Best original TAKOYAKI challenge! [Japanese food cooking competition]

Watch as three experienced food tour guides in Tokyo try creating their own original takoyaki recipes in this Japanese cooking challenge!

Takoyaki are fried octopus balls, usually served as a set of eight small dough balls made from flour and seafood broth with a large chunk of octopus inside! In this video, you’ll find out exactly how to make authentic takoyaki—as well as three new recipes that mix traditional flavors with modern ideas!

———————————————————————————

This is a cooking series featuring Nathan, Giulia, Yuma, and Amanda — four Tokyo locals, each with different backgrounds and varying levels of experience in the kitchen. Watch as they take on food challenges and create new & unique dishes based on traditional Japanese foods. Follow the Ninja Food Tours team as they test their skills and try to out-do each other, often with creative results!

—— If you like what you see, be sure to leave a like and hit subscribe so you can follow our adventures and challenges! ——

Let us know in the comments who YOU thought should have won, or what creative new recipe you would like to try!

And don’t forget to check out our other showdowns in our previous episodes!

SAKE COCKTAIL CHALLENGE:

SUSHI ROLL CHALLENGE:

GYOZA CHALLENGE:

———————————————————————————

– About the Cooks –

Amanda is a Canadian from Montreal living in Japan for the past 3 years. Currently based in Tokyo, she’s traveled all over the country in search of good eats. Amanda is particularly fond of all things sweet–from traditional Japanese daifuku and fluffy pancakes to pumpkin ice cream and yuzu lemonade.

Nathan is a Japanese-American raised in both rural Japan and the US. He came to Tokyo 6 years ago and has since devoured every bowl of ramen in the city. He can usually be found in any small drinking alley searching for the best brews and cocktails in the city.

Giulia is a sake sommelier from Torino, Italy. She came to Tokyo about 4 years ago to study Japanese, and stayed for love–of the food, the culture, and her Japanese husband! As a licensed sake sommelier, she has a particularly refined taste for the Japanese liquor, and drinks as much sake as she does wine.

Yuma is a sake sommelier and bar/restaurant owner from Gifu, Japan. After working in finance in the US for 5 years, he quit his corporate job to return to Japan and start his own food tour business. He now runs tours in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, and is always searching for the best new thing to try. He often spends his time experimenting with new sake and shochu cocktail recipes.

– Takoyaki Recipes –

Takoyaki Recipe 1 – Breakfast Takoyaki

200 ml takoyaki dough (store-bought mix)
1 package of mini wieners, cut in half.
100 g scrambled eggs
KetchupMayonnaise

Takoyaki Recipe 2 – Potato Alfredo Takoyaki

200 ml takoyaki dough (store-bought mix)
100 g octopus, diced1 small potato, diced
50 g cheese, shredded
20 g garlic, finely chopped
50 g green onions, chopped
ParsleyAlfredo sauce

Takoyaki Recipe 3 – Pineapple Chocolate Takoyaki

200 ml takoyaki dough (store-bought mix)
200 ml canned pineapples, diced
50 g chocolate chips, bittersweet
50 g apple jam
20 g powdered sugar
Directions:

Mix takoyaki powder, egg, and water, and oil the takoyaki pan liberally. Pour dough mixture into the cups, filling about 1/3 of the way up. Add inner ingredients up until the cup is full. Allow to cook for 2-3 minutes, then add a little more dough. After 5 minutes, turn each ball so that it becomes convex in each cup. Allow to cook for 8-10 more minutes while turning every few minutes. Remove takoyaki balls from pan and add final toppings. Serve hot.

* All recipes require a takoyaki fry pan.

———————————————————————————

Ninja Food Tours is a small team of die-hard foodies offering walking food tours in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. We aim to help you avoid tourist traps and discover great local food & culture without knowing the language. Let us take you off the beaten path and show you the top local spots and hidden gems in Japan!

For more info, check out »
Also check us out on Instagram for some serious food inspiration: @ninjafoodtours

Get in touch with us at support@ninjafoodtours.com, or leave a comment down below!