauce“.
Other than that, Otaf*cku also sells everything you need to make okonomiyaki at home from their Okonomiyaki Flour, convenient Okonomiyaki Kit and even an Okonomiyaki value pack. However, if you are interested in making okonomiyaki from scratch, check out my homemade Osaka Okonomiyaki and Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki recipes!
FAQ
Okonomiyaki Sauce vs Yakisoba Sauce: What are the Differences?
You might wonder if there are any differences between okonomiyaki sauce and yakisoba sauce. Simply put, they are actually quite similar but there are still a few differences.
Ingredients vary somewhat from manufacturer to manufacturer, but tomatoes, onions, apples, vinegar, spices, salt, and oyster sauce are commonly used. However, if you compare these side by side, you will definitely notice okonomiyaki sauce is sweeter and thicker, and yakisoba sauce is savory and thinner.
Other than yakisoba sauce, takoyaki sauce is also quite similar to okonomiyaki sauce, but unlike okonomiyaki sauce vs yakisoba sauce, they are actually very similar and interchangeable. If I have to name some differences, I would say takoyaki sauce is often slightly sweeter but not as thick as okonomiyaki sauce.
Are There Any Substitutes for Okonomiyaki Sauce?
Even though I will explain an easy way to homemade okonomiyaki sauce soon, you might be looking for substitutes. Maybe you want to find an even easier alternative or change the flavor a bit. Here are some popular examples of alternative okonomiyaki sauce in Japan:
Takoyaki sauce: as I mentioned earlier, this can be interchangeable without any issues.
Tonkatsu sauce: it is slightly different, but you can use it for okonomiyaki.
Soy sauce and mayo: be careful with the amount as it can be very salty.
Ponzu: for a refreshing kick.
Ketchup and mayo, half and half: although it will be a completely different dish, they go well with okonomiyaki pancake.
Of course, it’s best to use okonomiyaki sauce for okonomiyaki, but sometimes it’s fun to experiment with different flavors! Okonomi means “as you like,” after all!
What does Okonomi sauce taste like?
It’s very veggie and fruity, like Worcestershire sauce, but thicker and sweeter.
Is okonomiyaki sauce spicy?
Okonomiyaki sauce can be spicy, but not more than Worcestershire sauce unless you choose to buy a spicy version specifically. You could add a little chili powder to spice it up if you like.
Do you need to refrigerate Okonomi sauce?
Fully packaged and sealed premade okonomiyaki sauce does not need to be in the fridge, until opened. Once opened, you need to keep it in the fridge and use it within 3 months. Homemade okonomi sauce should be stored in an airtight container, refrigerated, and used in about 2 weeks.
I hope you enjoy this Homemade Okonomiyaki Sauce recipe! If you try it out, I’d really appreciate it if you could spare a moment to let me know what you thought by giving a review and star rating in the comments below. It’s also helpful to share any adjustments you made to the recipe with our other readers.Thank you!
Use Okonomi Sauce with These Recipes
- Osaka Style Okonomiyaki
- Hiroshima Style Okonomiyaki
- Tonpeiyaki (easy okonomiyaki style omelette)
- Takoyaki (fried octopus balls)
Homemade Okonomiyaki Sauce
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By Yuto Omura
Using just 5 simple ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen, you can whip up this delicious, thick and fruity homemade okonomiyaki sauce in just a few minutes!
Prep Time2 minutes mins
Total Time2 minutes mins
Course Sauces
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 2 servings
Prep Time: 2 minutes mins
Total Time: 2 minutes mins
Course: Sauces
Cuisine: Japanese
Servings: 2 servings
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Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp soy sauce
Instructions
Simply mix all the ingredients in a bowl until incorporated.
Apply it to the okonomiyaki with a pastry brush or back of a spoon.
Enjoy!
Keyword homemade okonomiyaki sauce, how to make okonomi sauce, how to make okonomiyaki sauce, okonomi sauce, okonomi sauce recipe, okonomiyaki sauce, okonomiyaki sauce from scratch, okonomiyaki sauce ingredients, okonomiyaki sauce vs yakisoba sauce, otaf*cku okonomi sauce, what is okonomiyaki sauce
Notes
Keep homemade okonomiyaki sauce in an airtight container in the fridge and consume within 2-3 weeks
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