I have introduced you nagaimo yam in my previous okonomiyaki blog - it is the long potato-like vegetable that becomes watery-slimy when grated. In this photo you cann see here a very fresh, whole nagaimo yam. Looks like a baseball bat. The skin is thin and rough. The cut surface shows moist, wet and somewhat bubbly appearance.
Okonomi-yaki is a stuffed pancake similar to a crepe. The standard type is filled with lots of cabbage and small portion of protein such as thinly sliced pork or beef, shellfish or both and served with a somewhat sweet sauce. Various Japanese cities - Tokyo, Osaka and especially Hiroshima - are proud of their versions of this popular fast food that is often sold at food stands on the streets and at festival grounds. When you go to the okonomi-yaki specialty restaurant in Japan, you sit in front of the heated large griddle, and watch 
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During Takoyaki and Poffertjes search I also found the existence of additional Poffertjes-like dish. It is Indian Paniyaram. Paniyaram is rounder like Takoyaki but the use of aromatic spices and chutney sauce makes Paniyaram a very distinctive and different cousin of Takoyaki. You can google Paniyaram and you will find a video in which an Indian guy showing how to cook Paniyaram. (more…)
